Eligible applicants include companies that partner with pharma and biotech to advance drug development, including but not limited to: 

• Clinical trial management
• Drug development strategy
• Data management and analytics
• Regulatory support and submissions
• Patient recruitment and retention
• Decentralized or hybrid trial models
• Sponsor partnerships and service delivery
• Innovative technologies supporting research execution

If you’ve delivered measurable impact, solved complex challenges, or set new standards in partnership, performance, or innovation—this program is for you.

Descriptions of each specific category can be found under the Categories & Criteria.

The finalists will be announced on April 9, 2026.

Winners will be announced on April 14, 2026. Winner profiles will also be featured in the Fierce Outsourcing Report publishing in June 2026.

The winners will be celebrated live at Fierce Biotech Week taking place in Boston May 13, 2026. For more information about Fierce Biotech Week, please visit: https://www.fiercebiotechweek.com/. 

The Outsourcing Report will feature spotlights and interviews of all category winners and will be promoted to the 300,000+ influencers and decision-makers who read and trust Fierce Biotech.

Yes. You may submit the same nomination to multiple categories or submit multiple nominations to the same category. There is no limit to how many applications your company can submit.

You can pay for your entry using a credit card at the time of submission. Submissions must be paid for by the deadline in order to be reviewed by judges.

Each entry will be reviewed by the judging panel against the following criteria:  

• Innovation and Impact: The level of creativity and effectiveness in advancing research and development services within the life sciences sector
• Measurable Outcomes: Evidence of tangible results and improvements, such as successful trials, enhanced data quality, or improved client satisfaction
• Sustainability and Scalability: The potential for long-term impact and the ability to apply successful practices on a broader scale
• Ethical and Regulatory Adherence: Commitment to maintaining high ethical standards and complying with relevant regulations

The Questex Privacy Policy can be viewed here.

These awards recognize companies that partner with pharma and biotech to advance drug development. Eligible entrants include CROs, CDMOs, clinical service providers, regulatory and data partners, decentralized trial providers, patient recruitment specialists, and other organizations supporting research execution.

Yes. Many entries showcase collaborative work between service providers and sponsors. We encourage highlighting the partnership and measurable outcomes achieved together.

Yes. Certain categories allow for individual nominations, while others are company-focused. Please review the category descriptions carefully to determine the appropriate fit.

Yes. Sponsor and customer names may be anonymized in your submission. This will not negatively impact judging.

We recommend clearly outlining the scope of work, the challenge addressed, your approach, and measurable outcomes to ensure judges can fully evaluate the impact.

No. Sponsor names will not be published without your permission.

If selected as a winner, there is an opportunity to reference client work in the Outsourcing Report or related coverage, our team will confirm with you in advance what can be shared publicly.

Yes. Supplementary materials may include “CONFIDENTIAL” watermarks.

All submissions are reviewed privately by our independent judging panel. No confidential materials will be published without your approval.

Judging is primarily conducted based on your initial submission. There is not a formal second round requiring additional disclosure.