There are three types of award: five awards for spin-outs; one for fast start early-stage entrepreneurship; and the Bridge Award for promoting entrepreneurship.

1: Spin-out awards

Awarded to individual(s) who have created a successful spin-out company based on ideas developed at universities and public research institutes in Europe.

a. Judging criteria

1. The awards will be made to the winners who, in the opinion of the judges, have created the most successful spin-out company.

2. The judges when reaching their decisions will take into account the novelty of the research, the risks involved, clear evidence of commercial success (including, but not limited to, revenues, asset or company sales and IP generated), and potential impact on society.

b. Categories

i. Life Sciences

ii. Energy/Environment

iii. ICT

iv. Materials/Chemicals

v. Young Entrepreneur (younger than 28)

c. Eligibility and nomination

i. Nominated individuals must have generated the knowledge on which the spin-out is based in a university or public research institution (ie, not a company laboratory) within a country part of or associated with the European Union’s Framework Programmes.

ii. Each nomination may be for up to three individuals (not institutions or laboratories).

iii. Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by anyone else.

iv. The spin-out company must have commenced operations on or after 1 November 2003.

v. Individuals nominated for the Young Entrepreneur award must be below the age of 28 at 30 September 2008.

2: The Fast Start – early-stage entrepreneurship award

Awarded to individuals who have created a promising but as-yet unproven spin-out based on ideas developed at universities and public research institutes in Europe.

a. Judging criteria

i. The awards will be made to the winner or winners who, in the opinion of the judges, have created the spin-out company with the greatest potential for commercial success and impact on society.

b. Eligibility and nomination

i. Nominations may be made for up to three individuals (not institutions or laboratories).

ii. Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by anyone else.

iii. The spin-out company must have commenced operations no earlier than 1 June 2007.

3: The Bridge Award

Awarded to an individual who has done the most to promote policies for entrepreneurship in university or public research institutions.

a. Judging criteria

i. The judges’ decisions will take into account the creativity shown in encouraging collaboration and entrepreneurship, and the success of those policies in economic, social and scientific terms.

b. Eligibility and nomination

i. Nominated individuals must have encouraged entrepreneurship in one or more university or public research institution (i.e., not a company laboratory) within one or more of the countries part of or associated with the European Union’s Framework Programmes.

ii. Nominations may be made for only one individual – no teams.

iii. Nominated individuals must be based in a country associated with the European Union’s Framework Programmes, but may work in any setting, for example, but not limited to:

  University technology transfer office

  Regional development agency

  Public elected body, such as national or European parliaments

  Government agency

  Commercial company

iv. Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by anyone else.

v. The achievement must be related, at least in part, to activity undertaken during the five years ending 31 July 2008.