Nominations for European Inventor of the Year are Now Open

Following the recent announcement of the winners of the European Inventor Awards 2018, the nominations for 2019 are now open. The deadline for submissions is the 28th of September 2018 and any member of the public can nominate an inventor or team of inventors for the coveted awards. Beginning in 2006 and organised by the European Patent Office, the awards are a way to honour and celebrate the creative and valuable work of inventors.

To qualify for these awards, the inventor(s) nominated must have at least one granted patent for the invention listed and it must be maintained in force in at least one EPO member state. (The full list of guidelines and rules can be found here.)

How it Works.

The awards themselves are separated into five different categories: Industry, Research, Non-EPO Countries, SMEs and the Lifetime Achievement Award. The finalists and winners in each category are chosen by an independent jury consisting of individuals across the industries of science, business, research and academia. Voting is also open to the public for the Popular Prize Award.

The European Inventor Awards are a fantastic way to recognise and reward innovative thinkers whose hard work and dedication have resulted in advancements in various fields including science and technology. Winning inventions for 2018 include programmable Lego robotic toys, batteries for implantable defibrillators, a tyre thread design by 3D metal printing and mouldable glue from Irish winner Sugru. (The full list of nominees and winners can be found here.)

Nominating an Inventor

If you are an inventor or know of an invention which should win this award, why not get your nominations in before the September deadline? At Cruickshank, we believe in empowering ideas and protecting the intellectual property rights of our clients. By providing patent protection to both individuals and companies we enable them to turn their ideas into reality.  Such awards like the European Inventor Award are a fantastic opportunity to recognise the outstanding ingenuity which come from individual and teams of inventors. As echoed on the EPO website, ‘The driving force behind the innovation process is people.’

To find out more about the awards and how to submit your nomination click here.

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