Industry

The Industry Award is presented in recognition of inventors of outstanding and commercially successful technologies patented by large European companies. These are companies that have more than 250 employees and an annual turnover of more than GBP 50 million.

Research

This Award is presented to inventors working at universities or research institutions. Inventions presented in this category will often have led to major technological progress and enhanced the reputation of the inventor’s institution.

International

This category is open to all inventors from outside the UK’s, regardless of the size or turnover of the company applying their patented invention. However, the invention or related products must be available and enjoy considerable commercial success.

SMEs

This Award honours the people behind inventions at small and medium-sized enterprises, i.e. companies that had less than 250 employees and an annual turnover of less than GBP 50 million. Ideally, the invention will have been a commercial success and helped the SME to expand its business.

Lifetime achievement

This category honours the long-term contribution of an individual inventor whose dedication and tireless efforts – and patented landmark inventions – have had a major impact on his/her field of technology and society at large.