We have started accepting entry applications for participation in the 17th International Exhibition for Young Inventors (IEYI)

Dear friends,

We have started accepting entry applications for participation in the 17th International Exhibition for Young Inventors (IEYI), which will be held online this time from September 1 to October 31, 2021 at the headquarters in Taipei (Taiwan).

The exhibition was first held by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation (JIII) in Tokyo in 2004. It has subsequently been hosted by Taiwan, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, China, Nigeria, Vietnam and Thailand. The International Forum of Invention Promotion (IFIP) has put the Taiwan Creativity Development Association in charge of organizing the competition and running the IEYI Secretariat Office.

Today, just as many years ago, the aim of the exhibition is to encourage creativity and ingenuity in children and teenagers all over the world. It gives the participants a unique opportunity to showcase their inventions and exchange their experiences with other participants from different countries. The exhibition is designed to provide fair competition among young talents, help them share their knowledge with their peers, and develop cooperation in the field of innovation between countries.

Young representatives from Russia have been taking part in this prestigious exhibition since 2017, their innovations have already won high marks from the International Judging Panel, and the participants have been awarded medals and diplomas. The exhibition receives a lot of media coverage.

Ukraine has been taking part in the exhibition since 2020, and this year the Republic of Belarus has been invited to send its young talents to the exhibition. We believe the participation of Belarusian teenagers in the exhibition will not only enhance their interest in inventions, but will also help to promote the image of our country on the global IP market.

To participate in the competition, you must go through the selection round first. Participation is free of charge.

Eligibility:

• participants must be between 6 and 18 (18 is included) years of age
• participants must be able to speak English at the intermediate level or higher

The competition is held in two age groups:

• from 6 to 13 years old – Junior Group
• from 14 to 18 years old – Senior Group

Students of schools, lyceums, gymnasiums, colleges, as well as other educational institutions can present their projects both individually and as part of a team of up to two people.

Requirements for the selection round:

• the invention must fit into one of the six award categories: disaster management; education and recreation; foods and agriculture; green technologies to reduce environmental pollution; safety and health; technology for special needs (inventions to help people with disabilities);
• the invention must be a finished product; if the finished product exceeds 10 kg in weight and 1 m in width, height or length in size, the participant can submit a reduced-scale working model;
• the invention must be made entirely by the participant;
• scientific research and inventions related to weapons will not be considered;
• inventions must be safe (inventions that include explosives, flammable substances, poisons, unstable substances and living organisms will not be considered).

Important dates:

• Selection round: March 18 - May 30, 2021.
• Online registration of the shortlisted inventions: June 1 - August 31, 2021.
• Verification of uploaded information: September 1-15, 2021.
• Submission of information to the judging panel: September 15-30, 2021.
• Judging: October 1-7, 2021.
• Judging panel meeting: October 15-27, 2021.
• Announcement of results: November 1, 2021.

For more information, go to www.ieyi.ru.

Entry applications from Belarusian participants are accepted by email at office@lexpatent.by until May 30, 2021. The contact person on the territory of the Republic of Belarus is Svetlana Koroleva, a patent attorney of the Republic of Belarus.

Entries must include:

• a completed application form;
• comprehensive materials that will help experts to evaluate the invention, including visuals (pictures, diagrams, maps, tables, photographs, etc.),
• a video about your invention in English, no more than 3 minutes long. The video should include the following information: how the idea came about, what research has been carried out, your entry’s unique feature or novelty, its practical application, commercial appeal, possibility of further development or improvement.