2022 UC Davis Chancellor’s Innovation Awards

The UC Davis Chancellor’s Innovation Awards are designed to recognize faculty, community partners, and industry leaders for their success in developing new technologies, social platforms or other innovations based on university research or academic endeavors. These innovators play an essential role in translating university research to improve the lives of others and address the needs of our global society.

Awards Categories

The Innovator of the Year award recognizes up to two individual UC Davis faculty or staff members, or teams (that may include UC Davis faculty, students, and staff) whose inventive, innovative or entrepreneurial activities have had a measurable societal impact in the last year, or those whose activities or achievements in the last year have a very strong potential to make a significant impact in the future. This award is open to all academic disciplines, including social sciences, humanities, law, business, life sciences, physical sciences, medicine, computational sciences, and other areas of research and academic study. Up to two awards will be presented and recipients will receive a cash award of up to $10,000, which can be applied to further their research or innovative activities.. Anyone at UC Davis can nominate an individual or team for the Innovator of the Year award. Self-nominations will not be accepted for these awards.

The Innovative Community Partner award recognizes a leader or organization in the UC Davis community that has contributed significantly to driving regional economic impact through innovation, entrepreneurship or support for growing a startup ecosystem in collaboration with UC Davis. Nominations for this award will be provided by the Awards Selection Committee.

The Lifetime Achievement in Innovation award recognizes an acknowledged innovator whose career accomplishments include innovations that have led to a long-term positive impact on the lives of others and is an inspiring influence for UC Davis innovators. This award is open to anyone who has made significant accomplishments consistent with the mission of the university. Nominations for this award will be provided by the Awards Selection Committee.

Submission Process and Deadline

Innovator of the Year Award

To nominate an individual for the Innovator of the Year award, please complete and submit this online form by Monday, March 14, 2022.

Once nominations are received, Venture Catalyst staff will contact the nominees to request any additional information about their innovation(s).

Awards Selection Committee

An Awards Selection Committee will be assembled from the following campus units. The number in parenthesis indicates the number of individuals from each unit/department.

Past cycle Innovator of the Year recipients (2)
Office of Research representatives (2)
External partner representative (1)
Representatives from the following schools/colleges identified by the respective Deans (8)
- College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences
- College of Biological Sciences
- College of Engineering
- Graduate School of Management
- College of Letters and Sciences (2)
- School of Medicine
- School of Veterinary Medicine

Review Process

Committee members will review and provide a rating for each nomination based on a predetermined protocol that evaluates the uniqueness of the innovation(s) and their potential societal impact.

The Awards Selection Committee will make recommendations for winners in each category. Awardees will be selected by the Chancellor, Provost, and/or Vice Chancellor for Research.

For more Information contact Spencer Hamilton ([email protected]) in Venture Catalyst.

View last year’s recipients.