Innovation Lions
The Innovation Lions celebrate ground-breaking innovation, technology and problem-solving ideas that turn imagination into impactful reality.
On this page
Introduction
The history of the Innovation Lions
The Innovation Lions were introduced to the Cannes Lions Festival in 2013 to recognise and celebrate groundbreaking ideas that push the boundaries of creativity and technology within the creative marketing space.
Over the years, it evolved to encompass a wide range of work, from pioneering digital tools and creative use of tech to game-changing product innovations and experiential campaigns. In 2024, the Award was updated to become a more holistic home for innovation. This update saw an increased focus on societal, environmental and fintech-led innovation as well as product and brand-led innovation.
The Innovation Lions continue to highlight the growing intersection of creativity, technology, and problem-solving, showcasing how innovation can transform industries and redefine the future of brand communication.
What kind of work can be entered?
Tools, products, models, platforms and other forms of adtech, as well as creative campaigns utilising new technology.
Technology entered may be at prototype/pre-production stage. Pre-development ideas/concepts are not eligible. Entrants must be in a position to fully demonstrate the technology.
What’s the Jury looking for?
The work should demonstrate groundbreaking creativity through the use of technology, data, or new platforms in innovative ways. Projects that push the boundaries of what’s possible, showcasing how emerging technologies and innovative solutions can be harnessed to solve complex problems, create new consumer experiences, or redefine industry norms.
The work should reflect originality, the effective use of new tools or systems, and the ability to create tangible, measurable outcomes, whether in terms of audience reach, behaviour change, or new business opportunities.
Presentation in Cannes
Shortlisted entrants will be required to present their work to the Jury in Cannes. These are live presentations with an audience that include a Q&A session where entrants will be expected to answer questions from the Jury.
VANISHING EMAILS | AMAZON WEB SERVICES | VML, LIMA | BRONZE, INNOVATION LIONS | 2024
The Categories
A. Early-Stage Technology
Work that showcases technology still in the prototype and beta stages of its creation. It may still be attracting funding or only operating at a fraction of its projected scale.
B. Innovation
Brand-aligned, breakthrough and revolutionary ideas, and forward-thinking methods that are rooted in finding solutions to specific brand challenges and/or propelling a brand forward.
Products created and developed in response to a business or consumer challenge. This could include, but is not limited to, solutions-driven products, consumer experience, integration of technology into daily life and sustainability.
Work that demonstrates a positive environmental contribution. Innovative approaches to being regenerative and work that creates a long-term sustainable impact on the environment.
Work that addresses complex societal challenges. Innovative solutions that seek to drive positive and transformative change. This could include, but not be limited to, education, healthcare, equality, financial inclusion, social justice and cultural norms.
Breakthrough technology or solutions that aim to advance, enrich or improve a brand. This could include, but not be limited to, data-led technologies, innovative platforms, tools, models, programmes, hardware, software, bespoke products and solutions.
Work that demonstrates innovative opportunities that aim to reshape the financial landscape. This could include, but not be limited to, expanding access in emerging markets by reducing costs, pioneering financial products that empower consumers and revolutionising payments to reshape how consumers handle their finances.
Eligibility
Work will need to have been executed during the eligibility period of 8 February 2024 – 10 April 2025.
Is there a limit to how many times I can enter?
The same piece of work may be entered in section A or B, not both.
- Work can be entered up to two times in section ‘B. Innovation'. However, the same piece of work may only be entered once in ‘A. Early-Stage Technology’.
- Work entered into 'A01. Early-Stage Technology' may be at prototype/pre-production stage.
Entrants in all categories must be in a position to fully demonstrate any technology entered. Concepts alone will not be permitted.
REEF RELIEF | STREAM2SEA | McCANN DEMAND, LONDON | BRONZE, INNOVATION LIONS | 2024
Previous Winners
Voice 2 Diabetes
Cannes Lions 2024 Grand Prix Klick Health, Toronto / KVI Brave Fund Inc / 2024
‘Voice 2 Diabetes’ is an AI-based innovation that detects type 2 diabetes through voice analysis. It’s already been effective in India and has the potential to scale to other markets, with estimated savings of $32bn on costlier diagnosis tools.
VOICE 2 DIABETES | KVI BRAVE FUND INC | KLICK HEALTH, TORONTO | GRAND PRIX, INNOVATION LIONS | 2024
Why the work won
The Innovation Jury awarded this work the Grand Prix for its inclusive and cost-effective approach, recognising how it innovatively addressed challenges while ensuring broad accessibility.
Jury member Jody Samuels Ike highlighted the significance of the project’s inclusivity, stating, "This level of inclusion and giving people agency is a trend I’d love to see more in healthcare." The work stood out for its ability to empower individuals, offering them greater control and agency over their own experiences, particularly in a field where accessibility and personalised solutions are often lacking.
By combining innovation with a thoughtful, cost-conscious strategy, the project not only made healthcare more inclusive but also demonstrated the power of creativity to drive meaningful change.
VOICE 2 DIABETES | KVI BRAVE FUND INC | KLICK HEALTH, TORONTO | GRAND PRIX, INNOVATION LIONS | 2024
Inside the Jury Room: Innovation Lions
To hear more from the Jury and how they decided on the winning work, check out the video below.
Entries & Judging
What are the judging criteria?
The main criteria considered during judging will be the idea, the execution and the impact.
