Biotech inventors
Last updated: 7.8.2025
The field of biotech has produced many pioneering technologies. Through its European Inventor Award and Young Inventors Prize, the EPO recognises brilliant scientists whose genius and vision have made the world safer, healthier and more sustainable.
- AI platform for creating and enhancing enzymes
A Lithuanian team led by Laurynas Karpus, Vykintas Jauniškis and Irmantas Rokaitis developed an AI-powered platform that enables enzymes to be built from the bottom up. Their platform allows for greater control, enhanced efficiency and faster innovation cycles.
- Gene-silencing technique to treat diseases
Thomas Tuschl's groundbreaking method of "switching off" human genes has become a vital tool in developing new ways of diagnosing and treating conditions from haemophilia to high cholesterol.
- Genetically-modified mosquitoes to control dengue fever
When released into the wild, Luke Alphey’s genetically modified mosquitoes mate with female mosquitoes to produce sterile offspring. This reduces disease-carrying mosquito populations and helps to eradicate diseases such as dengue fever.
- Gene-based breast cancer test
Laura van 't Veer invented a gene-based breast cancer test that evaluates tumour tissue for the 10-year risk of cancer recurrence. This identifies high-risk patients needing chemotherapy while sparing low-risk one from undergoing toxic chemical treatments.
- Lab-grown human organs (organoids)
Hans Clevers and his team pioneered what are called "organoids". The "mini-organs" are grown from the stem cells of individual patients and allow doctors to test the specific effects of drugs safely - outside the body.
- Artificial spider silk
Thomas Scheibel uses advanced bioengineering methods to bring one of the most resilient materials found in nature into industrial-scale production. His synthetic spider silk is made by bacteria - no arachnids are involved!
- Modified mRNA for life-saving vaccines and therapies
Biochemist Katalin Karikó developed a way to modify messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) for safe use in the human body, paying the way to COVID-19 vaccines and prospective therapies for cancer and heart disease.