Who Are INV Title Holders?

INV Title holders are individual inventors who have been formally recognized and honored by IFIA for their outstanding contributions to innovation and invention. Although they are not organizational members of IFIA, they are acknowledged as part of IFIA’s global inventor community.

Purpose of the INV Title

In many countries, academic and professional titles such as Dr. (for Ph.D. holders) and Eng. (for engineers) are used to distinguish qualified professionals. However, until recently, no formal title existed to recognize inventors and innovators who contribute significantly to the knowledge economy and public innovation.

To address this gap, a structured system was proposed and approved one that awards the INV Title to inventors and innovators with proven qualifications, achievements, and impact. This title is granted based on clearly defined requirements and a record of innovation excellence.

Respect and Recognition

The “INV” title stands as a symbol of respect and recognition for the creative minds shaping our future. It is not a form of organizational membership, but an individual honorary designation approved by IFIA to distinguish genuine contributors to science, technology, and innovation.

The Launch of the INV Title Project by IFIA

The International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA) launched the INV Title Project to formally recognize individual inventors for their outstanding contributions to innovation, invention, and the global knowledge economy.

In fact, IFIA awarded the very first INV Title to a Nobel Prize laureate in 1977. This historic decision established an important precedent for honoring distinguished inventors worldwide.

Later, the IFIA Executive Committee enacted the final approval on September 11, 2017, in Visakhapatnam, India. The committee reconfirmed this decision during the 33rd IFIA Virtual Meeting on February 4, 2020. As a result, IFIA officially institutionalized the INV Title for qualified inventors and formally launched the INV Inventor Members initiative.

Rationale for the INV Title

Across the world, academic and professional titles help distinguish qualified professionals. For example:

• Dr. for Ph.D. holders

• Eng. for engineers

However, no equivalent formal system existed for inventors, despite their crucial role in advancing science, technology, and society.

Therefore, IFIA introduced the “INV” Title to fill this gap. This designation formally recognizes inventors who meet specific criteria based on merit, achievements, and measurable innovation impact.

Moreover, the INV Title honors excellence and provides international recognition. At the same time, it does not imply organizational membership in IFIA.

The Need for a Title to Recognize Inventors and Innovators

Across the world, professional titles help distinguish qualified specialists. For example, Dr. (Doctor of Philosophy) and Eng. (Engineer) are widely used to identify academic and technical professionals.

However, inventors and innovators did not have a comparable formal title. This gap remained even though inventors play a key role in strengthening the knowledge economy. Moreover, they enrich the public stock of knowledge through their creative work and innovation.

Therefore, IFIA introduced a structured recognition system for inventors and innovators. This system evaluates applicants based on merit, competency, and proven achievements. In addition, IFIA developed this initiative under the framework of the Chartered Innovators Council.

As a result, IFIA officially approved the honorary title “INV” as a mark of distinction, credibility, and professional recognition for eligible inventors and innovators.

Important Note

INV Title holders are not legal members of IFIA. Instead, IFIA recognizes them as honorary title holders for their contributions to science, technology, and innovation.

Furthermore, IFIA reserves its legal membership structure exclusively for organizations, such as:

• National inventor associations

• Universities

• Innovation centers

• Other related institutions

Recommended Official Wording:

“The trademark for the INV Title has been officially registered by IFIA at the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI)

Registration Number: 779216

Eligibility Criteria for Receiving the INV Title

To be eligible for the INV Title, inventors must fulfill at least one of the following criteria each year, including the current year and every year following the issuance of the INV Title certificate:

1. 1. Patent-Based Qualification

      • Possess a national or international patent granted in the current year; or

      • Maintain an active patent portfolio by securing new patents each year after receiving the INV Title certificate.

   2. Award-Based Qualification

      • Receive a national or international invention award that is organized under the patronage of IFIA in the current year; or

      • Continue receiving such awards annually after obtaining the INV Title certificate.

   3. Recommendation-Based Qualification

      • Submit a valid recommendation letter from the IFIA member office in your country for the current yearand each year thereafter; or

      • If IFIA has no member office in your country, provide a recommendation letter from your national government’s recognized invention or innovation agency for the current year and each subsequent year.

Note: These conditions are ongoing requirements, meaning the INV Title holder must continue to meet the selected criterion annually to retain the active recognition status.

IFIA Inv title members will have the following services:

• The IFIA Secretariat grants the legal title to inventors based on the regulations and guidelines adopted by the IFIA General Assembly and approved by the IFIA Executive Committee.

• Free participation in one edition of the annual INV Online Competition, organized by IFIA, for INV title holders.

• An opportunity to have free registration and a free booth to present his/her invention at an international invention exhibition under the patronage of IFIA, in cases where such an opportunity has been officially confirmed by the exhibition organizer to the IFIA Secretariat and subsequently announced to INV title holders through IFIA’s newsletter.

• Sends IFIA’s newsletters to INV title holders monthly, including information on funds, events, seminars, international competitions, and more.
• IFIA creates a network between the INV title holders.

• Media Exposure Opportunities (Magazine, Website, and Social Media)

  INV Title holders may be offered the opportunity to showcase their innovation through:

  • The IFIA Magazine

  • IFIA’s Official Website

  • IFIA’s Official Social Media Channels

  These platforms provide global visibility and professional recognition. Publication is subject to approval by the IFIA Secretariat and the IFIA INV Department.
  Note: Selected INV Title holders will be contacted directly by the IFIA Media or Editorial team.

Terms, Limitations, and Legal Notice for INV Title Holders

1. 1. No Legal Status in IFIA Structure
      Holders of the INV Title are not recognized as legal members within the organizational or statutory structure of IFIA.

   2. Recognition as a Supportive Group
      INV Title holders are considered a group of recognized inventors, eligible for support and visibility through IFIA’s programs and communications, but not part of IFIA’s legal membership.

   3. Communication Through IFIA Member Offices
      All communications and service requests from INV Title holders must be submitted through the official IFIA Full, Corresponding, or Collaborating Member office in the applicant’s country.
      IFIA services will only be coordinated through its authorized member offices.

   4. Legal Responsibility for Misuse
      Any misuse of the INV Title such as unauthorized representation, fraudulent claims, or use in illegal or unethical activities is the full legal responsibility of the individual misusing the title.
      IFIA shall not be held liable for any such unauthorized use.

   5. False Documentation is Prohibited
      Submission of false or misleading documents to obtain the INV Title is strictly prohibited and subject to legal prosecution under applicable international and national laws.

   6. Certificate Format and Delivery
      All INV Title certificates are issued only in electronic format (PDF) and sent to the accepted inventors via official channels.
      Printed or recommendation letters will not be issued.

   7. Renewal and Inactivity
      INV Title holders must submit updated documentation annually through their respective IFIA Member Office to renew and validate their certificate.
      Failure to submit renewal documents may result in the certificate being declared invalid and permanently removed from IFIA’s records due to inactivity.

   8. Application Review and Revocation Rights
      The IFIA Secretariat reserves the full right to accept or reject any INV Title application, regardless of whether the applicant meets the eligibility criteria.
      Additionally, the Secretariat may invalidate or revoke any issued INV Title certificate at its sole discretion and without prior notice if deemed necessary.

   9. Certificate Verification
      To verify the authenticity of a certificate, enter the Verification Number in the search box provided below on this page.

“For the inquiry of the certificates, enter the verification number at the search box of this page in below”