For the fourth year running, TCT has been proud to partner with the Sanjay Mortimer Foundation on the SMF Rising Star Award, which recognises up-and-coming neurodivergent young people with the potential to contribute greatly towards the engineering industry.
Past winners Zac Smith, Charlotte Bridgewater and Abigail Duckworth have since gone on to launch their engineering careers in the motorsport and biomedical sectors.
The 2026 winner is 14-year-old Neil Doherty. The announcement was made live on the main stage at TCT 3Sixty on Thursday 4 June where SMF CEO Teula Bradshaw hosted an insightful panel session with the three previous rising star award winners, discussing the impact this award has had since they each won the award.
At just 14 years old, Neil is the youngest winner yet, and has been recognised for his inspiring progress in 3D printing. In just a few years, through mentorship from 3D Printing Cornwall, he has grown from complete beginner to creating and selling his own designs locally, building confidence, creativity, and valuable life skills along the way. Still early in his journey, Neil is already exploring new technologies and sharing his passion to inspire others, making him a fantastic example of the potential of young people in additive manufacturing.
Neil wins a Prusa CORE One + 3D Printer, and will become the next SMF Star, giving him access to mentorship, training, grants and more.
