CANNES – Thirty four entries have made it through to the final round of judging at this year’s Innovation Lions, with the US having the most number of contenders with eight entries led by R/GA New York accounting for four.
Five countries will represent Asia this year with a total of nine entries.This include includes Japan (Hakuhodo Kettle and Dentsu Tokyo) and China (Cheil Beijing, DDB China and Baidu Online Network Beijing) with three entries each; and Singapore (Grey Group), Vietnam (DDB Group Vietnam) and Hong Kong (Ogilvy & Mather HK) with one entry each.
New to the Innovation Lions are new categories for standalone and branded technological solutions, adtech platforms and models, broadening the range of initiatives that submitted to the competition.
However, a strong trend towards solutions for global issues has been observed by judges. Nick Law, Jury President and Global CCO of R/GA, believes that it reflects the growing role of creativity as an agent of change.
“A creative culture with the courage to imagine a better future will reshape an industry and the world. These Lions are a measure our industry’s appetite for innovation, and our collective ambition to effect change, not just react to it.”
Launched in 2013, the Innovation Lions is distinguished by having shortlisted entries be presented live to a 10-person jury during the Lions Innovation Festival, a new separate two-day event held alongside the Cannes Lions “exploring data and technology as catalysts for creativity”
The Innovation Lions together with another new award called the Creative Data Lions now form part of the Festival, and winners will be announced at the concluding Awards Ceremony on Friday, 26 June.
Commenting on the announcement, Lions Festivals CEO Philip Thomas said, “The growth of the Innovation Lions is testament to the now instrumental role of innovation in the industry, something which we’re excited to explore further through the festival.”
The Inovation Lions 2015 shortlist can be accessed via this link.
