Sustainable technology awarded at 2025 Young Inventors Prize ceremony
MUNICH and REYKJAVIK, Iceland, June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- During a ceremony held today in Iceland, the European Patent Office (EPO) has awarded three special prizes as part of the 2025 Young Inventors Prize. These recognise outstanding achievements by inventors aged 30 and under whose work supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A fourth distinction, the People's Choice winner, was awarded to Spanish inventors Granado, Sosa and Chimeno, after having ranked first in the public vote.
The ten winners of this year's Young Inventors Prize — known as the Tomorrow Shapers — were selected by an independent jury from over 450 candidates worldwide, each receiving EUR 5 000. From this group, the jury awarded special recognition to Marie Perrin (France/US), Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita (Uganda), and Neeka and Leila Mashouf (US) naming them World Builders, Community Healers, and Nature Guardians, respectively, with each receiving an additional EUR 15 000. The team of Spanish inventors Granado, Sosa and Chimeno was also chosen by public vote as the People's Choice winner, earning a further EUR 5 000.
World Builders prize
Marie Perrin (28), a French-American chemist based in Switzerland, was awarded the World Builders Prize for her invention– a cleaner method to recycle rare earth elements (REEs) from discarded fluorescent lamps. Rare earths are essential to electronics and green tech, but difficult and environmentally damaging to extract. Perrin's method, commercialised through her company REEcover, avoids harmful solvents and complex purification, making it easier to reuse resources instead of relying on new mining. The process achieves selective recovery of europium while preserving the ability to reuse chemicals, significantly reducing toxic waste compared to conventional methods.
'It has been a true privilege to stand alongside such inspiring young innovators from across the globe, and I hope it encourages more young women to see themselves as inventors and changemakers,' said Perrin.
The World Builders prize honours innovators advancing sustainable access to essential resources, such as water, energy and infrastructure. Their work drives circular economy solutions that promote prosperity while reducing environmental impact.
Community Healers prize
Ugandan entrepreneurs Sandra Namboozo (26) and Samuel Muyita (28) received the Community Healers Prize for having developed a biodegradable sachet that triples the shelf life of fruit without refrigeration. The sachets release plant-based compounds that slow down ripening and help to reduce food waste. The duo founded Karpolax to commercialise their work and support smallholder farmers. In pilot tests, Karpolax-treated mangoes remained fresh for 33 days, compared to just 11 days for untreated fruits.
'Winning a special prize is a powerful validation,' said Namboozo and Muyita. 'It shines a global spotlight on a simple truth: innovation rooted in empathy can change the world.'
The Community Healers prize recognises changemakers focused on social equity through solutions in food security, healthcare, education and fair working conditions.
Nature Guardians prize
Twin sisters Neeka and Leila Mashouf (28), from the United States, were awarded the Nature Guardians prize for a carbon capture process that mimics photosynthesis. Through their company Rubi Laboratories, they developed an enzymatic method that converts CO₂ emissions into biodegradable cellulose for textiles and other products. The company's closed-loop system uses carbon from manufacturing waste streams to produce regenerated fabric without fossil-based fibres or dyes.
'It took countless trials, errors and optimisations to make it all work,' said Neeka. 'From producing enzymes that had never been made before to testing them in conditions no one had ever explored.'
The Nature Guardians prize celebrates innovators dedicated to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity, addressing climate change, ocean health and wildlife conservation.
People's Choice winner
Spanish entrepreneurs Pilar Granado (29), Pablo Sosa Domínguez (29) and Luis Chimeno (28) are the People's Choice winners. Their innovation of smart labels that indicate food spoilage based on bacterial growth was selected by public vote for its potential to help reduce food waste and increase food safety, while promoting sustainability across the supply chain.
'We are very excited and grateful for the recognition! It is a motivational boost for us, as this award shows that we are on the right track and that our solution could really change the world, taking a positive step towards a more sustainable and safer supply chain for all', said the team.
The People's Choice is chosen by the general public. Voting opened online on 6 May when all the Tomorrow Shapers were announced and closed just before the ceremony started.
The Young Inventors Prize celebrates worldwide innovators 30 and under using technology to address global challenges posed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The winners of the 2025 edition were announced today during a ceremony livestreamed from Iceland.
Find more information about the inventions, their impact and the inventors' stories here.
