European Inventor Award
Red carpet, flashing cameras and thank-you speeches: the winners of the European Inventor Award 2013 were presented with their trophies at a ceremony in Amsterdam.
Find out all there is to know about this year's European Inventor Award winners and finalists and their patented inventions.
2013 winners
Industry: Claus Hämmerle/Klaus Brüstle
Many a household is quieter
thanks to the patented "Blumotion" damper system for furniture hinges
developed by Claus Hämmerle and Klaus Brüstle, but the Austrian inventors met
with thunderous applause as they accepted their award in the category
"Industry".
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Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): Pål Nyrén
His fast and cheap method
of DNA sequencing lights up chemical properties in DNA enzymes, but the spotlights were on Pål Nyrén as winner in the
category "SMEs".
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Research: Patrick Couvreur
"Nano-capsules" may
be tiny but their impact has been enormous: measuring just a few nanometres, they
allow for new, less aggressive but more effective forms of targeted cancer
therapy. Their inventor, researcher Patrick Couvreur from France, won the award
in the category "Research".
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Non-European countries: Ajay Bhatt
It is impossible today to
imagine computer technology without it: USB enables straightforward plug‑and‑play
and is now standard in billions of computers and mobile devices across the globe.
The prize in the category "Non-European countries" went to inventor Ajay
Bhatt and his team (USA) for this solution.
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Lifetime achievement: Martin Schadt
Thanks to the patented LCD
technology developed by Martin Schadt, people all over the world can watch high-resolution
images on flat-screen TVs, monitors and a multitude of other display devices.
The Swiss physicist was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award in
recognition of his work in inventing this flat-panel liquid crystal display.
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Popular prize: José Luis López Gómez
The man behind more
comfortable travel in high-speed trains, Spaniard José Luis López Gómez left
the competition trailing to take the Popular Prize, awarded this year for the
very first time. Among the thousands who voted, most chose his innovative "method
for optimising the guidance of railway vehicles".
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Your favourite inventor hasn't been honoured yet?
Nominate an inventor for the European Inventor Award 2014
Determining the winners
Any member of the public can nominate an inventor for the European Inventor Award. The selection process relies on the hard work of EPO experts and an independent international jury that evaluates innovations not only on their technological originality but also on their economic and social impact.
