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Euronews reports on the European Inventor Award 2013

 

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.

Call for submissions: Proposals are invited from the public, national patent offices and the EPO staffEvaluation of proposals by the experts: A panel of EPO experts rigorously checks the proposals to ensure that they meet the procedural and legal requirements and that the relevant patents are still valid.Shortlist of the candidates: A shortlist consisting of about 40 pre-selected candidates across the five categories is prepared for the jury, including detailed reports on the merits of the inventions. Announcement of the winners: The winners in the five categories are announced at the award ceremony.Announcement of the finalists: The EPO officially announces the names of the finalists to the public.Jury’s decision: During a face-to-face meeting, the jury selects three finalists in each category by majority voting before finally selecting the winners.

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