What do I need to provide with my entry?
To enter, you’ll need to complete an online entry form, which can be found on the Cannes Lions entry site. In the ‘Written Explanation’ section, you’ll be asked to provide the Jury with everything they need to know about your work.
You’ll also be able to submit optional supporting materials to provide additional context with your entry.
All case films, films, demo films and original content must be subtitled in English.
Detailed information outlining the entry process can be found on A Guide to the Cannes Lions Awards.
What if I don’t have all the details right away?
Don’t worry – you can fill in the form in any order and save your progress at any time while it’s still in the pending stage. However, please only check out when your entry is 100% complete as no changes can be made to your entry once you’ve clicked “Submit” and “Checkout”.
The Written Submission
Here’s the questions you’ll be asked regarding your work.
To start your entry to the Innovation Lions, go to our Awards page.
The Jury will refer to the written explanation you provide throughout the judging process. Our advice is to provide as much relevant detail as possible.
When answering the following questions keep the main element you’re trying to celebrate in mind (e.g. the storytelling, the strategy, the craft, the use of data).
The bullet points under each question are prompts designed to guide your thinking, based on the factors the jury will be considering when reviewing your work. You might not need to use them all, and that’s totally fine. They’re there to help you consider what’s most important in your work.
Questions
The word limit for this section is 100 words.
This question is compulsory.
Please provide any brand and cultural context that would help the jury understand any cultural, national or regional nuances applicable to this work.
You should outline why this piece of work was created for this particular brand, in this market, at this particular moment in time, with all of the cultural and market conditions.
The word limit for this section is 250 words.
This question is compulsory.
Please select the objective(s) that were most important when creating this work – what the work set out to achieve.
For the jury to accurately assess the work, it must first establish its objectives. As you progress through the entry system, you must link your results back to each objective selected.
- Overachieve on brand metrics (e.g. awareness, engagement)
- Change consumer behaviour (e.g. attitudes, frequency, penetration)
- Create short-term sales growth (e.g. sales, promotions, discounts)
- Improve brand health (e.g. consideration, preference)
- Create sustained sales success (e.g. profit, sales)
- Create long-term brand and sales growth (e.g. shareholder value, retention, loyalty)
There is no word limit for this section
This question is compulsory.
Please provide a summary of your entry.
- Describe the background and context behind the work?
- What creative challenges did the work face?
- Technological influences?
- Limitations, restrictions, regulations?
- Budgets?
This should be an overview of the work. You should describe how the objectives of the campaign have been successfully met.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory.
Please include a timeline of the details and dates. (e.g. 3 November 2017 - First patent agreed)
There is no word limit for this section.
This question is compulsory.
Consider the following when describing the creative idea:
- Does the work cross boundaries/have the ability to think beyond conventional boundaries or categories?
- Does the work evoke surprise/have the power to continue captivating attention?
- Does the work transcend the original challenge?
- Does the work incorporate breakthrough thinking?
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory.
- How it works
- Components
- Platforms
- Development stage
The word limit for this section is 200 words.
This question is compulsory.
Please refer back to the objectives selected when answering this question. Consider:
- Does this overachieve on brand metrics (e.g. awareness, engagement, etc.)
- Does the work change consumer behaviour (e.g. attitudes, frequency, penetration, etc.)
- What was the reach of the campaign (e.g. developments to date, number of impressions, results, successes, views, visits, etc.)
- Does it create short-, medium-, or long-term outcomes (e.g. Investment received, scalability, shareholder value, profit, revenue, ROI, sales, share, etc.)
- Does it improve brand health (e.g. consideration, preference, etc.)
- Were there changes in government regulations, societal, or economic events (e.g. changes in economic, political, social factors, etc.)
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory.
- Yes
- No
This question is compulsory.
I would like the Jury to see this response when judging this work (tick box)
Please outline how this piece of work has aligned with the brand’s sustainability strategy. This could involve either operational measures to reduce the impact on the environment, and consumer strategies to encourage positive behaviour change, or both.
Please provide details of the benchmarks used for measuring the success of this piece of work’s contribution to the overall strategy. This could include, but is not limited to, targets around advertising business operations - advertising production - media planning and buying.
This question is optional.
I would like the Jury to see this response when judging this work (tick box)
Based on the brief, what consideration was given to representation and diversity of the team(s) involved?
What consideration was given to accessibility in the work and what role did DEI thinking play throughout the development of the work?
This question is optional.
If there are additional results you wish to disclose to the Jury but prefer to keep confidential, please enter them below.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional.
AXA - THREE WORDS | AXA | PUBLICIS CONSEIL, PARIS | GOLD, INNOVATION LIONS | 2024
Contact us
Everything you need to know to enter
For more detailed information on how to use the entry site, craft a compelling submission or submit your work we have a whole range of resources.
From Entry Guides that give you a step-by-step overview of the entire process to the Entry Kits that provide all the detailed rules and requirements for each and every category.
We are here to help
As Awards Experts, we know the Lions inside out. We can help with:
- Sharing the updates to the Awards for 2025
- Offering best-practice advice on how to craft a compelling entry
- Discussing your work and relevant categories
- Scheduling regular catch-ups to answer any questions that arise throughout the entry process.
Whether you have a specific query or would like expert advice, get in touch today.
Email: awards@canneslions.com Helpline: +44 0 20 7046 1155