Global Innovators Vie for Prestigious European Inventor Award 2026

MUNICH, Germany – May 13, 2026 – The European Patent Office (EPO) today unveiled the 12 finalists for the European Inventor Award 2026, one of the continent's most esteemed innovation prizes. The selected inventors and teams, whose work spans the globe, are being recognized for developing groundbreaking solutions to some of the most critical challenges facing humanity, from climate change and public health to digital transformation.

The finalists represent a diverse array of fields including biotechnology, renewable energy, quantum computing, and advanced manufacturing. Their inventions underscore the power of human ingenuity to forge a more sustainable and resilient future. The winners will be announced during a ceremony livestreamed from Berlin on July 2, 2026.

A Global Tapestry of Ingenuity

This year's finalists highlight the increasingly international and collaborative nature of modern innovation. The 12 nominated teams and individuals hail from 15 countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Selected by an independent international jury of past finalists, the inventors are competing across four distinct categories: 'Industry', 'Research', 'SMEs' (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises), and 'Non-EPO Countries'. This structure ensures recognition for breakthroughs originating from established corporations, academic institutions, nimble startups, and innovators outside the EPO's member states. To be eligible, all inventors must hold a granted European patent for their work, a testament to the technical originality and potential impact of their contributions.

Breakthroughs for a Healthier, Sustainable Planet

Many of the 2026 finalists have focused their efforts on urgent global health and environmental issues. In the 'Research' category, Sir Adrian Hill and his team from Ireland and the UK are nominated for developing a highly effective malaria vaccine, a monumental step forward in the fight against a disease that affects millions worldwide. Also in the health domain, Portuguese scientist Paula Videira and her team have developed L2A5, a highly specific antibody that can distinguish cancer cells from healthy tissue, promising more precise diagnostics and treatments. French inventor Franck Zal, a finalist in the 'SMEs' category, created a universal oxygen carrier from marine worm hemoglobin, which could revolutionize organ and tissue preservation for transplants.

On the environmental front, inventors are offering creative solutions to pollution and the energy transition. Aníbal Montalva Rodríguez and Miguel Ángel Fernández Donoso from Chile, finalists in the 'Non-EPO Countries' category, developed a living biofilter system that uses plants and microorganisms to clean polluted air, capable of removing over 90% of harmful particulate matter. Their invention offers an economical and natural alternative to energy-intensive purification technologies. Meanwhile, Yu Haijun and Xie Yinghao from China have pioneered a more efficient method for recycling spent lithium-ion batteries, a critical component for a circular economy in the age of electric vehicles. In the United States and Germany, Emily Morris and Thorsten Stoesser are recognized for their modular hydropower system that generates clean energy by channeling water through turbines in existing canals.

Powering the Future of Industry and Technology

The finalists also feature innovations poised to reshape major industries. In the 'Industry' category, an Italian team led by the late Giuseppe Crippa is nominated for a method that enables the rapid, local production of semiconductor probe cards, a vital component for testing the integrity of microchips. This advancement addresses a key bottleneck in the global semiconductor supply chain, which has seen surging demand. Another finalist, Evangelos Eleftheriou and his Swiss-Greek team, are recognized for their foundational advances in digital storage, spanning both magnetic and flash memory, which are essential for managing the world's exploding data needs.

Furthering technological progress, Finnish physicist Mikko Möttönen, a 'Research' finalist, has created an ultrasensitive cryogenic microwave sensor designed to diagnose interference in quantum computers, helping to stabilize the next generation of supercomputing. In the 'SMEs' category, Polish inventor Przemek Ben Paczek and his team have developed a magnetic levitation system that can be retrofitted onto existing railway infrastructure, offering a path to faster, more efficient train travel. From the Czech Republic, Jan Čmelík and his team are advancing needle-free electrospinning technology, enabling the reliable, industrial-scale production of nanofibres for applications ranging from filtration to biomedical materials.

The Engine Room of Innovation

The European Inventor Award does more than just celebrate finished products; it shines a light on the entire innovation ecosystem, where the European Patent Office plays a pivotal role. For two decades, the award has highlighted how patent protection provides the security and incentive for inventors and companies to invest in long-term, high-risk research and development. This framework is particularly crucial for smaller entities. According to EPO data, SMEs and individual inventors accounted for 26% of all European patent applications in 2025, demonstrating the system's value beyond large corporations.

Initiatives like the Unitary Patent, launched in 2023, further support this by simplifying and reducing the cost of securing broad patent protection across Europe. The EPO also actively fosters innovation through educational programs and tools like its Deep Tech Finder, which connects startups to potential investors. The diversity of the award finalists mirrors broader trends in global patenting, where fields like quantum technologies and AI are seeing explosive growth and innovators from countries like China are increasingly prominent on the world stage.

In addition to the main category awards, all 12 finalists are contenders for the Popular Prize, which is decided by a public vote open now until the ceremony on July 2. The winner of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award will be revealed separately on June 10, honoring a long-term contribution to a field of technology and society.