When the European Patent Office (EPO) hosts the Young Inventors Prize 2025 in Reykjavik on 18 June, it will mark a milestone moment – not only for the ten scientists being honoured, but for the prize itself. For the first time since its inception as part of the European Inventor Award in 2022, the prize has broken out as a standalone event, offering a global stage for some of the brightest young minds using innovation to reshape our world.
The ceremony, set for 18 June and livestreamed worldwide, will bring international attention to ten remarkable individuals and teams – all aged 30 or under – whose work aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Selected from more than 450 candidates by an independent jury, these young innovators, dubbed “Tomorrow Shapers,” are using science and technology to respond to some of the planet’s most pressing challenges, from climate resilience and circular economies to healthcare equity and food security.
Watch the event live on 18 June and meet the next generation of inventors on the player above.
Recognising the young innovators working to build a better world
While the event in Reykjavik will showcase all ten “Tomorrow Shapers”, it will also reveal three special prize winners. The “World Builders” prize will recognise those driving sustainability and resource accessibility; “Community Healers” will celebrate innovations ensuring equality and access to life’s essentials; and “Nature Guardians” will highlight those protecting ecosystems and biodiversity. One additional finalist will be crowned the People’s Choice winner, selected by an online public vote. All finalists will receive €5,000, with special prize winners taking home an additional €15,000. The People’s Choice award also includes a €5,000 prize.
EPO President António Campinos described the awards as a celebration of possibility. “Young inventors are the architects of a brighter tomorrow, bringing fresh perspectives and bold solutions to the world’s most daunting challenges,” he said, “By celebrating their achievements, we not only honour their ingenuity but also underline the transformative power of technologies and science in shaping a sustainable future and inspiring generations to come.”
Finding science-based solutions to global challenges
The innovations being honoured are as diverse as they are ingenious. In Uganda, Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita have developed a biodegradable sachet that slows the ripening of fruit, helping to reduce food waste and extend the shelf life of produce – a vital support for smallholder farmers. Meanwhile, in Austria, Franziska Kerber is taking on the global e-waste crisis with her design of paper-based electronic parts that dissolve easily, making it simpler to extract valuable metals from discarded devices such as WiFi routers.
From the Philippines, aeronautical engineer Mark Kennedy Bantugon has created a sustainable aircraft sealant derived from discarded Pili Tree resin – offering a cleaner, less toxic alternative to standard petrochemical sealants. In France and the United States, chemist Marie Perrin is rethinking rare earth recycling by developing a safer method for extracting europium from old fluorescent lamps, a resource critical to lighting and electronics.
And from Slovenia, Teja Potočnik is pioneering a more efficient path for the future of electronics. Her automated platform supports the manufacture of nanomaterial-based semiconductor devices, a crucial step in enabling the next generation of microchips.
Exploring new frontiers in smart design and clean tech
Biotechnology is another standout area this year. Lithuanian researchers Laurynas Karpus, Vykintas Jauniškis, and Irmantas Rokaitis have harnessed artificial intelligence to create a platform that designs custom enzymes, potentially transforming everything from pharmaceutical manufacturing to industrial bioprocesses.
Food safety also features on the agenda, thanks to Spanish inventors Pilar Granado, Pablo Sosa Domínguez, and Luis Chimeno. Their smart, biodegradable food labels change colour based on freshness, allowing consumers and retailers to reduce food waste and avoid spoilage-related illnesses.
In the maritime sector, Swedish-Canadian engineer Alisha Fredriksson and Chinese engineer Roujia Wen have addressed one of shipping’s biggest problems: emissions. Their modular carbon capture system binds CO₂ from ships’ exhausts with a lime-based sorbent to form solid limestone pellets – an innovative solution that could significantly reduce maritime emissions without the need to replace entire fleets.
Over in the United States, twin sisters Neeka and Leila Mashouf have developed a way to convert waste CO₂ into cellulose pulp, a material that can be used for sustainable textiles and packaging. Their process holds promise for reducing carbon emissions while producing biodegradable materials to meet growing industrial demand.
Air pollution has met a worthy challenger in Colombian entrepreneur Mariana Pérez, who has designed a Direct Air Capture system capable of extracting CO₂, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide from the atmosphere. Her design also enables captured pollutants to be converted into biodegradable materials, turning air pollution into something productive.
When you think of global innovation powerhouses, your mind might jump to Silicon Valley or Shenzhen – but on 18 June, all eyes will turn to Reykjavik and the ten trailblazing young minds honoured there.
