The hunt is on for Europe’s best inventors

European Inventor Award 2010 now open for proposals/ Closing date 12 September 2009 / Award Ceremony in Madrid next April / Entry submission at www.epo.org/european-inventor.

Munich/Brussels, 29 June 2009 – Europe’s capacity for innovation is a major factor in its progress and prosperity. Since 2006 the European Commission and the European Patent Office have been presenting the highly regarded European Inventor Award to honour the finest minds of inventors behind the related inventions. The public proposal phase for the 2010 Award is now open, and it closes on 12 September 2009. Prizes offering prestige rather than material reward will be presented at a ceremony in Madrid next April.

The whole of Europe can join in the search for its finest inventors. Anyone is welcome to put forward deserving inventions and inventors. The candidates can be individuals, small and large enterprises, universities and research institutions can enter direct on behalf of their patented invention and the inventive mind behind it. Information and entry forms are available at www.epo.org/european-inventor.

Awards will be given to inventors in four categories – Industry, SMEs/Research, Non-European Countries and Lifetime Achievement. A jury featuring prominent figures such as top German manager Jürgen Dormann and Italian entrepreneur Emma Marcegaglia will judge entries on their degree of innovation and commercial impact and on their contribution to social and ecological progress.

Further information at: www.epo.org

Any queries can be addressed to:
Rainer Osterwalder, Director Media Relations
European Patent Office, Erhardtstr. 27 | D-80469 Munich
Phone: +49 (0)89 2399-1820, fax: +49 (0)89 2399-2850, rosterwalder@epo.org