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Euronews
5 days ago
- Science
- Euronews
Who will take home the Young Inventors Prize 2025 in Reykjavik?
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. 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.' 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. 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.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Extending the shelf life of fruit: Ugandan entrepreneurs Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita in top 10 innovators of the Young Inventors Prize 2025 awarded by the European Patent Office (EPO)
Food loss and waste account for 8-10% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UNFCCC Namboozo and Muyita's sachets keep fruit fresh by up to extra 30 days, reducing waste and boosting farmer incomes The pair are among top ten innovators for the Young Inventors Prize, awarded by the European Patent Office (EPO) on 18 June 2025 MUNICH, May 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 1 billion tonnes of food are wasted annually, while 783 million people face hunger, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Ugandan entrepreneurs Sandra Namboozo (26) and Samuel Muyita (27), founders of Karpolax, have developed a plant-based sachet that extends the shelf life of fresh fruit by up to 30 days. Their sustainable, biodegradable preservation solution has earned them a place in top 10 innovators in the Young Inventors Prize 2025, known as Tomorrow Shapers, which recognises young inventors tackling global challenges. They were selected from 450 candidates by an independent jury. Sustainable preservation and fresher produce Despite the steady increase in the global population, around 40% of all food produced does not reach the market, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Namboozo and Muyita both grew up in farming families and saw first-hand the challenges of post-harvest losses, which have a devastating impact on the profit of small-scale farmers. Determined to find a natural and more affordable alternative to synthetic preservers, they developed sachets, which release a blend of plant-derived volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to slow ripening and prevent spoilage. The compounds – extracted from cloves, lemongrass, eucalyptus and wintergreen – inhibit ethylene production, the natural gas responsible for fruit ripening, and offer protection against mould, fungi and bacteria. Their solution allows for the controlled, sustained release of these compounds, tailored to different fruit types, thereby providing a biodegradable alternative to conventional artificial preservers. Pilot tests conducted with Uganda's National Agricultural Research Organization showed that mangoes stored with the sachets remained fresh for 33 days, while those without them lasted only 11 days. The sachets have since been successfully used on bananas, apples, and oranges. With an affordable price point, Karpolax's sachets are particularly suited to smallholder farmers and local markets, offering a cost-effective and locally accessible way to reduce food waste and increase earnings. Protecting innovation for lasting impact "Farmers are one of our biggest customer groups. We wanted to use our knowledge and technical skills to develop something that would not just end on a paper in a lab but really be used by somebody," explains Namboozo. The duo met while studying at Makerere University in Kampala, where they quickly bonded over a shared ambition to reduce food waste. They launched Karpolax in 2020 and aim to expand its reach across Africa, targeting Kenya, Rwanda and beyond. "Starting from zero, you need to source for that funding yourself. We had some supervisors from the university who supported us and made us feel confident that we could succeed," added Muyita. By 2023, Karpolax had already worked with over 100 farmers, 20 exporters and 250 market vendors. The company is now expanding its product line to include sachets for pineapples, capsicum and berries. 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). Namboozo and Muyita's work supports SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by reducing post-harvest losses and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting sustainable food preservation practices. The prizes of the 2025 edition will be announced during a ceremony livestreamed from Iceland on 18 June 2025. Find more information about the invention's impact, the technology and the inventor's story 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. From 2025 onwards, the Prize will move up a gear with its own dedicated event, held separately from the Award. Among the 10 Tomorrow Shapers selected for each edition, three will be awarded a special prize: World Builders, Community Healers, and Nature Guardians. In addition, a People's Choice winner, voted by the public online, will be revealed. Each Tomorrow Shaper will receive EUR 5 000, the three special prize winners will each receive an extra EUR 15 000. The People's Choice winner will be awarded an additional 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. View original content: SOURCE European Patent Office (EPO)
