MIT Technology Review is opening a Europe-wide programme to find and recognize innovators whose work has the potential to create positive change for society and the world.
The next important breakthroughs are already taking shape somewhere in Europe. Some may begin as experiments in a laboratory; others are becoming products, companies or entirely new ways of approaching problems that nobody has managed to solve yet.
Innovators Under 35 has a history of spotting potential early, and now it’s Europe’s turn to take the spotlight. Innovators Under 35 Europe, the European edition of MIT Technology Review’s global Innovators Under 35 programme, officially launches on October 23, 2026, opening applications to innovators working across science, technology and engineering.
We are looking for people developing breakthrough technologies, products, services and applications with the potential to create meaningful change – for society, the economy, the environment and the way people live and work.
Who can apply?
Innovators Under 35 Europe is open to individuals who are at least 18 and under 35 and hold a valid passport or residence permit in one of the countries covered by the European edition.
Candidates may come from universities and research centres, startups, established companies or independent projects. They may be researchers, managers, founders, engineers, inventors or technologists. What matters is the work: what is new about it, what problem it addresses and how people, society or the world could benefit from it.
Candidates can apply directly or be nominated by someone else: their friends, colleagues, peers, investors, universities. In either case, candidates complete their own application.
The search extends across the whole continent of eligible countries and innovation ecosystems covered by the European edition.
What are we looking for?
The innovation should have moved far enough beyond the initial idea for its potential to be understood and assessed. It should be grounded in science, technology or both, address a clearly defined problem and show a credible route towards real-world use.
The areas include Biotech & Medicine, Energy & Infrastructures, Nanotechnologies & Materials, AI & Advanced Computing, Robotics & Hardware, Smart Cities, Mobility & Urban Tech, Climate Tech & AgriFoodTech, Cybersecurity & Digital Trust, and Human Tech.
We are interested in innovations that can create meaningful impact for people, organizations, industries, society or the environment. Where relevant, we will also consider the role that the work could play in Europe and its contribution to the continent’s technological, economic, and societal development. It does not, however, need to be exclusively European in its ambition or application.
Applications open on October 23
Applications for Innovators Under 35 Europe 2027 open on October 23, 2026, and close in May 2027.
Following the eligibility, evaluation and selection process, the new cohort will be announced in October 2027 and recognized at the Innovators Under 35 Europe Award Ceremony in Rome.
Those selected will become MIT Innovators Under 35 Europe 2027, joining a global community of innovators whose work spans generations, disciplines and technologies. Their work will gain visibility through MIT Technology Review and the European edition’s wider media and innovation network, while creating opportunities to connect with companies, institutions and people across the ecosystem.
Help us make sure the right people know about IU35
Great work does not always get noticed. Talented innovators need visibility, recognition, and the right connections to help their ideas travel further.
You may be working on something yourself. You may know someone whose work deserves to be seen. Or you may be part of the research, technology, and innovation community that can help us find them.
Apply with your work. Nominate an innovator. Or join the community as a partner, judge, or ambassador and help us widen the search.
The next generation of Innovators Under 35 is already out there. Help us find them early – and give important ideas the recognition and connections they need to go further.
Learn more
IU35: the vision behind the European project and the community supporting it
Explore eligibility, the application process and the official rules
