24 April 2018
They have found innovative ways to tackle health issues, reduce pollution, boost alternative energies and equip us with technology for the digital age. The 15 finalists for the European Inventor Award 2018, announced today by the EPO, have all made significant contributions to advancing technology, generating economic value and creating employment in Europe and throughout the world. With its prestigious annual award, the EPO honours outstanding scientists, researchers and engineers in five categories: Industry, Research, Non-EPO countries, SMEs and Lifetime achievement.
The Award winners will be announced on 7 June in Paris, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, at a ceremony attended by representatives from the worlds of politics, business, industry, research and intellectual property. The public will select the winner of the Popular Prize by online voting on the EPO's website in the run-up to the ceremony.
"The 2018 Award finalists demonstrate that Europe continues to be a world leader in innovation," said EPO President Benoît Battistelli. "The creativity and ingenuity of these women and men helps to improve our daily lives and boosts the competitiveness of the economy. They open up new opportunities, enrich our lives and propose solutions to some of the most pressing issues we face. By supporting the work of these inventors, the European patent system remains a pillar for strengthening Europe's position as one of the world's most innovative markets."
The 15 finalists were selected by an independent, international jury from a pool of more than 500 individuals and teams of inventors, a new record number, proposed by the public, by patent examiners of national patent offices and the EPO. This year, the finalists - six of whom are women inventors - come from 13 countries: Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US.
Their inventions cover a wide range of technological fields including biotechnology, microchip lithography, automotive, toys and games, medical imaging and technology, renewable energy, material sciences, lasers and electronics.
The European Inventor Award is one of Europe's most prestigious innovation prizes. Launched by the EPO in 2006, it honours individual inventors and teams of inventors whose pioneering inventions provide answers to some of the biggest challenges of our times. The finalists and winners are selected by an independent jury consisting of international authorities from the fields of business, politics, science, academia and research who examine the proposals for their contribution towards technical progress, social development, economic prosperity and job creation in Europe. The 2018 award ceremony will take place on 7 June in, Paris, Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The public is invited to take part in conferring one of the awards: the winner of the Popular Prize is chosen from among the 15 finalists by online voting on the EPO website in the run-up to the ceremony. Voting is open until 3 June 2018.
