Manchester-based EarSwitch, which makes earplug-based medical monitoring devices, was tonight named “Life Sciences Innovator of the Year” at the 2025 Innovation Awards.
The prestigious accolade was announced after a year-long process of voting and judging at a finale awards dinner attended by 500 people at Eastside Rooms in Birmingham.
‘Better-quality medical monitoring that’s appropriate for everybody’
Nick Gompertz, founder, chairman and CEO of EarSwitch, reacting to news of the win, said: “The award really means better exposure for us, better publicity, to progress getting this out to more people as soon as possible, to provide better-quality medical monitoring that’s appropriate for everybody and really to help us move on to the next level.”
EarSwitch Ltd’s miniature EarMetrics sensors fit in earbuds and measure a person’s blood in the inner ear-canal – a site that is close to the essential blood supply to the brain. This aims to resolve current poor accuracy and racial bias of many medical devices.
The product offers more accurate medical monitoring in hospitals, GP surgeries and at home, and provides the same accurate data from earbuds a patient listens to music.
Measuring heart rate, pulse, blood pressure from your earphones
“We’re replacing the standard medical monitor with your earphones. We’re providing full medical monitoring from your ear, aiming to be medical grade. Your heart rate, your pulse, your oxygen level, your blood pressure,” said Nick.
Dr Richard Fallon, CEO of the Technology Supply Chain (TSC) membership organisation, which runs the annual Innovation Awards, said: “Congratulations to EarSwitch. We had more entries than ever before this year, and the competition for each category was stronger than it’s ever been.
“Each winner can be justifiably proud and can look forward to ongoing support from the 5,000-member TSC network as they chart their course to future success.”
Innovation Awards are open to individuals, businesses and organisations across the UK
The Innovation Awards recognise, celebrate and reward the businesses, organisations and individuals who are dedicated to innovation.
The awards are open to innovative individuals, businesses and organisations – including universities, local councils and catapults – based in the UK.
