Young Inventors Prize 2027 — Up to ₹19L for Under-30s
A European Patent Office competition for inventors aged 30 or under, from any country, whose publicly available technology advances the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Prizes run from €5,000 to €20,000 (₹4.75 lakh to ₹19 lakh), with nominations closing 30 September 2026.
- Funding amount
- ₹4.8L – ₹19L (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- European Patent Office (Government)
- Application deadline
- Closes in 14d (30 Sept 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
The Young Inventors Prize 2027 is an international competition run by the European Patent Office (EPO). Its purpose is to celebrate inventors aged 30 or under whose technology-driven work helps address global sustainability problems and supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The competition is aimed at inventions that already exist in the public sphere — published, launched or otherwise accessible to anyone — rather than concepts still being kept under wraps. The EPO puts weight on genuine originality, technical excellence and evidence of a measurable, positive impact on people and the planet. It also hopes to encourage entrepreneurship and scientific research among the next generation of sustainable technology leaders.
Winners gain both money and a global platform. Cash awards range from €5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh) for the 'Tomorrow Shapers' to €20,000 (roughly ₹19 lakh) for each of the three Special Award Winners, with a separate €5,000 (₹4.75 lakh) People's Choice Award. Beyond the prize money, laureates are promoted through the Young Inventors Prize website, EPO communication channels and wide media coverage, and travel and accommodation are provided for the award ceremony where applicable.
Nominations are filed online and close on 30 September 2026. Self-nominations are accepted, alongside nominations from intellectual property professionals and from members of the public.
Highlights
- Cash prizes from €5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh) up to €20,000 (roughly ₹19 lakh)
- Open worldwide to individual inventors and teams aged 30 or under
- Inventions must already be publicly available and address the UN SDGs
- Nominations close 30 September 2026 and are filed at nominate.epo.org
- Three Special Award Winners: World Builders, Community Healers and Nature Guardians
- An extra €5,000 People's Choice Award decided by public vote
Who can apply
The prize has a short but strict eligibility list:
- Age: every applicant must be 30 years old or younger when the award ceremony takes place. This applies to everyone in a team as well as to a solo applicant.
- Geography: there is no country restriction — innovators from anywhere in the world can take part.
- Format: individual innovators and teams of innovators are both accepted.
- Availability of the invention: the innovation must already be published or otherwise open to the public; it cannot still be secret.
- Quality bar: the work must show originality and genuine technological innovation.
- Theme: the innovation must address one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Impact: applicants must be able to show practical, real-world impact.
The stated criteria turn on the inventors' age and the nature of the invention. Nothing in them requires a registered company, DPIIT recognition or MSME registration.
Young Inventors Prize 2027 — Up to ₹19L for Under-30s is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Deadline & timing
Applications for Young Inventors Prize 2027 — Up to ₹19L for Under-30s are open and the current deadline is Closes in 14d (30 Sept 2026). Applications are closing soon, so prepare your documents early. Deadlines can change — always reconfirm on the official source before submitting.
What the funding covers
This is a cash prize competition rather than an equity investment — the EPO describes no stake taken in the winning invention and no repayment obligation.
- Tomorrow Shapers receive €5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh) along with a certificate of recognition.
- Three Special Award Winners — World Builders, Community Healers and Nature Guardians — receive an additional €15,000 (₹14.25 lakh), taking their total prize value to €20,000 (roughly ₹19 lakh), plus a trophy and a winner's certificate.
- The People's Choice Award carries a further €5,000 (₹4.75 lakh) for the innovation that wins the public vote.
The non-cash side matters just as much. Winners get international recognition through the Young Inventors Prize website, promotion via European Patent Office communication channels and significant media exposure. Travel and accommodation are provided for the award ceremony where applicable, so laureates can attend in person. Money, visibility and a global stage for the invention come together in a single award.
About the provider
Young Inventors Prize 2027 — Up to ₹19L for Under-30s is offered by European Patent Office, a government body. As a government-backed competition, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Assessment runs in stages, with independent experts involved from the shortlist onwards.
- Formal screening: an internal EPO panel reviews every submission first, checking that it fully meets the prize's formal eligibility requirements.
