Bola Olabisi, President of the Global Women Inventors and Innovators Network (GWIIN), has announced that nominations for the European Women Inventors and Innovators Network (EUWIIN) awards 2011 are now open.

Judging will take place at the exhibition and conference to be held in Reykjavik, Iceland 25-27 May 2011, and awards will be made at a gala dinner on the closing night.

The theme for the 2011 conference is SUSTAINABLE IDEAS AND CREATIVITY FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

This year the awards categories include:

1. Lone Inventor
2. Lone Innovator
3. Exceptional Creative Women with  item, concept or service
4. Exceptional Creative, Inventive, or Innovative Women In Micro-enterprise or New start up business with no more than 10 employees
5. Exceptionally Creative, Inventive, or Innovative Women In Small business with more than 10 to 49  employees
6. Exceptional Creative, Inventive, or Innovative Women In Medium sized Industry with more than 50 – 250 employees
7. Exceptional Creative, Inventive, or Innovative Women In Large Industry with more than 250 employees
8. Innovative Capacity Building Initiatives or Projects
9. Exceptional Creative Women/ Inventors/Innovators In Higher Education & Learning Institutions
10. Women in Product Design and Development
11. Inventive or innovative team (the woman needs to have made a significant contribution to be recognised and all members of the team must agree to the nomination).
12. Chairman's Discretionary Award
13. Lifetime Achievement Award
 

Finnish concrete engineer, Aino Heikkinen, took top prize at EUWIIN 2007

Entrance into the awards is free, but attendance for finalists is required at the conference at the below subsidised rates per delegate, with attendees paying for their own travel and accommodation:

Subsidised Rates per Delegate
GWIIN / EUWIIN Members -   185 Euros
Non GWIIN Members (Discounted Rate) -   195 Euros
Organisations with more than 20 Employees -   250 Euros
Dinner only -  70 Euros

Winning a category or special recognition award, or even simply getting shortlisted, can be great publicity for your idea or invention.

Self-nomination is not allowed. Nominations close 25 March 2011

To find out more, download the nomination form, or book a place at the conference, visit the EUWIIN event page