Blog post written by Kenneth Pratt
We look back on the some of the key moments in innovation achievements of 2021 that continued, in spite of the evolving pandemic. After 2020 proved that everyday life can become oddly surreal, 2021 upped its game, showing there are no limits to unexpected challenges. On one hand, there were optimistic periods when COVID-19 hospitalisations and restrictions shrank for those who were lucky enough to live where vaccines were rolled out rapidly. For periods, we resumed those everyday activities that had started to feel like mere memories: travelling, returning to bricks-and-mortar shops or joining friends for a meal.
On the other hand, waves of new viral variants, each potentially more infectious than the last or throwing doubt on the efficacy of vaccines, brought further waves of uncertainty, disruption and a retreat into sensible behaviours. In many places, we returned to the physical workplace and then left it once again. Add to this other problems—a lack of vaccines in some parts of the world and non-compliance in others—and it soon became clear that this pandemic did not have an easily predictable arc.
Despite all that, innovation thrived, evidenced by the fantastic achievements of semi-finalists, finalists and winners across the spectrum of prizes we delivered. 2021 was another year that showed that not even an unwieldy pandemic could halt the passion for and real-time delivery of innovations.
Share a moment of reflection with us as we enjoy basking in the key moments of our shared achievements in 2021.
