The MacRobert Award is the UK’s premier award for engineering and attracts a growing number of high-quality nominations that demonstrate the very best of UK engineering innovation. Now in its 56th year, the MacRobert Award judges have an increasingly tough job each year to select three worthy finalists and choose the overall winner.
In this new blog series, we get to know some of the people behind these decisions. What was their journey to becoming a MacRobert Award judge? What do they look for in a successful nomination? And what is it that inspires them about the future of engineering innovation in the UK?
In the first of this series, we speak with Dr Alison Vincent CBE FREng, an Academy Fellow and the new Chair of the MacRobert Award judging committee. Dr Vincent has extensive experience working in cybersecurity and software engineering including being leading the delivery of significant cyber-security control improvements at HSBC. Dr Vincent has been a judge of the MacRobert Award Committee since 2023.
The MacRobert Award process
How did you become a MacRobert Award judge?
I received an invitation to join last year’s judging panel back in 2023. I was absolutely thrilled to be invited and joined a fantastic group of engineers who were at the peak of their careers in their chosen discipline. Their expertise complemented mine and I learned so much about different fields of engineering.
What makes a successful nomination and what does the judging process involve?
Successful nominations excel in three main categories. The first category, and the most important, is an assessment of the engineering innovation. Has it solved a tricky problem? Approached something in a truly novel way? It has to really stand out as an innovative solution. The second is around commercialisation. The MacRobert Award is not just looking for a novel idea, it must be one that has shown in a practical way that the solution works and can scale as a real business. The final category is about social impact. The Award is here to recognise how the innovation has improved the world we all live in for the better.
Now looking at the judging process. In February, each individual judge reviews the final submissions and provides their own scoring against the categories. Then collectively, we compare, and level set our scores. This is an important part of the process as the entries are from a diverse set of technologies, everything from bio-tech, energy-tech, AI, construction – in fact any discipline where engineering makes a difference. In March, we then select a shortlist of companies to go and visit in pairs and produce a trip report. We then get together as a group in April to choose three finalists, who receive a final visit from the whole panel – and those companies certainly do get a grilling! After those road trips we decide on the winner, and then keep it secret for until the end of the annual Academy Award’s Dinner in July when it is finally revealed.
Although the Award’s winners have come from a diverse range of disciplines and company sizes over the past 55 years, what do you think has been a common factor in the impressive submissions you’ve seen?
As you say the scale and disciplines have varied – but the common factor is this ability to satisfy all three criteria. It’s also evident when the final three are revealed that their innovations are truly impressive.
Although you’ve only been a judge for a short while, what have been some of the more memorable moments in your time on the Committee?
I would say there have been a couple, such as the first time myself and a fellow judge went to visit one of the shortlisted companies. You can read about a company on paper, but it’s only when you get to visit do you really understand the innovation and see the passion of the employees working there. I would also say the road trip with all the judges was great fun. It was a time to bond and see people “in action” as their expertise and experience allowed them to really ask those “killer” questions.
Celebrating 56 years of exceptional innovation
The MacRobert Award has a proud history of celebrating ground breaking technological innovation. What do you think has been the most significant engineering / technological innovation?
Wow – that’s a tricky one to answer. Just scanning through the list of previous MacRobert Award winners over the years provides an insight into the breadth of options. But if I had to stand back and look at technology as whole you can’t dispute that the innovation of the mobile device has really changed what is possible. It was the combination of software and hardware and its ability to condense functions. All of a sudden in the palm of your hand you have a detailed map of the world, a telephone, a newspaper, an encyclopaedia, an alarm clock, a stereo, a video camera, a games console, an art studio… the list is endless.
How do you think engineering / technology will evolve in the coming years and what types of innovations should we look out for from future MacRobert Award finalists?
Another tricky question. I’m a strong believer in cross-discipline solutions. I really think that true innovation is sparked when different minds and disciplines collaborate to solve a problem. We know that the world has some tricky challenges to solve – everything from climate change, feeding a global population, protecting biodiversity, and improving the health of an ageing population to name a few.
Advice for future nominators
What advice would you give to any potential future nominations of the MacRobert Award?
My advice would be to take time to properly craft your submission. Make sure you answer the “exam question” i.e. express how your submission is innovative, commercially viable and delivers impact to the world we are in. Remember, not everyone reading your submission is an expert in your particular discipline of engineering, so use language and terminology that is understandable by an engineer outside of your field. But do apply, as we’d love to hear what you’ve achieved and the MacRobert Award is a fantastic platform to accelerate what you’ve already accomplished.
Submit your nomination for the MacRobert Award by 31 January, 2025. The winner will be announced in July at the Academy's annual Awards Dinner.
Originally founded by the MacRobert Trust, the Award is now presented and run by the Royal Academy of Engineering, with support from the Worshipful Company of Engineers. Each year the winning team receives a gold medal, widespread publicity ,a £50,000 prize and an exclusive weekend away at Douneside House .
Please contact Patrick Woodcock, MacRobert Award manager, on 02077 660 630 or [email protected] should you wish to discuss putting forward a nomination.