EPO – Young Inventors Awards 2025 – The Finalists

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

In 2025, the  European Patent Office (EPO) is celebrating young inventors (30 years and under) inventors. Ten inventions have been shortlisted. The inventions fall within the framework of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A vast 15-year program designed to end world poverty, divided into 17 SDGs*.

The following ten inventions are in competition for a 2025 European Patent Prize:

• Mark Kennedy Bantugon (Philippines): Material to prevent fuel leakages in planes

• Alisha Fredriksson (Sweden/Canada) and Roujia Wen (China): Retrofit carbon capture system for cargo ships

• Pilar Granado, Pablo Sosa Domínguez and Luis Chimeno (Spain): Smart labels for food

• Laurynas Karpus, Vykintas Jauniškis and Irmantas Rokaitis (Lithuania): AI platform for creating and enhancing enzymes

• Franziska Kerber (Austria): Sustainable paper components for electronic devices

• Neeka Mashouf and Leila Mashouf (US): Process to transform CO₂ emissions into cellulose

• Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita (Uganda): Sachets for extending the shelf life of fruit

• Mariana Pérez (Colombia): Air pollution capture and cleaning technology

• Teja Potočnik (Slovenia): Automated manufacturing platform for nanomaterial-based semiconductor devices

• Marie Perrin (France/US): Recycling rare earth elements from electronic waste

---------

* #1 No poverty,  #2 Zero Hunger, #3 Good Health and Well-being,  #4 Quality Education, #5 Gender Equality, #6 Clean Water and Sanitation, #7 Affordable and Clean Energy, #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, #9 Industry, Innovation and infrastructure, #10 Reduced Inequalities, #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, #12 Responsible Consumption and Production, #13 Climate Action, #14 Life below the Water, #15 Life on Land, #16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and #17 Partnerships for the Goals.

References

EPO - European Patent Office

www.epo.org

EPO Young Inventor Finalists: Meet the Tomorrow Shapers.

https://www.epo.org/en/news-events/news/young-inventors-prize-2025-meet-tomorrow-shapers

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

https://sdgs.un.org/goals 

Do you know the 17 SDGs goals? (YouTube video)

https://youtu.be/0XTBYMfZyrM

European Inventor Awards 2024 (1) - The Finalists

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

On July 9, 2024, the prestigious European Inventor Awards will be conferred upon inventors competing in one of four categories:  Industry, Small and Medium (S&M) Enterprise,  Research, and Non-European Patent Organization. This year, the ceremony will take place in the beautiful Mediterranean city of Malta, on the Island Republic of Malta, next to the southern Italian island of Sicily.   

Below, the list of the 12 finalists and their competing inventions, in each of the four categories. 

Industry

Ferham Sigurjonsson and team  (Iceland): wound healing fish-skin graft.

• EP2485779B1 - A scaffold material for wound care and/or other tissue healing applications.
• EP2575795B8 - Stabilized formulation comprising omega-3 fatty acids and use of the fatty acids for skin care and/or wound care.

​​Ulf Landegren, Simon Fredriksson and team​ (Sweden): molecular diagnostics for improved disease detection

• EP2714925B1 - Multiplexed proximity ligation assay.
• EP2920320B1 -RCA reporter probes and their use in detecting nucleic acid molecules.
• EP2707502B1 - Unfolding proximity probes and methods for the use thereof.

Fiorenzo Dioni (Italy) and Richard Oberle (Germany): reduction of carbon emission in automotive manufacturing.

• ​​EP3554745B1​ - Injection assembly for pressure die casting systems.

Small and Medium (S&M) Enterprise

Olga Malinkiewicz and team​ (Poland): printable solar cell technology.

• EP3227394B1 - A film-forming composition and a method for manufacturing a photoactive film.
• EP3719001B1- A method for synthesis of organic iodides.

​​Bruno Mottet, Lyderic Bocquet and team​ (France): sustainable osmotic energy production. 

