We took a break from the Technology categories of the Inavation Awards in 2020, which gave us the space to really consider how we could make sure these awards could be used effectively to highlight valuable and innovative AV technologies to buyers and users.

In 2021 Technology Awards will return to the Inavation Awards line up, but with a few differences.

We want to provide our readership of buyers and users of AV technology greater detail of shortlisted and winning technologies; if they are unaware of the technology we are highlighting, then announcing a model number on stage means very little. Therefore, we will be revealing shortlisted and winning technologies prior to the Inavation Awards Ceremony so they can be introduced with greater detail on what caught our judges' eyes.

For the manufacturers entering the awards and exhibiting at ISE it means – should they be successful in making a shortlist or winning a category - they can have marketing assets in place for the show.

Providing context on the technologies selected will also help the pro AV community understand crucial differences between products that are very tough to judge against one another. Inavation Awards judges have always found it hard to compare vastly differing technologies across a range of manageable categories so – whilst we will still highlight an overall winner for each category - it's important to showcase the merits of each product deemed worthy enough to reach the category shortlist.

It does mean no big reveal at the Inavation Awards Ceremony but finalists and winners will be mentioned and honoured during the event.

In a departure from other categories in the Inavation Awards we will be charging an admin fee of £300 per entry to support the publication of a guide to provide greater detail of each technology shortlisted. Despite the fee, this is still a competition. There will only be one winner crowned per category. 

We're also bringing back voting so our readership of technology buyers and users will play a part in deciding winners. Because we'll be publishing a guide to shortlisted and winning technologies, this year we'll also be able to show voting breakdown for each category.

Technologies can be entered into the categories listed below.

Entries must detail technologies launched or updated between October 1, 2019 and February 1, 2021.
Before you enter please download and read the entry requirements. 

After completing the entry form you will be forwarded to a page for payment.
Your entry will only be included in the judges' packs when the payment has been made.
Entry deadline: February 2, 2021

The categories:

Examples are a guide and should not be considered an exhaustive list of eligible products

Accessory
Products that are added to, or used alongside other AV technologies, to help them function, make them more useful or fine tune them.
Some examples: Brackets and mounts, projection screens and specialist furniture.

Audio (non-loudspeaker)
Technologies that handle audio capture, storage, distribution or processing.
Some examples: Microphones, intercom, congress systems, amplifiers, mixing consoles, players, and DSPs

Communication and collaboration
Technologies that are purely focused on supporting communication and collaboration whether local or remote.
Some examples: VC platforms, beamforming microphones, interactive displays, conferencing peripherals, congress systems, screen sharing products

Control
Technologies that allow users to control spaces as well as software that supports remote control, maintenance and monitoring.
Some examples: Control panels, monitoring and scheduling software, control processors, control apps, analytics platforms

Design and modelling
Tools and technologies to help AV system design and demonstration of that design to end users.
Some examples: Design and documentation software, measurement tools, modelling programs

Display Output 
Any display technology on the output side.
Some examples: Projectors, LEDs, LCDs

Environmental Technology
Technologies that contribute to improving or affecting an environment.
Some examples: Lighting, shading, acoustic panelling, soundscaping, sound masking, HVAC monitoring and control, induction loop and hearing aid technology

Events Technology
Technology that can be used for events large or small.
Some examples: LED displays and projection, loudspeakers, microphones, event control, mixing consoles, image processing, intercom and lighting

Loudspeaker
What else can we say… loudspeakers!
Some examples: Line arrays, point source loudspeakers, ceiling speakers, column speakers

Signal distribution and management
Technologies for getting signals from A to B, as well as those that deliver switching, processing and scaling capabilities.
Some examples: AV-over-IP products, signal extension, matrix switchers, media players, scalers, image processors, KVM products

Streaming Technology
Technology for capture, broadcast and storage of video streams. 
Some examples: Cameras, encoders/decoders, video production tools, lecture capture platforms, streaming platforms, video storage, IPTV