Celebrating Excellence in…

Academia, Non-profit, & Research

Presented to a non-profit, academic, or research organization that made the greatest advancement in, and/or the greatest overall contribution to, the California life sciences sector in the prior year.

Eligibility Criteria: Any academic, non-profit, or research organization headquartered in California can be nominated for this award. Nominations should include milestones from the previous year (June 2023 – present) that set this organization apart. Milestones can include but are not limited to: scientific breakthroughs or new partnerships that will foster future advancements for the industry.

BioPharma

Presented to a biotech or pharmaceutical company that made the greatest advancement in, and/or the greatest overall contribution to, the California life sciences sector in the prior year.

Eligibility Criteria: Any biotech or pharmaceutical company either headquartered in California, or a company with significant presence in California, can be nominated for this award. Nominations should include milestones from the previous year (June 2023 – present) that set this company apart. Milestones can include but are not limited to: product launch, scientific breakthrough, facility openings, employee growth, or partnering deals/acquisitions that will foster future advancements for the industry.

Convergent Technologies: MedTech, Digital, & Diagnostic

Presented to medical device, digital health, or medical diagnostic companies that made the greatest advancement in, and/or the greatest overall contribution to, the California life sciences sector in the prior year.

Eligibility Criteria: Any medical device, digital health, or medical diagnostic company either headquartered in California, or a company with significant presence in California, can be nominated for this award. Nominations should include milestones from the previous year (June 2023 – present) that set this company apart. Milestones can include but are not limited to: product launch, scientific breakthrough, facility openings, employee growth, or partnering deals/acquisitions that will foster future advancements for the industry.

Emerging Innovation

Presented to an emerging life sciences company whose achievement during the preceding year shows potential to make significant contributions to the future of the life sciences. This award highlights up-and-coming California-based innovators who are making strides towards transforming the life sciences landscape.

Eligibility Criteria: Life sciences companies founded within the last ten (10) years and headquartered in California are eligible to be nominated for this award. Nominations should include milestones from the previous year (June 2023 – present) that set this company apart.

Leadership

Presented to an individual or individuals who demonstrate their commitment to make the world a better place by employing new, innovative business models and practices in support of their team and the life sciences. They will be recognized for overall achievement in and contribution to the California life sciences community, ability to create and execute on a vision, mentorship of future leaders, notable track record of value-creation, and support of initiatives that impact the patients we serve.

Eligibility Criteria: Any individual, working or retired, from life sciences industry, supportive service industries, government or academic research institutions is eligible to be nominated for this award. Organizations, such as companies, universities, government agencies and patient groups, are not eligible. Only individuals who have significantly contributed to the California life sciences industry can be nominated for this award. Nominations should include milestones and achievements from the individual’s career and their impact on the life sciences sector.

Pantheon Awards

Champion of Health Equity

An organization or individual identifying and removing barriers to healthcare access and quality by advocating for healthy policies and driving system and environmental changes.

Eligibility Criteria: Any individual or academic, non-profit, for-profit or research organization headquartered in California can be nominated for this award. Nominations should include tangible and impactful milestones and transformative change that underscores transformative change and a commitment to dismantling healthcare inequities for people of color and other underserved communities.

Elizabeth Schar Inspiring Future Leaders

Presented in memory of our 2016 Biotech Educator of the Year, Elizabeth Schar, this award recognizes an individual for their accomplishments and commitment to improving the life sciences ecosystem. This individual sets an example for others in California’s life sciences industry by highlighting and promoting diversity, inclusivity and empowerment through meaningful resources and/or mentorship.

Eligibility Criteria: The individual must be based in California and demonstrate a significant commitment to our communities through STEM, mentorship, and/or professional development that will promote inclusivity in our next generation leaders. Nominations should include milestones and achievements from their career/program duration and how that impacted the life sciences sector and our future leaders.

Impact Award *New* 

Presented to a life sciences organization that has demonstrated continuous commitment to making a positive, lasting impact in their local community. The Impact Award recognizes organizations that go beyond their day-to-day operations through career development initiatives, outreach programs, patient advocacy, or other corporate philanthropy.

Eligibility Criteria: Any life sciences-focused organization, including non-profit, for-profit company, research or academic organization, with headquarters and/or operations in California can be nominated for this award. Nominations should include tangible milestones, investment in resources, programs, or development that demonstrate the impact of this organization’s work for and within the state of California.

Important Dates:

• June 20: Nominations open
• August 15: Nominations close
• October 1: Finalists announced, public voting opens
• October 15: Public voting closes
• November 7: Winners announced at the 21st Annual Pantheon Awards dinner

Nominations:

Award nominations will begin at 9 a.m. Pacific Time on June 20th and end at 5 p.m. Pacific Time on August 15th. Entries must be received within the entry period to be eligible. Any nominations received outside of those dates will not be considered. California Life Sciences may, in its sole discretion, extend the nominations end date for a reasonable period. Winners will be announced on November 7, 2024. Event attendance is required to be eligible to win.

Individuals and organizations can be self-nominated, as well as nominated by a peer, colleague or partner. You can apply to as many categories as you would like. However, each submission must be completed separately. All submissions will be evaluated individually. Award winners from the previous year are not eligible to win in the same category for a minimum of three (3) years, however, they are eligible to be nominated and win in a different award category. Prior year award finalists are eligible to be nominated and/or win in any category.

Submissions can be disqualified if the submission either subjects the submitter, CLS, or Pantheon to legal jeopardy or compromises CLS members’ good will and/or reputation, intellectual property, or trade secret interests.

Judging and Finalist Selection:

The shortlist of finalists will be chosen by the 2024 Pantheon Advisory Committee who will select two to five nominees in each award category and submit these nominations to public voting.

A minimum of two nominees must be selected in order to move the category to the public vote.

The public voting period begins October 1st ends on October 15th. Users shall vote for the entries they feel best meet the criteria set forth above.

Only one vote per unique email address will be accepted and recorded. Samples of fraud include:

• Voting for others outside your location: The same IP address used for votes by more than one person with different listed locations.
• Using a bot to create temporary email addresses to automate entry
• Voting from home and work: Using different email addresses or other information to place two votes from the same person
• Votes by any person under the age of 14
• Insufficient contact information to verify a vote

In each category, the finalist with the most votes at the end of the voting period is subject to a final review by the Pantheon Advisory Committee, who may take into account the overall nominations and justifications. The 2024 Pantheon Advisory Committee, in collaboration with CLS, will have ultimate selection authority for the 2024 Pantheon slate of finalists and winners. Decisions by the Pantheon Advisory Committee are final.

Consent:

By submitting an entry, you hereby agree and approve for use by California Life Sciences for marketing purposes the content you submit on the award application form and any modification, derivative form, display, performance and other use thereof in connection with the Pantheon Awards and general marketing. You and your communications team will also have many opportunities to co-market your Pantheon award placement and/or success story which – at a minimum — will include a spotlight profile repurposed from information in your entry.

Eligibility:

The Pantheon Awards (contest), which recognizes the most innovative companies in California on November 7, 2024, is open to California-based companies (headquartered or with operations in the state). Event attendance is required to be eligible to win.