2025 Finalists

From transforming healthcare and shaping global policy to empowering communities and protecting the environment, the finalists for the 2025 UEA Innovation and Impact Awards demonstrate the incredible breadth of projects changing lives. Judges particularly noted the sheer quality and number of entries this year that are making real differences to our communities. 

Find out more about the finalist projects and teams below.

Award for Student or Graduate Innovation and Enterprise 

This category highlights student-led projects that demonstrate creativity and entrepreneurial ambition. Finalist Made for More, is a powerful student-produced documentary that explores workplace discrimination and accessibility barriers, offering a vital platform for voices often underrepresented in mainstream media. The students behind Vida Vodka have taken a creative approach to sustainability, transforming surplus bread into premium vodka while tackling food waste. YakBit has developed a revolutionary communication platform designed to improve workplace efficiency by streamlining interactions, particularly benefitting remote teams and busy organisations.

Outstanding Impact in Health, Wellbeing and Welfare 

These projects are delivering remarkable improvements to health and wellbeing. Smell Self-Care at Home is an innovative digital platform that uses olfactory therapy to help people with long-term conditions manage anxiety, improve mental wellbeing, and enhance their quality of life. Meanwhile, Winds of Change tackles inclusivity in the offshore wind industry, breaking down barriers to ensure underrepresented groups are better supported in this fast-growing sector. Another finalist, the Cessation of Smoking Trial in the Emergency Department (COSTED), has had a transformative impact - successfully integrating smoking cessation support into emergency care settings, resulting in improved patient outcomes and reduced smoking rates.

Outstanding Commercialisation of Research 

Finalists in this category have transformed innovative research into products that deliver meaningful impact. Virilitas Labs has pioneered advanced diagnostics to improve fertility outcomes for men. Their groundbreaking work has led to faster, more accurate diagnosis of male infertility, offering hope to those seeking fertility treatment. Finalist, RhosynBio has developed a novel bacteria-resistant material that enhances hygiene standards in healthcare, food production, and pharmaceutical settings. The ‘Commercialisation of the Norwich Human Gut Platform’ has created a cutting-edge model that replicates the human gut, allowing researchers to develop improved treatments for gastrointestinal diseases. This innovative platform has unlocked new insights into gut health, benefiting both clinical research and industry partners.

Knowledge Exchange Project of the Year 

These projects excel in partnering to transform academic research into real-world impact. ‘Embedding an Innovative Materials Science and Digital Skills Approach’ partnered with Snack Creations Ltd to develop a powerful product development toolkit. This resource has allowed the company to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and secure major new contracts, supporting both economic growth and sustainable practices. Meanwhile, ‘Libraries for Living and for Living Better’ examined the £3.4 billion social value of public libraries, producing evidence that is influencing investment decisions and ensuring libraries remain vital community spaces. Along different lines, the UK Fens Climate Change Risk Assessment has provided vital data for landowners and policymakers, offering essential guidance to protect East Anglia’s vulnerable wetland landscapes from the growing threats of climate change.

Outstanding Impact in Policy and Practice 

This category features projects that have influenced policy and practice at national and international levels. Biodiversity Auditing to Guide Landscape-Scale Nature Recovery has shaped environmental restoration strategies across England, helping secure over £6.5 million in funding for large-scale habitat recovery projects. Protecting Society and Preventing Harm has been pivotal in shaping major regulatory change, providing expert insights that influenced the EU’s Digital Services Act and the UK’s Online Safety Bill. This high-impact project has played a vital role in tackling online harm, securing safer digital spaces for millions of users and continues to influence systemic risk assessments and platform safety worldwide. Meanwhile, an innovative educational model for pharmacy training is now embedded in over 100 UK hospitals, giving trainee pharmacists greater confidence and responsibility, directly improving patient care and recovery times.

Outstanding Social or Cultural Impact 

These finalists combine creative approaches with significant social impact. Indigo Giant have combined theatre with community engagement, exploring the colonial history of indigo cultivation in Bengal. Through performances in major UK venues, the production involved local communities, reaching over 1,200 audience members and inspiring thought-provoking discussions on social and environmental justice. Finalist ‘Penning Poison: Neighbours and Anonymous Wicked Little Letters’ inspired the critically acclaimed film Wicked Little Letters, which grossed over £21 million globally. The project has heightened public awareness of the history of anonymous letters and their parallels with modern online trolling. Another project, Women of Influence, worked with young Indigenous women in the Peruvian Amazon to amplify their voices and strengthen their role as leaders in environmental justice. Their work has been showcased at major events like COP28 and UNESCO discussions.

Partnership of the Year 

These projects demonstrate how collaboration drives lasting change, across a diverse range of industries spanning healthcare, biodiversity and the food and drink sector. EyeFocus is an innovative app created through collaboration between developers, healthcare professionals, and brain injury specialists. It helps survivors of brain injuries improve attention and cognitive skills, with promising results in NHS trials and growing adoption across rehabilitation services. Preserving, Restoring and Managing Colombian Biodiversity Through Responsible Innovation is a project that has united researchers, farmers, and policymakers to protect Colombia’s vulnerable ecosystems and promote environmentally sustainable practices. Tastebuds Collective Limited have brought together over 30 independent food and drink innovators to champion sustainable practices and support local economies, strengthening the sector’s resilience. 

Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement 

The recipient of this prestigious award is selected by judging panel members from across any category, recognising a project with exceptional and far-reaching impact - this year’s relates to child welfare. ‘Maintaining Birth Family Contact for Adopted Children’ has transformed UK adoption services, ensuring children can maintain meaningful connections with birth families where appropriate. With over 5,000 adoption professionals trained, this project has created vital resources, influenced national policy, and helped embed compassionate, child-centred approaches into adoption services. The Award for this project will be presented by UEA Chancellor Dame Jenny Abramsky GBE at the ceremony. 

This year's entries showcase cutting-edge research, creative enterprise, and meaningful collaborations. Each finalist has demonstrated remarkable dedication and ingenuity in addressing societal challenges, driving positive change, and transforming the world around us. The 2025 winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in May, celebrating achievements from staff, students and partnership organisations. 

To explore previous winners and finalists, visit the UEA for Business YouTube channel.