Research and development are the foundation of progress in the nutrition industry. From ingredient discovery to clinical validation, sound, peer-reviewed research is essential to back product claims, guide innovation, and inform strategic decisions.

This award rewards the most impactful research project — whether academic, commercial, or collaborative — that demonstrates scientific excellence, real-world relevance, and push the boundaries of nutritional science.

Judges will look at how your research project has the potential for a positive impact on the nutrition industry, based on the following criteria:

• How the research project is designed to address a genuine consumer demand, nutrition requirement, policy issue or healthcare risk
• Whether the research has provided solid scientific evidence to demonstrate a unique nutritional solution to this need or problem – including peer reviewed data to back up these findings
• Evidence of good research methodology, analysis, and findings consistent with best practices
• The potential for commercial applications or wide-sweeping changes in the industry on the back of research
• What gives your research project the ‘X factor’ – something that makes it stand out from the crowd and edge out the competition (including evidence to back up claims)

To view the requirements for this category, click to download