• EP3344374B1 - Device for producing energy by salinity gradient through nano-fluid titanium oxide membranes.
• EP2909477B1 - Method and device for producing energy.

Sirpa Jalkanen and Markku Jalkanen (Finland): targeted immunotherapy for cancer treatment.

• EP2421888 - Clever-1 receptor antagonists for blocking immune-inhibitory type 2 macrophages.
• EP3445785B1 - Humanized anti-clever-1 antibodies and their use.

Research

​​​​Cordelia Schmid​ (Germany): AI solutions for improved machine visual perception.

• EP3547211 - Methods for training a cnn and classifying an action performed by a subject in an inputted video using said cnn.
• EP3549102 - Determining structure and motion in images using neural networks.

Tonio Sant, Daniel Buhagiar and team​ (Malta): improved energy storage for offshore wind farms.

• EP3256716B1 - Hydro-pneumatic energy storage system.

David Devos, Caroline Moreau and team​ (France): improved treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

• EP3142651B1 - Pharmaceutical solution comprising dopamine for use in treating Parkinson's disease.

Non-European Patent Organization country

David Fattal (USA):  3D imaging without glasses.

• EP3175267B1 - Multibeam diffraction grating-based color backlighting.
• EP3248058B1 - Unidirectional grating-based backlighting employing a reflective island.
• EP3283923B1 - 2D/3D mode-switchable electronic display with dual layer backlight.

Masato Sagawa (Japan): superior strength magnets.

• EP3260380B1 - Manufacturing method of a sintered magnet.
• EP2889883B1 - NDFEB-based sintered magnet.
• EP2696355B1 - Manufacturing method for a sintered neodymium magnet.

​Fernando Catalano, Micael Carmo and team (Brazil): reduced noise and carbon emissions in air travel.

• EP2137066B1 - Aerodynamic seal for reduction of noise generated on aircraft control surfaces.
• EP3676172B1 - Retractable leading edge wing slats having autonomously curvable airflow shield for noise-abatement.
• EP3676173B1 - Noise abatement systems for retractable leading edge wing slats of an aircraft.

Reference
European Inventor Awards 2024 -: Meet the finalists
https://tinyurl.com/2p57rc2r

Terminology: WOTTIES (2) - The 2023 OED WOTY Shortlist and Finalists.

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

In 2023, the selection of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) Word of the Year (WOTY) was a three-step process. First, Oxford lexicographers and terminologists monitored and analyzed the 2.1 billion-word Oxford English Corpus (OEC) for trends. They looked for words and phrases that captured: “ethos, mood, or preoccupations of a particular year, and which have potential to provide a snapshot of social history through language”, alternatively that appear to “have lasting potential as a word of cultural significance”. A process that resulted in the selection of a Shortlist, comprising eight terms and phrases. 

Secondly, the public was invited to vote for four 2023 WOTY contenders, out of the eight Shortlisted terms and phrases. Finally, the four WOTY contenders, designated the four 2023 WOTY Finalists, were submitted to a committee of expert Oxford terminologists and lexicographers for selection of the definitive 2023 Word of the Year.

Below, the eight Shortlisted terms and phrases, together with their definitions,  four of which Shortlisted terms and phrases were voted contending Finalists, before submission to the committee of Oxford experts that selected the 2023 winner of them all: ‘rizz’. The  contending Finalists (i.e., prompt, situationship and swiftie) appear starred. The expert-selected 2023 WOTY 'rizz', at the very end of the list, is underlined. 

