European Inventor Award

The award aims to recognize inventors and their technological and scientific advances, as well as the impact their inventions have on our lives, promoting a brighter future through their work and dedication to their creations.
Financing entity: European Patent Office Beneficiaries: Inventors from member countries of the European Union

Participating requirements: Anyone who works as an inventor in industry, university or research institute or for a professional association, whether they are an individual inventor or simply have an interest in the work these people do.

The award categories can be the following:

• Industry.
• Investigation.
• Countries not belonging to the European Patent Office (EPO).
• Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
• “Lifetime Achievement” – This category honors the long-term contribution of an individual European inventor whose dedication has had a major impact on their field of technology and society at large.
• Other additional awards to these categories are: Young Inventors Award: this award aims to recognize and reward the work of younger generations in the field of sustainability.
  People's Prize: This additional prize is awarded to the finalist who receives the highest number of votes from the public on the People's Prize microsite in the period leading up to the ceremony.

Eligibility criteria:

• An inventor must obtain at least one European patent for an invention from the European Patent Office.
• The patent must remain valid in at least one EPO member state (except in the “Life Path” category).
• The patent must show a high degree of inventiveness, show a recognizable benefit to society or the environment and demonstrate proven or potential economic success in Europe.
• Nominated inventors for the Industry, Research, SME and Career categories must be citizens of one of the 39 EPO member states. Inventors from outside EPO member states can only be nominated for the non-EPO category.
• Inventions from all fields of technology for which a European patent can be granted can be nominated for the European Inventor Prize.

Deadline for submission: The period for receiving applications will be open until 01/10/2023