OTW Technology Awards 2026–2027

Transforming Orthopedic Surgery
Through Innovation

The OTW Technology Awards celebrate innovative medical technologies, inventors, and their teams by identifying, validating, and showcasing technologies that have the potential to transform surgical care.

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Technology Categories & Timelines

Four award cycles covering all major orthopedic specialties

Spine & Pain Management

Deadline: July 31, 2026

Ceremony: End of Q3, 2026

Extremities, Trauma, Foot and Ankle

Deadline: October 30, 2026

Ceremony: End of Q4, 2026

Sports Medicine & Orthobiologics

Deadline: January 31, 2027

Ceremony: End of Q1, 2027

Total Joint Arthroplasty (Hip, Knee, Shoulder)

Deadline: April 30, 2027

Ceremony: End of Q2, 2027

Winning Impact

Award winners receive far more than a trophy — they gain a powerful platform for market credibility and clinical adoption.

National Recognition

Featured in Orthopedics This Week publications and digital platforms to reach our large audience of orthopedic surgeons.

Peer Credibility

Validated by a distinguished panel of leading surgeons and industry experts to fast-track an innovation's path to adoption by moving a product from 'unproven' to industry recognized.

Market Visibility

Positioning that helps early-stage companies attract investor attention and clinical adoption.

Organic Marketing Content

Your team can recycle, share internally, and use across your own platforms — which we will support.

Who Judges the Awards?

Leading Surgeons

OTW brings in leading clinicians from major teaching institutions and top facilities globally.

Industry Experts

A select group of unbiased industry leaders and experts in market positioning and commercial valuation.

This unique combination ensures that award winners aren't just clinically relevant but are positioned for real-world success and sustained market impact — an appealing perspective to investors.

Evaluation Criteria

Every submission is assessed against five rigorous criteria by our panel of surgeons and industry experts.

  • 1Creativity and Innovation
  • 2Long-term Significance
  • 3Clinical Problem Solving
  • 4Potential to Improve the Standard of Care
  • 5Cost Effectiveness

Ready to Apply?

Submit your technology for consideration in the next award cycle. Contact us to learn more about the application process.

Apply Now

Rules For Entry

To be eligible for the 2026–2027 Technology Awards, subject to narrow exceptions:

1

Technology IS any device, biomaterial, software-based device (including robotic assistance, navigation, artificial intelligence, or augmented reality), or biologic product developed to improve the care of patients with orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions, including technologies intended to support evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, or procedural care.

2

The owners of the technology have applied for patent protection roughly 36 months prior to the awards presentation.

3

While it need NOT be either FDA cleared or approved, if FDA approved or cleared, such approval or clearance was received no more than 12 months before the awards presentation.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected] if you have questions on the program or application process.

Is Your Technology Ready to Be Recognized?

Join the growing list of innovative companies that have earned national recognition through the OTW Technology Awards.

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