• beige flag (noun). A character trait that indicates that a partner or potential partner is boring or lacks originality; (also) a trait or habit, esp. of a partner or potential partner, viewed as extremely characteristic, but not distinctly good or bad. 
• de-influencing (noun). The practice of discouraging people from buying particular products, or of encouraging people to reduce their consumption of material goods, esp. via social media. 
• heat dome (noun). A persistent high-pressure weather system over a particular geographic area, which traps a mass of hot air below it. 
• parasocial (adjective). Designating a relationship characterized by the one-sided, unreciprocated sense of intimacy felt by a viewer, fan, or follower for a well-known or prominent figure (typically a media celebrity), in which the follower or fan comes to feel (falsely) that they know the celebrity as a friend.

*prompt (noun). An instruction given to an artificial intelligence program, algorithm, etc., which determines or influences the content it generates.

*situationship (noun). A romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered to be formal or established.

*swiftie (noun). An enthusiastic fan of the singer Taylor Swift. 

 rizz (noun). Style, charm or attractiveness; the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner.  

References

Staff - Oxford Word of the Year 2023.

https://languages.oup.com/word-of-the-year/2023/

Staff (Nov. 27, 2023). Eight words go head-to-head for Oxford Word of the Year 2023

https://corp.oup.com/news/eight-words-go-head-to-head-for-oxford-word-of-the-year-2023/ 

EPO Inventor Awards - The 2023 Finalists (2)

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Below, the 2023 European Inventor Award Finalists, designated “Tomorrow Shapers”, competing in the four categories of  Industry, Research, Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and Non-European Patent Organization Country, plus Lifetime Achievement. The inventors are listed together with one or more hyperlinked patents, reciting their competing inventions. Short YouTube videos are also included, where each team presents their own invention.  

Industry

Michiel Dusselier & Bert Sels (BE)

Invention: A cheaper and greener process for producing bioplastics, using lactic acid.

• ​​EP2941422B1​ - Process for preparing cyclic esters and cyclic amides.

Josef Faderl, Siegfried Kolnberger, Thomas Kurz & Andreas Sommer (AT and DE)

Invention: Corrosion-resistant, zinc-coated steel, up to six times stronger, for manufacturing lighter and stronger car parts.

• EP1651789 B1 - Method for producing hardened parts from sheet steel.
• EP1658390 B1 - Method for producing a hardened steel part.
• EP2864505 B1 - Method for press hardening of steel.
• EP2655675 B1 - Method for producing hardened structural elements.

Pia Bergström, Annika Malm, Jukka Myllyoja, Jukka-Pekka Pasanen & Blanka Toukoniitty​ (FI) 

Invention: The transformation of a wide variety of wastes and residues into premium-quality renewable products, such as fuel.

• EP3519541 B1 - Oil purification process.
• EP3519540 B1 - Method for purification of animal or vegetable fats.
• EP3421572 B1 - Method for increasing gasoline and middle distillate selectivity in catalytic cracking.
• EP1963461 - Process for producing a hydrocarbon component.​

Research

Patricia de Rango, Daniel Fruchart, Albin Chaise, Michel Jehan & Nataliya Skryabina​ (FR) 

Invention: This team of scientists from the National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - CNRS) in France, invented a safe and sustainable way to store hydrogen.

• EP2024274B1 - Nanocrystalline composite for storage of hydrogen and process for its preparation.
• EP2593401B1 - Method for preparing a material for storing hydrogen, including an extreme plastic deformation operation.
• EP2244970B1 - Hydrogen storage material made from magnesium hydride.
• EP2235424B1 - Hydrogen storage tank.​

Harald Hass & team (DE)

Invention:  ​​High-speed internet using LED lights​ called LIFi - a mobile wireless technology that transmits data through light sources such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), rather than radio frequencies.

• EP3078130 B1 - System and method for communication between transmitters and receivers having an angular dependence.
• EP3044889 B1 - Transmission scheme for communications systems.
• EP2774287 B1 - Communication apparatus and method.
• EP2540123 B1 - Enhanced spatial modulation.
• EP2476210 B1 - Encoding method by conveying coded bit information on patterns of different modulation schemes on orthogonal resource units.

