The European Inventor Award is one of Europe's most prestigious innovation prizes. The finalists and winners are selected by an independent jury consisting of international authorities from the fields of business, politics, science, academia and research who examine the proposals for their contribution towards technical progress, social development, economic prosperity and job creation in Europe. The 2018 award ceremony will take place on 7 June in, Paris, Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The public is invited to take part in conferring one of the awards: the winner of the Popular Prize is chosen from among the 15 finalists by online voting on the EPO website in the run-up to the ceremony.

Today, the European Patent Office announced the names of the fifteen inventors nominated for the European Inventor Award 2018.

This marks the start of an intensive campaign to promote not only these fifteen remarkable inventors but to also shine a light on how innovation and the patent system benefit the European economy and its people. For the weeks leading up to the Award ceremony and long afterwards, the EPO will promote the finalists through every external communication channel – print, press work, online, social media, radio and television. Every year, the Award generates increasing widespread international media coverage across Europe and beyond, sending a positive image of the EPO’s work as well as its contribution to society.

Above all, today’s launch would not have been possible without a vital foundation of strong candidates. EPO received a record number of nominations for the 2018 Award – more than 530 in total, being immensely grateful to everyone who sent proposals for their invaluable support of our work.

There is a wealth of information and content about the Award and this year’s finalists which will be available on the EPO website after the launch. The EPO has produced photos, films, press releases and web profiles of the fifteen finalists in English, French and German as well as some material in the local languages.

• Popular Prize: You can choose the winner of the Popular Prize! Please take this opportunity to vote for your favourite inventor and share the link within your networks.

• Profiles of the 15 finalists
             
• Media material for journalists, including photos and videos
             
• Global press release about all finalists
             
• Films about the finalists in English, French, German and the inventor’s native languages             

• Special content on our social media channels: Twitter, Facebook & LinkedIn.

Voting is open until 3 June 2018.