The European Patent Office rewards 10 young innovators: from anti-priest envelopes to semiconductors
Each reward will receive 5,000 euros, while the three special premiums winners will receive another 15,000 euros
From the biodegradable envelope to slow down the ripening of the fruit arriving from the Uganda to the Slovenian platform to simplify the production of semiconductors. These are some of the projects of the winners of the Youth Inventor 2025 award awarded by the European Patent Office (EPO). On June 18, some special prizes will also be awarded in Reykjavik in Iceland. « The young innovators – explained António Campinos, president of the APO – are the architects of a brighter tomorrow, bring new perspectives and courageous solutions to the most difficult challenges in the world. By rewarding their results, we not only honor their ingenuity, but we also underline the power of technologies and science in shaping a sustainable future and in inspiring generations to come « .
The UN development objectives
The goal of the prize is to enhance young innovators and teams of age not exceeding 30 years who have conceived solutions concerning the Sustainable Development objectives (SDG) of the United Nations. The ten winners, known as Tomorrow Shapershave been selected from over 450 candidates, these innovators have been recognized for their contribution in facing the most urgent global challenges.
Winning projects
Among the winners are Ugandese entrepreneurs Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita who have created a biodegradable envelope that slows down fruit maturation, reducing food waste and supporting small farmers, Franco-American chemistry Marie Perrin who created a process to extract Europe from the abandoned fluorescent lamps, Alisha Fredriksson and Roujia Wen who have built a carbon capture system on ships or Slovenian Teja Potočnik with an automated platform to facilitate the production of semiconductor devices based on nanomaterials.
The prizes
Each reward will receive 5,000 euros, while the three winners of the special prizes will receive another 15,000 euros. The winner of the public, selected through a public vote online, will receive another 5,000 euros. The ceremony will be broadcast in livestreaming from Iceland on June 18, 2025, allowing a global audience to participate in the celebration of these young innovators.