Thorsteinn Loftsson & Einar Stefánsson (IS)

Invention: Nanotechnology-based eye treatment that replaces injections to the back of the eye, with less invasive eye drops, for patients with diabetic macular edema.

•  EP1909755B1 - Cyclodextrin nanotechnology for ophthalmic drug delivery.​

Non-Epo Countries

Thomas Oxley and Nicholas Opie (and team)​ (AU)

Invention: The Stentrode, a brain implant for two-way communication with external devices​. The technology enables paralyzed people to control external technology with their minds. The technology is implantable via the jugular vein. The Stentrode attaches like a tattoo inside blood vessels of the brain, in areas controlling sensory and motor activity.

• EP3612268A4 - Endovascular device for sensing and or stimulating tissue.

​​Kai Wu and team​ (CN)

Invention:  Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries that lower fire and explosion risks due to overcharging

• EP3121867B1 - Power battery cap structure and power battery.
• EP3246967B1​ ​- Secondary battery.

Kripa Varanasi, David Smith & team ​(India and USA)

Invention:  This Massachusetts Insitute of Technology (MIT) team invented frictionless coatings that prevent viscous substances from sticking to their surfaces, maximizing product use, and eliminating waste. For example,  the invention resolves the problem of not being able to get all the toothpaste out of a tube, or all the ketchup out of a bottle. 

• ​EP3956079A1  ​Lubricious surfaces, systems and methods for making the same.

Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Antoine Hubert & team (FR)

Invention:  Vertical insect farms to produce food, feed and fertilizer.

• EP3240905 B1 - Beetle powder.
• EP3240436 B1 - Composition containing chitin and digestible proteins.
• EP3282836 B1 - Method for insect breeding.
• EP3364777 B1 ​- Preservation of water-soluble vitamins.
  

Luca Rossettini (IT)

Invention: Cleaning up space debris using the D-Orbit system, called the D-Orbiter Decommissioning Device (D3). D-Orbiter detects malfunctioning satellites and takes the satellites out of orbit, where they end up disintegrating in the atmosphere. The invention addresses the accumulation of debris in space, known as the Kessler Syndrome, resulting from satellite collisions. 

 

• EP2734448B1 - Device for moving or removing artificial satellites.
• EP3328738B1 - Propulsion system for small artificial satellites.

Rhona Togher & Eimear O’Carroll (IE)

Invention: Reducing noise with advanced acoustic material.

• EP3146949A1- ​A sound-absorbing device of the type adapted to cover the ears of a user.

Reference

European Inventor Award Finalists - Search Portal
https://tinyurl.com/48mh8x2d

EPO Inventor Awards 2019 – The finalists

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

On May 7, 2019, the European Patent Organization (EPO) announced the list of 15 finalists who will be contending for the five 2019 European Inventor awards. EPO Inventor awards are granted in 5 categories of activity: Research, Small & Medium Enterprise, Industry, Lifetime Achievement and Non-EPO country. A sixth award, the popular award, is also granted. The popular award invites everyone, including you, to vote for their favorite inventor/invention among the group of 15 selected finalists.

The winners are then announced at the EPO Inventors awards ceremony, to be held this year on June 20, 2019 in Vienna, Austria.

The finalists in each of the 5 categories, together with a few of the recent EP patents granted for their inventions, are listed below.

Research

Jérôme Galon (FR), inventor of the Immunoscore®

• EP1943520 An in vitro method for the prognosis of progression of a cancer and of the outcome in a patient and means for performing said method  
• EP2241891 An in vitro method for the prognosis of progression of a cancer and of the outcome in a patient and means for performing said method  
• EP2420836 An in vitro method for the prognosis of progression of a cancer and of the outcome in a patient and means for performing said method

Matthias Mann (DE), inventor of protein analysis to diagnose disease

• EP1355666 Use of repulsive guidance molecule (RGM) and its modulators  
• EP2767834 Quantitative standard for mass spectrometry of proteins

