The Worshipful Company of Cutlers' Surgical Prize

Win a cash prize for your original design, development, or use of surgical equipment. The Cutlers’ Surgical Prize is made annually to a surgeon who has performed outstanding work in the development of surgical instruments, equipment, and techniques that improve patient care and recovery.

Career stage

Trainee, Consultant, Team application

Prize amount

£5,000

Deadline

Open annually for applications from September. The deadline is 30 October 2026.

Please note all grants and fellowships are reviewed annually, so the information on this page may be subject to change before the next round opens.

Eligibility

You may enter the Cutler’s surgical prize as an individual surgeon at any career stage, or as a team which includes a surgeon.

You must:

• be based in the UK;
• provide evidence of contribution to an original technical innovation in surgery that improves patient care;
• not have received Cutlers’ prize funding before.

About the Cutlers’ Surgical Prize

Established in 1981, the Cutlers' Surgical Prize is one of the most prestigious awards for surgical innovation. It recognises original advances in the design, development, or use of surgical instruments, equipment, and techniques.

Each year, we partner with The Cutlers' Company to award this prize to a surgeon, or a team that includes a surgeon, for outstanding contributions to technical innovation in surgery. The prize celebrates pioneering work that uses modern technologies to advance surgical treatment and improve outcomes for patients.

What you’ll win

If your innovation is chosen for the Cutler’s Prize, you will be invited to attend a dinner held at Cutler’s Hall in March.

You will also receive:

• a mounted Victorian silver-gilt medal
• an award of £5,000 to the winner or winning team

How to apply

Your application should focus on one specific instrument, innovation, or technique. We will also consider a major modification of an existing instrument or technique.

Applications consist of:

• Applicant form;
• written evidence from one or more independent referees as to the surgical application;
• scientific paper with a maximum of 3,000 words, supported by illustrations and/or photographs.

Your application must also include:

• evidence of originality;
• innovation;
• date of development;
• clinical usage;
• an explanation of benefits in patient care.

A video is not part of the application, but you may include one as supplementary support following short-listing.

If selected, you will be recommended for the Cutler’s Surgical Prize.

You should submit your completed application form along with attachments detailed below to clerk@cutlerslondon.co.uk by 30 October 2026 with Surgical Prize 2027 in the subject line.

What happens next

We will check every application against the eligibility criteria, after which eligible applications go through an independent panel review process, chaired by The Cutler’s Company.

You will be advised of the outcome by The Cutlers’ Company in February.

Contact

If you have any questions about applying for Cutlers’ Surgical Prize please email clerk@cutlerslondon.co.uk.

How this grant is funded

This grant is generously funded by The Worshipful Company of Cutlers.