We proudly marked a significant milestone in our mission to advance sports and health technology by serving as the official sponsor of the 2025 Sports Technology Awards last week.
The prestigious annual event, dubbed the ‘Oscars of Sports Innovation’, celebrates global excellence in sports technology, bringing together trailblazers from across the industry.
We also contributed three esteemed representatives to the judging panel:
- Alun Wyn Jones: Renowned as the most capped player in world rugby history, Alun Wyn Jones now serves as a Strategic Advisor for our Network. His extensive experience in elite sports provides invaluable insights into team dynamics, performance enhancement, and emerging trends in sports and health technology.
- Professor Keith Lloyd: As Swansea University Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Keith Lloyd leads NNIISH. His commitment to fostering innovation in health and social care has been instrumental in shaping the network’s direction and impact.
- Professor Liam Kilduff: A Professor in Sport and Exercise Sciences at Swansea University and Head of the Welsh Institute of Performance Science, Liam Kilduff brings a wealth of expertise in performance science. His research collaborations with national and international sports teams have significantly advanced the integration of technology in athlete preparation and performance.
The 2025 awards introduced ‘The Arena of Innovation’, a virtual global hub at the intersection of sports, technology, science, engineering, and design. This platform showcases and scrutinises disruptive technologies, embodying the spirit of innovation that our Network champions.
Celebrating all the achievements and upcoming innovations in the sector was inspiring, and brought to light the incredible potential of collaboration between sport, health, and technology to drive meaningful change at both elite and grassroots levels.
The morning after the awards ceremony, Alun Wyn Jones took centre stage at the exclusive post-awards brunch, delivering a keynote address that resonated deeply with attendees from across the global sports tech community. Drawing on his storied rugby career and current role as our Strategic Advisor, he spoke passionately about the evolving role of technology in elite performance, injury prevention, and athlete wellbeing. Emphasising the importance of cross-sector collaboration, he highlighted how innovation at the intersection of sport and health is not only transforming how athletes train and recover, but also how these advancements can be translated into broader public health benefits.
Rebecca Hopkins, CEO of The STA Group, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership:
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Swansea University and NNIISH as our judging panel’s Official Partner. Our judges are some of the biggest, most influential names in sport, and we know they will relish the additional insights this partnership provides. By fusing academic excellence and industry expertise, we hope to elevate what we do even further.”
Professor Keith Lloyd also highlighted the alignment of this collaboration with our mission:
“This partnership with The Sports Technology Awards aligns perfectly with our commitment to pushing the boundaries of sports innovation for all our members. By sponsoring the judging panel, we are not only supporting the recognition of industry excellence but also providing our network with unparalleled opportunities to engage with the latest technological advancements in the field.”
Our involvement in the 2025 Sports Technology Awards underpins our dedication to fostering innovation at the nexus of sport, health, and technology. By bridging academia and industry, we aim to drive advancements that enhance athlete performance and public health outcomes.