Patrizia Paterlini-Bréchot (IT), inventor of the ISET® blood test for the detection of tumor cells

• EP2633912 Device for separating by vertical filtration of biological particles contained in a liquid  
• EP1108057 Method, equipment and reagent for cell separation
• EP1383926 Prenatal diagnosis method on isolated foetal cell of maternal blood 
• EP1866091 Method and device for the separation of biological particles contained in a liquid by means of vertical filtration

Industry

Antonio Corredor Molguero and Carlos Fermín Menéndez Díaz (ES) inventors of a concrete mould for better breakwaters

• EP2202361 Mould for manufacturing concrete cubipods

Kaus Feichtinger and Manfred Hacki (AT) inventors of higher-performance plastic recycling

• EP2766166 Apparatus for processing plastic material
• EP2689908 Device and method for processing plastic materials 
• EP2766157 Apparatus for processing plastic material
• EP2766158 Apparatus for processing plastic material 
• EP2766159 Apparatus for processing plastic material

 Alexander van der Lely and Karel van den Berg (NL) inventors of milking robots for healthier cows

• EP1188368  A construction for automatically milking animals  
• EP0951651 A sensor apparatus, as well as a method of determining the position of an object, in particular a teat of an animal to be milked  
• EP1221282  A device for and a method of cleaning a milking machine, and a milking machine  
• EP1163843 method of increasing the utilization capacity of the implement  

Small & Medium enterprise

Esben Beck (NO) inventor of Lasers and AI for healthy salmon

• EP2531022 Method and device for destroying parasites on fish

Rik Breur (NL) inventor of marine antifouling fiber wrap

• EP1996453 Antifouling fibre coatings for marine constructions  

Richard Palmer and Philip Green (UK) inventor of flexible armor that hardens on impact

• EP1832186 Energy absorbing material and corresponding method of manufacturing

Non-EPO countries

Akira Yoshino (JP) inventor of lithium-ion battery and its evolution

•  EP2063435 Novel polymer electrolyte and electrochemical device  
•  EP2063436 Polymeric electrolyte, method for production thereof, and electrochemical element

Gideon Stein (IL) inventor of vision for vehicles to improve road safety

•  EP1806595 Estimating distance to an object using a sequence of images recorded by a monocular camera  
•  EP1236126 System for detecting obstacles to vehicle motion
•  EP1741079 Collision warning system  

Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre (US) inventors of eco-friendly packaging from mushrooms

• EP2702137 Method for making dehydrated mycelium elements and product made thereby  
• EP2094856 Method for producing grown materials and products made thereby  

Lifetime achievement
Margarita Salas Falgueras (ES)DNA amplification for genomics

• EP2450453  Method for the replication, amplification or sequencing of a DNA template 
• EP2450436 Phage phi 29 DNA polymerase chimera
• EP1970380 Inhibitor of the uracil-DNA glycosylase enzyme and uses thereof  
• EP0527728 -i(in vitro) DNA synthesis reactions using phi 29 DNA polymerase and a DNA fragment encoding said polymerase

Marta Karczewicz (PL) inventor of advances in video compression

• EP2304961 Rate-distortion defined interpolation for video coding based on fixed filter or adaptive filter
• EP2074828 Efficient significant coefficients coding in scalable video codecs  
• EP2165542 Adaptive coefficient scanning in video coding

Maximilian Haider (AT) inventor of sharper electron microscopes

• EP1057204 Device for correcting third-order spherical aberration in a lens, especially the objective lens of an electronic microscope  
• EP1012866 Method for eliminating first, second and third-order axial image deformations during correction of the third-order spherical aberration in electron optical systems 

A YouTube view of the 2019 EPO inventor finalists is included below.

The Popular Vote

To vote for your favorite inventor/invention, please click here.   

You may vote every day, as many times as you like, for one inventor/invention.

Reference

The European Inventor Awards 2019