Deadline: 30Th September 2026
The Young Inventors Prize rewards those who innovate with a purpose and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) using technology. Aimed at individuals 30 and under, the Prize showcases the transformative power of youth-driven solutions and recognises the remarkable young people paving the way to a more sustainable future.
Established in 2022, the Prize originally formed part of the European Inventor Award before evolving into a stand-alone event, giving the next generation of innovators a platform of their own. Today, the EPO hosts its two science prizes on an alternating basis. The Young Inventors Prize will take centre stage again in 2027, with the European Inventor Award returning in 2028.
Format and prizes
In each edition, we spotlight ten Tomorrow Shapers: young innovators (or teams of innovators) whose work in the field of sustainability deserves recognition. During the ceremony, we will celebrate their contributions, reward three Tomorrow Shapers with a special prize and reveal the People’s Choice winner.
- World Builders
These innovators work to ensure a better, more sustainable future for us all. Their solutions help make sure they have things like water and energy in a sustainable way. By enabling a circular economy, World Builders also support the creation of prosperous communities.
- Community Healers
With incredible empathy, these innovators are working to heal the wrongs of the world. Community Healers develop solutions that ensure equal access to food, education, and decent work, preventing discrimination in any of its forms.
- Nature Guardians
Protecting our ecosystems and the flora and fauna that live therein is their number one goal. Nature Guardians look after endangered species on land and under water, aiming to prevent damage to our ecosystems or reduce the impact of climate change.
- People’s Choice
Once the Tomorrow Shapers are revealed, you help decide who takes home the highly-coveted People’s Choice trophy. Cast your vote for the inventors who inspire you most and be part of the journey all the way to the finish line. Voting stays open until the day of the ceremony. The winner is decided by a 50–50 split between the public vote and the jury.
Prize money
Each Tomorrow Shaper will receive EUR 5 000 and a certificate, the three special prize winners will each receive an extra EUR 15 000 and a trophy. The People’s Choice winner will be awarded an additional EUR 5 000. In the case of team entries, the prize money is shared by the team.
While a Tomorrow Shaper may win only one special prize, they remain eligible to receive the People’s Choice prize.
- The Trophy
Like their counterparts in the European Inventor Award, Young Inventors Prize winners are presented with striking sail-shaped trophies. Symbolising exploration and ingenuity, the sail reflects how bold ideas can carry humanity toward new frontiers. Originally designed by German industrial designer Miriam Irle, the trophy is reimagined each year using different materials, making each edition unique.
Eligibility rules and conditions
The section below provides all the information you need to submit a proposal for the Young Inventors Prize. Remember to check your proposal carefully – if the details are incorrect, incomplete or do not meet the conditions below, your candidate may be eliminated from the competition.
- The Young Inventors Prize is open to any public/published initiative, by an individual or a group of individuals worldwide with a maximum age of 30 years at the time of the Award ceremony. The initiative should clearly demonstrate how it intends to solve a problem within the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework by using a solution from any field of technology.
- Candidates may be of any nationality – this prize is not limited to individuals with EPO Member State nationality.
- Only public/published initiatives will be considered as this avoids the risk of unwillingly disclosing information that may impact future patent applications.
- Each nomination must be accompanied by supporting information. Examples of supporting documents include granted patents or utility models, published scientific papers, business plans, videos or documentaries, or web articles. Please note that not all supporting documentation carries the same weight. For example, a granted patent is a clear statement of originality and potential technological impact, whereas ideas disclosed on a blog may not necessarily be so.
For more information and application.