Young Inventors Prize 2027 — Up to ₹19L for Under-30s — Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.