European Inventor Award 2026: Innovation Driving a Sustainable Future
The European Patent Office (EPO) honored inventors whose innovations are transforming key sectors—including food chemistry, energy, biotechnology, and eco-technologies—at a ceremony in Berlin.
Congratulations to this year's winners, including Franck Zal (France), who received the SME Award for harnessing the therapeutic potential of marine worms, and Yu Haijun and Xie Yinghao (China), who earned a double distinction—the Non-EPO Countries Award and the Popular Prize—for their intelligent battery recycling technology. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to German engineer Rainer Marquardt for his pioneering work in energy-conversion technologies used in power grids worldwide.
Applications are now open for the Young Inventors Prize 2027, recognizing innovators under age 30 who are committed to addressing global sustainability challenges.
Application deadline: September 30, 2026
