The USPTO has launched a special award for green energy inventions, the Patents for Humanity Program. This new award will provide business incentives to patent applicants, rights holders and licensees that address climate change through green energy innovations such as wind, solar, hydrogen, hydroelectric, geothermal and biofuel technologies.
Recipients of this award will receive a certificate qualifying them for expedited examination of patent applications or reexamination proceedings, and can transfer this certificate to third parties, including receiving compensation and funds to help them transform their inventions into deliverable goods or services. .
The Humanity Patent Award was launched in February 2012, and the Humanity Patent Act of 2022 has now been codified into U.S. law. This is the highest honor bestowed by the USPTO to patent applicants, recognizing them for their game-changing innovations that address long-standing development challenges. The success stories of patent applicants can also inspire others to use innovation to promote human progress. Anyone who is developing or has developed technology related to green energy is eligible to compete for the award once they submit a patent application.
