Jan 31

Jan 31 Patents for Humanity: 2020

Announcements

View the winners here.
Stay informed with the latest Patents for Humanity news and deadlines by signing up for the USPTO Awards newsletter.
September 23, 2019: Applications for 2020 Patents for Humanity are being accepted until January 31, 2020. Apply today.
Learn more about the application process and how to support the program below.

Innovating for Humanity: USPTO's Patents for Humanity Awards Recognize Global Impact

Patents for Humanity is the United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) awards competition recognizing innovators who use game-changing technology to meet global humanitarian challenges. The program provides business incentives for reaching those in need: winners receive an acceleration certificate to expedite select proceedings at the USPTO, as well as public recognition of their work. The awards showcase how patent holders with vision are pioneering innovative ways to provide affordable, scalable, and sustainable solutions for the less fortunate.

Businesses and others are finding unique and creative ways to reach underserved markets. Their stories show that humanitarian engagement is compatible with business interests and strong patent rights, and that companies can effectively contribute to global good while maintaining commercial markets. Watch a video about the Patents for Humanity award to learn more.

The Patents for Humanity Challenge is proudly powered by Skild.

Featured Content

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Jun 19, 2024

Collegiate Inventors Competition 2024

Jun 19, 2024

Eligibility: Full-time or part-time students enrolled in a U.S. college or university between June 2023 and June 2024 are eligible to enter. In the case of a team, all team members must be enrolled as full-time or part-time students in a U.S. college or university between June 2023 and June 2024. Students who are currently enrolled full-time and will graduate in May or June 2024 are eligible. Non-U.S. citizens are eligible as long as they are enrolled in a U.S. college or university and can meet our student status requirements.

Prizes: Cash prizes and a patent acceleration certificate

Deadline: June 19, 2024 at 11:59PM EST

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Jun 19, 2024

Jun 15, 2024

Ag Innovation Challenge

Jun 15, 2024

Eligibility:

1) The 2025 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge is open to all Farm Bureau members. To be eligible, Applicants must be a member of a state Farm Bureau at the time of submission of the application. Applicant must be headquartered or have a significant business presence in the state in which it is a Farm Bureau member. In addition, Applicants must be either a) at least 18 years of age and legal residents of the United States at the time of entry, or) a U.S. legal entity that is not owned, in whole or in part, by a non-U.S. entity at the time of entry.

2) All businesses entered into The Challenge must be for-profit. Non-profit businesses are not eligible.

3) Applicant Team Lead (who, in the event applicant is a legal entity, should be the most senior ranking officer or employee) must be at least 18 years of age to enter.

4) Businesses who have received a funding round beyond Series A (or a comparable funding round) are not eligible to compete in The Challenge.

Ag Innovation Challenge is a national business competition that showcases U.S. startups developing innovative solutions that address challenges facing America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. Now in their eleventh year, the American Farm Bureau Federation in partnership with Farm Credit, are looking to identify the top entrepreneurs who are addressing both traditional challenges farmers face on their operation, such as access to labor, optimizing yield and reducing operating costs, to entrepreneurs who are addressing new challenges facing farmers and rural communities.

Prizes: $145,000

Deadline: June 15, 2024 at 11:59 pm EDT.

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Jun 15, 2024

May 15, 2024

Grow-NY Food & Agriculture Competition 2024

May 15, 2024

Eligibility: The Competition is open to all startups located in any state or country in the world that meet the Grow-NY definition of ‘Food and Agricultural Field,’ are early-stage, and have a scalable business model. To be eligible for the Competition, an applicant must be a registered, formative stage business entity that can enter into the Investment Agreement, such as a corporation or limited liability company (LLC), that meets two or more of the following criteria: