Oxford Nanopore Technologies has been named winner of the 2026 MacRobert Award, the UK’s longest-running and most prestigious prize for engineering innovation, in recognition of its pioneering nanopore sequencing technology and its global impact.
The award was presented on 8 July by HRH The Princess Royal, Royal Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, at the Academy Awards Dinner in London.
The MacRobert Award recognises engineering innovations that demonstrate outstanding technical achievement, commercial success and societal benefit. Oxford Nanopore was honoured for its development of nanopore-sensing technology, which enables the direct, real-time analysis of DNA and RNA without the need for complex imaging systems or highly specialised laboratory infrastructure.
For more than two decades, genomic sequencing has largely depended on costly and complex technologies. Oxford Nanopore’s approach has transformed access to genomic information by making sequencing faster, more accessible and deployable beyond traditional laboratory settings. Today, nanopore technology is used in busy diagnostic laboratories, in the field during disease outbreaks, and even aboard the International Space Station.
Developed in Oxford, the technology has now been deployed in more than 125 countries, supporting applications from infectious disease surveillance to cancer research and environmental monitoring. Its real-time data capabilities help researchers and clinicians generate insights more rapidly, enabling faster decision-making when time is critical.
The platform has played a role in responding to global health challenges including Ebola, Zika and SARS-CoV-2. In healthcare settings, rapid sequencing is also helping to accelerate access to genomic insights that can support more informed treatment decisions.
The Royal Academy of Engineering highlighted the technology’s potential to address some of the world’s most pressing health and environmental challenges, recognising its contribution to improving access to genomic information and enabling innovation across research, healthcare and industry.