EPO Innovation Contest

Deadline: 2013-02-28
Award: € 5,000

As part of the EPC's 40th anniversary celebrations, the European Patent Office is staging an Innovation Contest to give students in the European Patent Organisation's member states an opportunity to explore the wealth of available patent documentation, and to suggest new areas of innovation, particularly in the green technology and sustainable development sectors.

The contest is open to students of all disciplines who are at least 18 years old, enrolled at a university, college or equivalent academic institution in one of the Organisation's member states. There is no entry fee.

Contestants will be asked to define a research project of potential interest for future R&D. Their paper should include:

- a description of a technical problem currently faced in one of the following five fields:
A. Sustainable food production
B. Eco-friendly energy production and storage
C. Waste management, recycling and urban mining
D. Smart transport and traffic management systems
E. Smart house technology