Spanish entrepreneur Carmen Hijosa has developed a versatile material that brands worldwide use as an alternative to leather. Her pioneering textile uses a waste resource, can be produced with less environmental impact than cow leather and is both cruelty‑free and vegan.
Indian-American chemist Sumita Mitra developed a nanomaterial-based dental filler that offers improved strength, wear resistance and aesthetics. Mitra was the first to use nanotechnology to create fillings and today, dental products based on her invention have been used in over 1 billion restorations worldwide.
Microbiologists Kim Lewis and Slava Epstein have developed a device that enables scientists to separate and incubate single strains of bacteria in their natural environment, rather than in a Petri dish. The "iChip" increases the potential for the development of new drugs to treat cancer and other diseases. It has helped scientists to cultivate thousands of strains of previously unculturable organisms, leading to the discovery of many potential candidates for new antibiotics.
Chinese-American innovators Bo Pi and Yi He have developed the world's first fingerprint sensor able to check both fingerprint patterns and the presence of blood flow. Their innovation is integrated into multiple smartphone models across several Brands, helping to prevent unauthorised access and provide unparalleled security for millions of users.
A digital ultrasound imaging platform developed by French physicists Mathias Fink and Mickael Tanter helps doctors to quickly identify conditions such as cancer and liver disease, without the need for painful and invasive biopsies. By enabling earlier and more accurate diagnoses, the innovation will lead to more targeted and effective clinical treatments, potentially saving lives.
Chemical engineers Robert N. Grass and Wendelin Stark have developed a robust method of data storage which involves encoding digital data on to DNA strands and encapsulating them within protective glass particles. The method could be used to apply DNA markers to products, enabling origin tracing throughout the supply chain, and protect data from decay for thousands of years.
Italian physicist Marco Donolato and his team have invented a test that can detect infectious diseases, including dengue fever - which infects an estimated 390 million people each year. The easy-to-use system needs just one drop of blood to produce rapid and accurate results, enabling prompt treatment of patients.
Dutch engineer Jan van der Tempel has made offshore transfers safer, more efficient and reliable with his motion-compensating gangway. The platform connects moving ships to offshore facilities, similar to a boarding ramp that joins an aeroplane to an airport gate. By countering wave motion even in hazardous conditions, his platform has enabled over six million workers to be safely transferred and is used by offshore operators worldwide.
German chemists Christoph Gürtler , Walter Leitner and team have pioneered a technique to use CO₂ as a building block for creating plastics, reducing energy usage and recycling waste CO₂. Their work has solved a decades-old problem and is paving the way to more sustainable manufacturing.
Norwegian scientist Per Gisle Djupesland's device for administering medicine via the nose brings relief to millions of migraine sufferers and has the potential to treat brain conditions. His experience as an ENT specialist inspired him to invent a ground-breaking system that uses our natural breathing mechanism to deliver medication where it's needed quickly and efficiently.