- Shortlisting: from the eligible entries, the panel compiles a carefully curated shortlist.
- Jury review: the shortlist is presented to a distinguished independent jury, made up of highly experienced people including former finalists and winners of the Young Inventors Prize and the European Inventor Award.
- Selection: the jury chooses the 'Tomorrow Shapers' and identifies the three special-prize honourees.
The jury weighs the innovation's originality, its technological advancement, the magnitude of its sustainability impact, its direct contribution to the UN SDGs, evidence of its public availability, and its overall potential to generate positive social and environmental change.
The names of the 'Tomorrow Shapers' are typically revealed a few weeks before the official prize ceremony. At that point the public is invited to vote for a favourite innovation, and that vote decides the People's Choice Award recipient.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Young Inventors Prize 2027 — Up to ₹19L for Under-30s, keep the following documents ready:
- A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
- Company registration documents and PAN
- Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
- Recent financial statements or projections
- Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available
Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.
Who this is best for
Young Inventors Prize 2027 — Up to ₹19L for Under-30s is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹4.8L – ₹19L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How much money does the Young Inventors Prize 2027 award?
The 'Tomorrow Shapers' each receive €5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh) plus a certificate of recognition. The three Special Award Winners — World Builders, Community Healers and Nature Guardians — get an additional €15,000 (₹14.25 lakh), which brings their total to €20,000 (roughly ₹19 lakh), along with a trophy and a winner's certificate. A further €5,000 (₹4.75 lakh) goes to the recipient of the People's Choice Award.
Who is eligible to apply?
Individual innovators and teams of innovators from any country can take part, provided every member is 30 years of age or younger at the time of the award ceremony. The innovation itself must already be publicly available or published, show originality and technological innovation, address one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals, and demonstrate practical impact.
What is the application deadline?
Nominations close on 30 September 2026. Submissions are made online through the official nomination portal at https://nominate.epo.org/, so it is worth preparing supporting material well before the cut-off.
Does my invention have to be published or already in the market?
It must be publicly available or published — the prize is not open to ideas that are still confidential. Alongside public availability, the EPO expects the innovation to demonstrate originality, genuine technological innovation, a clear link to one or more UN SDGs, and practical impact.
Do I need DPIIT recognition, MSME registration or a registered company to apply?
The EPO does not list DPIIT recognition, MSME registration or a registered company among its requirements. The published criteria centre on two things: the inventors must be 30 or under when the award ceremony takes place, and the innovation must be publicly available, original, technological in nature, connected to the UN SDGs and demonstrably impactful in practice.
What documents should I prepare for the nomination?
Gather supporting evidence that backs up your claims. This can include granted patents or utility models, scientific publications, a detailed business plan setting out the innovation's potential, videos or documentaries, and relevant web articles. All of this is submitted together with the completed nomination form.
Can I nominate myself, or does someone else have to nominate me?
Self-nominations are accepted. You can also be put forward by an intellectual property professional or by a member of the public, so there is more than one route into the competition.
How are the winners selected?
An internal EPO panel first evaluates all proposals to confirm they meet the formal eligibility requirements, then compiles a shortlist. That shortlist goes to an independent jury of highly experienced people, including former Young Inventors Prize and European Inventor Award finalists and winners, who select the 'Tomorrow Shapers' and the three special-prize honourees. The Tomorrow Shapers are usually announced a few weeks before the ceremony, after which the public votes to decide the People's Choice Award.
Does the prize take equity in my invention?
No equity element is described. This is a competition that pays out cash awards, and winners also receive a trophy or certificate where applicable plus international publicity. The published terms mention no stake in the invention and no repayment of the prize money.
What do winners get beyond the cash prize?
Laureates gain international recognition through the Young Inventors Prize website, promotion via European Patent Office communication channels and significant media exposure. Travel and accommodation are also provided for the award ceremony where applicable, giving winners the chance to showcase their work on a global stage.
Who offers Young Inventors Prize 2027 — Up to ₹19L for Under-30s?
Young Inventors Prize 2027 — Up to ₹19L for Under-30s is offered by European Patent Office, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.
How do I apply for Young Inventors Prize 2027 — Up to ₹19L for Under-30s?
Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.
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