Dr Andrea Taylor, CEO of Edinburgh Innovations, has been named a finalist in the Inspiring Women in Business category of the prestigious British Business Awards 2026, part of The Times’ British Business Leaders List.
The national awards – to be presented by special guest George Clooney at a star-studded ceremony in Edinburgh on 30 April 2026 - recognise outstanding leaders who are driving innovation, growth and positive change across the UK economy.
The Inspiring Women in Business category highlights women who are not only delivering exceptional business results, but also creating opportunities for others and reshaping the landscape of leadership.
Dr Taylor’s shortlisting recognises her role in transforming Edinburgh Innovations into a mission-driven organisation, delivering commercial success while championing equality, diversity and inclusion across the innovation ecosystem.
Under her leadership, EI has helped deliver renewable energy solutions, engineer biological approaches to reduce waste, and develop new drugs and therapies to tackle debilitating and life-limiting conditions.
Despite a challenging economic environment, EI has achieved eight years of growth, repeatedly meeting key performance indicators, and creating over 1,200 new jobs in companies it has helped to establish or support.
Between 2022/23 and 2024/25 alone, EI recorded:
In 2024, Dr Taylor led a major structural, strategic and cultural transformation of Edinburgh Innovations to position it for long-term, sustainable growth, including a new business structure, revamped Board, refreshed strategy and new Behaviours Framework, embedding innovation, collaboration and accountability.
Championing women founders and inclusive innovation
Initiatives under her leadership include the dedicated entrepreneurship programme Power Her Up and commitments under the Pathways Pledge to address gender imbalances in entrepreneurship through better data, EDI-focused events and more inclusive practice.
EI has helped create 66 academic-led companies since 2015, 56% of which include at least one female founder.
It also helped develop the University’s pioneering Innovation Career Pathway, which formalises a route to career development for academics wishing to focus on commercialisation and engagement with industry.
Dr Taylor said:
Being named a finalist is a huge honour, but it is very much a reflection of the whole Edinburgh Innovations team. Our success comes from the expertise of our colleagues, the ambition of our academic and student innovators, and the support of our partners and investors. I am incredibly proud of the way the EI team works together to turn world-class research into real-world impact, and I see this recognition as a celebration of their talent, dedication and belief that innovation can change lives for the better.”
