Categories

The European Inventor Award features is presented in five different categories. This means that honours go to inventors from major companies, small to medium-sized firms, universities and research institutes, as well as to individual inventors.

Industry

The Industry Award is presented in recognition of inventors of outstanding and commercially successful technologies patented by large European companies. These are companies with more than 250 employees and an annual turnover of more than EUR 50 million.

SMEs

This award is presented to the people behind inventions at small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs are companies that had fewer than 250 employees and an annual turnover of less than EUR 50 million when the patent was granted. Ideally, the invention will have been a commercial success and helped the SME to expand its business.

Research

The Research Award honours inventors working at universities or research institutes. Inventions presented in this category will often have led to major technological progress and enhanced the reputation of the inventor's institute.

Lifetime Achievement

The Lifetime Achievement Award honours the long-term contribution of an individual European inventor whose dedication and tireless efforts - and patented landmark inventions - have had a major impact on his/her field of technology and society at large.

Non-European Countries

This category is open to all inventors who are not European nationals, regardless of the size or turnover of the company applying their patented invention. However, the invention or related products must be available and enjoy considerable commercial success in Europe.