The final deadline for the submission of applications to the United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) Patents for Humanity COVID-19 award is fast approaching.
The submission deadline is 5 p.m. ET, September 30, 2021.
About the award:
The Patents for Humanity COVID-19 award category was launched April 5, 2021, for patent applicants, holders, and licensees whose inventions track, prevent, diagnose, or treat COVID-19. The program highlights COVID-19 success stories that will inspire others to harness innovation for human progress.
Who is eligible:
Any U.S. patent or patent application that addresses COVID-19 is eligible for this award, including any inventions created to track, diagnose, prevent, or treat the disease. Please note that this new Patents for Humanity award cycle is only for inventions related to COVID-19. You can review the additional award categories available in future cycles on the USPTO’s main Patents for Humanity webpage.
What award winners will receive:
Aside from public recognition for their work, Patents for Humanity Award COVID-19 award winners will receive a certificate to accelerate USPTO processing for one eligible matter (such as an ex parte reexamination proceeding, or a patent application).
The award certificate now has more options for use than those given in previous competitions: Under the Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act passed by Congress in 2021, award winners now may transfer their acceleration certificates to third parties, including for compensation. This means that winners can now leverage the acceleration certificate to obtain funds to help transform their inventions into deliverable goods and services.
How to apply:
The USPTO will continue to accept applications for the Patents for Humanity COVID-19 category until September 30, 2021. For details about how to apply, visit the USPTO’s Patents for Humanity COVID-19 page on the USPTO website.
For more information:
For non-press inquiries, please contact patentsforhumanity@uspto.gov.
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