Home Office Academic Innovation Award

To complement the ADS Security Innovation Award at the Security & Policing Exhibition which recognises the innovative capabilities and services of exhibitors , the Home Office is sponsoring an innovation award for the UK academic research community.

The award is specifically designed to identify research that has the potential to provide a step change in the effectiveness of the UK’s ability to prevent, respond to, reduce the impact of or investigate risks and incidents.

WHY YOU SHOULD ENTER

• All Submissions are exposed to senior representatives from Government, industry and academia involved in innovation
• Finalists will get the opportunity to present their research on the Innovation Stage at the Security & Policing event
• Opportunity to meet with representatives from the Policing, Security & Resilience Community, Industry & Sector Experts
• Media support for announcement of the Award winners
• Dedicated media and PR
• Opportunity to work with the Home Office in taking your research forward

JUDGING CRITERIA & PROCESS

Entries for the award are judged against four criteria:

• Innovation & Research Quality
• Uniqueness in the market & potential market demand
• Clear impact on addressing security and resilience issues
• Proposed Exploitation path

Please Note : Academic Attendees must meet the visitor criteria for Security & Policing

Submissions will be reviewed by an eminent panel of judges drawn from Government, Academia and Industry who will down select up to six submissions to the Finals Stage.

FINALISTS

Up to 6 finalists will be given the opportunity to pitch their submission to the panel of judges in a Live Pitch Final on the Innovation Zone stage. Following these presentations, the judges will decide the HO Academic Innovation Award winner and runner-up. The judges may also choose to recognise other entrants through ‘Highly Commended’ certificates.

ELIGIBILITY

• You must be from a UK Institute of Higher Education
• Potential Intellectual Property Rights must be held by the Researcher &/or the Academic Institute
• There must be a clear intent to develop & exploit the research
• The product or service must have been developed within the UK and by your Organisation

APPLICATIONS

Please click here to apply

If you have any queries please contact  Dr Helen Almey: Helen.Almey@adsgroup.org.uk 

ENTRY DEADLINE

Closing date for applications: 17:00 16 February 2026