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European Inventors honoured in Munich
Dr Franz Lärmer and Andrea Urban, of Bosch GmbH in Stuttgart, Germany, were awarded the prize in the category "Industry" for their Bosch Process. The invention has revolutionised sensor technology and made possible - among other things - the life-saving airbag.
The award in the category "SMEs/Research" went to Catia Bastioli and her team at Novamont S.p.a in Novara, Italy for inventing biodegradable plastics from starch, a renewable raw material. These plastics are used worldwide, for instance in eco-friendly refuse bags.
Dr Joseph P. Vacca and the team at Merck Research Laboratories in West Point, USA took home the "Non-European countries" award for Crixivan, a protease inhibitor that has revolutionised HIV treatment, transforming the disease from a death sentence into a chronic condition.
Professor Marc Feldmann from the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology in London, United Kingdom was presented with the award for "Lifetime achievement" for identifying the role of cytokines in the treatment of autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and finding a treatment that has helped millions of people around the globe.
More information about the winners and their inventions is available on the European Inventor of the Year website .