Shark Tank Pitch:

Innovative Research in Lasers & Light-based Applications

Vasant and Nirmal Oswal Research Prize 2026

Are you ready to shine a light on innovation?

Don’t miss this opportunity to bring your innovation to the attention of our sector.

The British Medical Laser Association (BMLA) invites visionary researchers, clinicians, healthcare professionals, postgraduate students, and trainees (at any career level) to pitch their most cutting-edge research or innovative ideas in laser and light-based applications. Whether it’s a breakthrough in therapy, diagnostics, or service delivery — this is your chance to make your mark!

In honour of Mr. Vasant Oswal, Founder Member and Vice President of the BMLA, and Mrs. Nirmal Oswal, this Prize celebrates the spirit of innovation, excellence, and dedication to advancing the field of laser & light-based technology in Medicine, and Aesthetics

The Prize

£500 Cash prize
Pitch live at the BMLA Conference
Showcase your project on the BMLA website and membership platform
Free attendance of the 2027 BMLA Conference

We're looking for innovations in

Medical, Dental, Veterinary, or Aesthetic applications
New laser techniques or novel integrations and services
Light-based technology that tackles real-world healthcare challenges.

What to do next and how it works:

Submit a 250-word proposal in pdf format, outlining your research or idea, its originality, rationale, potential impact, and how you’ll use the award.
Stage 1 evaluation (based on scores) will take place, and shortlisted finalists will be identified
Shortlisted finalists will be notified and invited to pitch their projects Shark Tank-style. Each finalist gets 10 minutes to present (max 6 PowerPoint slides), followed by a 5-minute Q&A with the expert panel. This constitutes Stage 2 of the evaluation process.
Winners will be announced at the Supper & Social evening on Thursday 7 May 2026

Essential Information:

Word count: Your submission should be no more than 250 words including the title, applicant name, affiliation and contact details.
Project Title: Maximum 15 words. It should be concise and clearly reflect the proposed innovation.
Email address: Please ensure that the email provided when submitting your Shark Tank Proposal will still be valid in January/February 2026 when the notification is emailed, and for all further correspondence.
Time to register: To make the most of the early bird conference registration fees it is advisable to register as soon as possible, even if this is before the Shark Tank shortlist is announced. If your proposal is not accepted for the conference and you decide you no longer wish to attend, there will be just a £25 administration fee to cancel your registration.

Shark Tank Presenters are paying delegates: All selected presenters are required to register as a paying delegate for the conference and be available on the afternoon of Thursday 7th May 2026. A selected Shark Tank presenter does not have the same entitlements as an invited speaker.
Consent: You will be asked during the registration process to confirm that, in the eventuality that any of the conference sessions are recorded or streamed, you give consent for your recorded presentation, and related recorded Q&A session, to be available on the platform for up to 3 months post-event and potentially on the BMLA website for members to access thereafter. *NOTE: This is not currently planned for 2026

Follow the link below to create an account and submit your proposal before the DEADLINE OF 12 JANUARY (midnight UK time). Please make sure that you have read and understood the guidelines above before commencing.

Shark tank submission portal