European Inventor Award 2010 now open for proposals/ Closing date September 2009 / Award Ceremony in Madrid next April / Entry submission at www.epo.org/european-inventor 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 behind the related inventions. The public proposal phase for the 2010 Award is now open, and it closes on September 12. 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 can put forward deserving inventions and inventors; 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 made 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.