About the Young Inventors Prize
Aimed at individuals 30 and under, the Young Inventors Prize showcases the transformative power of youth-driven solutions and recognises the remarkable young people paving the way to a more sustainable future. Established in 2022, trophies were first handed out during the European Inventor Award ceremony. As of 2025, the Prize has moved up a gear with its own dedicated event, held separately from the Award. Among the 10 Tomorrow Shapers selected for each edition, three receive special prizes: World Builders, Community Healers, and Nature Guardians. In addition, a People's Choice winner is selected through an online public vote. Each Tomorrow Shaper receives EUR 5 000, while the three special prize winners are awarded an additional EUR 15 000. The People's Choice winner also receives an extra EUR 5 000. Read more on the Young Inventors Prize eligibility and selection criteria.
About the EPO
With 6,300 staff members, the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe. Through the EPO's centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 46 countries, covering a market of some 700 million people. The EPO is also the world's leading authority in patent information and patent searching.
*Important note
B-roll and picture materials of the inventors/invention here
Additional videos and photos from the ceremony will be available shortly
Full ceremony video available upon request
View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sustainable-technology-awarded-at-2025-young-inventors-prize-ceremony-302487157.html
SOURCE European Patent Office (EPO)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
15 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Netherlands Defence Minister: NATO-wide 5% defence spend would be "historic"
Ruben Brekelmans, Netherlands Minister of Defence said they and their European partners support President Donald Trump's calls to encourage Iran to the negotiation table in order to "come to a sustainable solution". Speaking about the upcoming NATO meeting, he told Bloomberg's Oliver Crook "if we agree to 5% spending on core defence and defence-related matters, that would be a historic step" and said it would be of particular significance "if 32 allies in unity agree on this". (Source: Bloomberg)
Bloomberg
15 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
BBVA Chairman Urges ‘Clarity' on Sabadell's TSB Disposal Plan
BBVA SA Chairman Carlos Torres said he wants more clarity regarding the process for a potential sale of Banco Sabadell SA 's UK unit. 'Sabadell has spoken about unsolicited offers, and then there are reports about an ongoing process' he said at a conference Monday. 'It would be good for the information to be clarified.'
Associated Press
17 minutes ago
- Associated Press
EU finds 'indications' Israel is breaching their trade deal with its actions in Gaza
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union says there are ″indications″ that Israel's actions in Gaza are violating human rights obligations in its trade agreement with the EU, according to its findings seen by The Associated Press. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas presented the review to foreign minsters of the 27-member bloc in Brussels on Monday, leading at least one country to openly propose suspending the trade deal. 'There are indications that Israel would be in breach of its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Associated Agreement,' according to the review by the EU's diplomatic corps, the European External Action Service. A third of Israel's imports come from the EU, valued at $27 billion annually, while Europe imports less than 1% of its goods from Israel, according to the EU Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security. Suspending trade ties would require a unanimous decision, which is likely impossible to obtain from countries like Austria, Germany and Hungary that tend to back Israel. Other actions — such as ending visa-free travel to Europe for Israelis, sanctioning Israeli settlers in the West Bank or halting academic partnerships — could be pushed if a 'qualified majority' — 15 of the 27 nations representing at least 65% of the population of the EU — agree. Countries like the Netherlands, Ireland and Spain have been vocal in their support for the Palestinians in Gaza as Israel battles Hamas. 'When all the focus is on Iran and the escalation regarding Iran, we should not forget about Gaza,' said Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp, who led the charge for the review. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, in which militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 251 hostages. About 56,000 Palestinians have since been killed, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, and little relatively aid has entered since Israel ended the latest ceasefire in March. Outrage over Israel's actions in Gaza has grown in Europe as images of suffering Palestinians have driven protests in London, Berlin, Brussels, Madrid and Amsterdam. Spain has canceled arms deals with Israel and called for an arms embargo. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno on Monday called for suspending the EU-Israel trade agreement. 'The time for words and declarations is behind. We had enough time,' he told the meeting. 'And at the same time, Palestinians in Gaza have no more time to lose. Every day, babies, women, men are being killed. This is the time for action.' Manuel Albares also called for an embargo on EU countries selling weapons to Israel and for the widening of individual sanctions on anyone undermining the proposed two-state solution. 'Europe must show courage,' he told journalists. ___ Associated Press writers Lorne Cooke in The Hague and Ella Joyner in Brussels contributed to this report.
