With thanks to our event sponsors:

DEMETER AWARDS AND INNOVATION SHOWCASE

Monday 25th November 2024, Royal Society of Chemistry, London, 11am to 7pm

 

Join us for a day filled with celebration and inspiration.

  • Apply to become the winner of one our amazing Demeter Awards: Product Innovation Award, Start-up-of-the-year Award, Collaboration Award
  • Witness the most innovative minds in the bio-based sector as they showcase their ground-breaking bio-based, biodegradable and compostable materials and products.
  • Meet investors and financiers, corporate customers, government departments, industrialists, and academics in the heart of London.
  • Network with like-minded individuals and gain valuable insights into the future of technology and innovation.
  • Exhibit your organisation to gain coverage of your bio-based products

DEMETER AWARDS AND INNOVATION SHOWCASE AGENDA

10:30am Registration and refreshments

11.00am Welcome Dr Jen Vanderhoven, COO, BBIA and Dr Paul Mines, Chair, BBIA

11.10am Keynote: The importance of the UK bio-based sector The Lord Vallance of Balham KCB, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, Department for Science , Innovation and Technology

11:20am Bio-Based Product Innovation Award shortlisted applicants pitches, introduced by event sponsor Vegware

12.15 noon Panel session: ‘Engineering Biology 2030’

Izzy Webb, Deputy Director for Technology Strategy and Security, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Sara Holland, UK & European Patent Attorney, Potter Clarkson

Russ Tucker, Co-Founder and CEO, twig.bio

Jeffrey Anthony, Life science and Health Partnerships, National Physical Laboratory

Mark Corbett, Director, Biorenewables Development Centre

13.00pm Lunch and Exhibition

14:00pm Bio-Based Start-Up of the Year Award shortlisted applicants’ pitches, introduced by event sponsor Futamura

14:45pm Panel session: ‘Investing in the sustainable and circular bioeconomy of the future’

Oliver Sims, Investment Manager, Octopus Ventures

Alessandra Caggiano, Investment Executive, Green Angel Ventures

Bernadette Lee, Investment Analyst, Clean Growth Fund

Colin Miles, Head of Sector for Bioscience for Advanced Manufacturing and Clean Growth, BBSRC

15.30pm Bio-Based Collaboration Award shortlisted applicants’ pitches, introduced by event sponsor, Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst

16.15pm Break and exhibition

17.00pm Speech and awards presentation Rt Hon. Lord Deben

17.15pm Celebration Drinks and Networking

19.00pm Close

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WHAT ARE THE DEMETER AWARDS?

Demeter is the Olympian goddess of the harvest and agriculture, presiding over crops, grains, food, and the fertility of the earth.

  • The Demeter Awards are the only set of awards designed specifically to celebrate, support and promote excellence in the bio-based* sector in the UK.
  • The Demeter Innovation Showcase is a leading event for bio-based innovators to meet investors and financiers, corporate customers, government departments, industrialists, and academics in the heart of London.
  • Applicants who are short-listed for awards will pitch their products to the judging panel at the Demeter Innovation Showcase Event, with winners being announced on the day.

*bio-based, certified biodegradable and certified compostable products and materials.

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WHAT ARE THE AWARD CATERGORIES?

  • Product Innovation Award: Recognising companies or researchers who have developed and commercialised innovative bio-based products that offer significant advantages over traditional fossil-based incumbents.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable leadership and a commitment to the development of an innovative bio-based chemical, material or product. Applicants should include examples of how their chemical, material or product is more sustainable than its fossil incumbent.

  • Start-Up of the Year Award: Recognising promising start-up companies that are developing and commercialising innovative bio-based materials or products.

Judges will be looking for evidence of how the start-up was established and has grown both in terms of employees and investment, alongside the future economic and environmental potential of the bio-based chemical, material or product.

  • Collaboration Award: Celebrating successful collaborations between industry, academia, and government in the development or implementation of bio-based, materials or products.

Judges will be looking for evidence of how the collaboration between two or more organisations led to a significant advancement in the development and commercialisation of a bio-based chemical, material or product.

Up to 5 organisations will be shortlisted per award category, with one overarching winner per category decided by the judging panel, and three highly commended organisations.

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REASONS TO APPLY FOR AN AWARD AND PRIZES

The Demeter Awards will carry substantial kudos, specifically due to the totally independent, high-quality judging and breadth of support from the key leading participants in the sector. Put your product, service, technology or project in front of potential customers, investors, partners, and service providers. Celebrate an innovation breakthrough or an initiative by entering the awards and bringing your product to the sector.

Each of the three award category winners will receive:

  • Prize winning innovators will win 12 months membership and access to no-cost coworking space within ID Manchester’s flagship Renold Innovation Hub. This will allow them to work alongside, engage and collaborate with other early stage start-ups and spin-outs also on their own growth journey, as well as other ID Manchester partners. Additionally, they’ll get access to support to help accelerate their growth, including opportunities for training and mentorship, and access to events, expert networks, investors and funders. Several catalyst programmes and innovation initiatives will also have their home at Renold, including the Turing Innovation Catalyst, the Christabel Pankhurst Institute and the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst.
  • IP support from Potter Clarkson, in the form of a KickStartIP session, worth £2,200.
  • Grant funding application support from PNO Consultants, in the form of One-to-one consultation to explore current grant funding needs and options, or an application review, worth £500.
  • Life Cycle Assessment advice from Oakdene Hollins, worth £1,000.
  • Winners can display the respective success logos on all their marketing material and communications free-of-charge after the event

Many more exciting prizes to be announced soon!

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WHO ARE THE AWARD JUDGES?

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HOW DO I APPLY FOR AN AWARD?

To apply for one of the Demeter Awards, please first read the criteria and eligibility document, and then complete the online application form.

**Deadline for applications to be submitted is 31st October 2024, 12 noon.**

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HOW DO I REGISTER TO ATTEND THE EVENT?

Register here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/demeter-awards-and-innovation-showcase-tickets-948045428397

Our sponsorship packages also include tickets to attend the event. Please note that BBIA members get 50% of tickets to attend the event.

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HOW CAN I EXHIBIT AND SPONSOR THE EVENT?

Various sponsorship packages are available as outlined below. To apply to sponsor the event, please complete the application form here.

Please note that BBIA members get 25% off sponsorship packages.

Sponsorship

Sponsor levelNumber availableCost (excluding VAT)Speaker slotMarketing material in networking roomLogo on event websitePost about sponsorship on social mediaTickets  to attend eventExhibitor spacePlace on judging panel
Platinum1£10,000Keynote introductionYesYesYes5YesYes
Gold3£5,000Session introductionNoYesYes4YesNo
Silver5£2,500NoNoYesYes3YesNo
Bronze10£1,000NoNoYesNo2YesNo
SME and start-up sponsor15£250NoNoYesNo2YesNo
Lunch Sponsor1£2,500NoYesYesYes3YesNo
Drinks Sponsor1£2,500NoYesYesYes3YesNo

To find out more contact Jen Vanderhoven: jen.vanderhoven@bbia.org.uk