Deadline: 3-Oct-22
The European Patent Office is seeking nominations for the Young Inventors Prize.
The inaugural Young Inventors prize cast a spotlight on three ground-breaking initiatives and highlighted the power of younger generations in shaping the world. Thanks to these inventors, they have technology that enables earlier disease detection, an initiative to encourage recycling, and products to improve the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged groups.
There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals defined by the United Nations, ranging from climate action and sustainable cities to quality education and zero hunger. The EPO wants to acknowledge young innovators who use technology to develop solutions that will help reach these goals and positively impact our live for a better future.
Benefit
- The winner will receive a cash prize of EUR 20 000, the second and third placed finalists will receive EUR 10 000 and EUR 5 000 respectively.
Award
- The panel of judges may nominate up to three finalists for the Young Inventors prize.
- The nominated finalists will be asked by email to confirm their acceptance of the nomination and consent to the award.
- A list of these finalists will be published on the official competition website and in other publications relating to the Award.
- Finalists of the Young Inventors prize will be invited to the European Inventor Award ceremony.
- It may be an online or physical ceremony. More information on when and where it will take place will be announced in due time and form.
- If applicable, travel and accommodation costs will be borne by the organiser.
- Finalist and winners will be featured on the European Inventor Award page and other EPO website, and other EPO’s internal and external channels. They will also be featured in newsletters, other promotional and multimedia material published for disseminating information about the Award and their nomination. Information on the company, the inventors and the selected invention and if applicable its patent will also be included in press dossiers for specialised press and media and may be used for other promotional activities organised by the Office. Nevertheless, in case the winner of the Young Inventors prize is a minor, additional measures to safeguard minor’s rights are to be taken and the processing of data is to be restricted according to the data protection statement of the competition.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Young Inventors prize is open to any individual or group worldwide with a maximum age of 30 at the time of the award.
- This prize is open to any national, regardless of the nationality. Citizens of EPC (European Patent Convention) & non-EPC countries are welcome to submit nominations for the Young Inventors prize.
- Public/published initiatives comprising a technological concept: the initiative shall comprise a solution in one of the fields of technology. Only initiatives and supporting information which is already public or published will be accepted.
- United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related applications: the initiative shall aim at solving a problem within the frame of one or more of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
- Maximum age at the time of the award of 30 years old: participants will be eligible as long as they have a maximum age of 30 years old at the time of the award ceremony. There is no minimum age requirement for participants, minors can therefore also participate.
- Any idea, project or product in any field of technology which is supported by written or audio-visual material is to be considered as an “initiative” in the context of the Young Inventors prize.
Submission of Entries
- Applicants must submit their entries using the online application form accessible on the EPO website.
- Entries may be submitted either on the candidate’s own drive or by any other person, entity or institution that wishes to propose a candidate.
- You can apply for the Young Inventors prize and if fulfilling the eligibility criteria also for the other five categories, but only once per category.
- The period for submission of entries is from the day of the European Inventor Award ceremony on 21June 2022 to 3 October 2022 (23:59 CEST).
- There is no entry fee.
- Entries that do not include the required information specified in the rules will not be accepted.
- They will be informed accordingly.
- The organiser may request evidence of the complementary information included in the entry form.
- The submission of an entry implies full and unconditional acceptance of all rules.
- Applicants considered a minor under their national legislation, must also submit together with the nomination form, the granting of rights and declaration of parental consent form document.
For more information, visit https://www.epo.org/news-events/events/european-inventor/young-inventors.html