Camden Challenge Prize 2025: glossary

The Camden Challenge Prize 2025 uses some terms that you might not be familiar with. Here you can find explanations specific to the Camden Challenge Prize 2025. If there is anything else you do not understand, get in touch with us by email at camdenchallengeprize@camden.gov.uk and we’ll be happy to explain more.

Camden’s Missions

Missions are the long-term goals for the future of our borough that were developed in collaboration with people across Camden. Camden has identified 10 big issues facing the borough, which include 4 Camden Missions and 6 Camden Challenges.

Challenge Prize

A Challenge Prize, also known as an innovation prize or inducement prize, is a reward offered to individuals or teams who solve a specific problem or achieve a defined goal, usually in fields like science, technology, public policy or social innovation. Unlike traditional grants or contracts, a challenge prize does not fund the process of research or development up front; it incentivizes innovation by offering a prize only upon successful completion of the challenge. 

Food Mission

This is one of 4 Camden Missions. It sets out that by 2030, everyone will eat well every day with nutritious, affordable and sustainable food.

Food surplus

This primarily refers to edible food that becomes available for redistribution or other beneficial uses, rather than being discarded as waste.

Food waste

This predominantly refers to edible food that’s discarded. Spoilage is a common reason for food waste, but it can also result from an excessive supply of food due to fluctuating market trends and changes in consumer eating habits.

Hospitality and Food Service Sector

The Hospitality and Food Service (HaFS) sector is defined by the activities related to serving food and beverages to people consuming them outside of the household. Examples of businesses in this sector include restaurants, cafés, catering services, canteens, takeaways, hotels, pubs and market traders.

Innovation

Innovation simply means doing something in a new, creative, or more effective way. 

Offshoot

This is a company or activity that has developed from one that already existed.