4 July 2023
The European Patent Office (EPO) today announced the winners of the European Inventor Award 2023. During a ceremony streamed from Valencia, the EPO revealed the winners in five award categories and the Young Inventors Prize. Of these six winners, three teams featured or were solely represented by women, representing an encouraging step towards equality in the innovation industry. An additional winner is announced in the Popular Prize, the only prize determined by public vote.
Audiences around the world join Filomena Gautela as she embarks on an amazing journey, showing how innovators and innovations touch lives. As the show drew to a close, the Portuguese presenter revealed Malta as the 2024 host country. If you missed the ceremony or want to watch it again, you can access the stream via the links below.
profession
Converting waste and residues into high-quality renewable solutions
Pia Bergström, Annika Malm, Jukka Mailioja, Jukka-Pekka Pasanen and Blanca Dukoniti (Finland)
A team at Finnish company Neste is part of the development of a unique technology that enables the conversion of various types of waste and residues into premium-quality renewable products such as fuel.
Research
A safe and sustainable way to store hydrogen
Patricia De Ranco, Daniel Frussard, Albin Saiss, Michael Jehan, Natalia Scriabina (France)
The French team combined their expertise and interests to develop a method to store hydrogen more safely and sustainably with less energy.
SMEs
Noise reduction through advanced acoustic material
Rona Togar, Eimear O’Carroll (Ireland)
Irish physicists have developed a composite material to reduce noise pollution. The material is thin, lightweight and cost-effective, making it suitable for applications ranging from aerospace to automotive.
Non-EPO countries
Li-ion batteries reduce fire and explosion risks (China)
Kai Wu and team
Together with his team, the China-based inventor has pioneered a series of features to improve the safety and performance of Li-ion batteries, helping the transition to cleaner motoring.
A lifetime achievement
Molecular sieve catalysts to promote chemical reactions
Avelino Corma Canos (Spain)
The Spanish chemist was a pioneer in the field of catalysts. His legacy, however, is the Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica de Valencia, an institute he co-founded to drive chemistry research in energy, sustainability, health and water.
Young Inventors Prize
Celebrating the work of innovators aged 30 and under, the award celebrates finalists selected for their contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Unlike the categories above, a granted European patent is not a prerequisite and the winner receives €20 000. Second and third place winners will receive €10,000 and €5,000 respectively.
success
An inexpensive light system to save both livestock and predators
Richard Duray (Kenya)
Maasai youth creates lion lights His invention prevents human-wildlife conflict and helps increase lion numbers in Kenya.
Second place
Accessible programming for blind children
Filipa de Sousa Rocha (Portugal)
The computer engineer works to make digital learning accessible to blind children. Her work uses tangible materials to teach digital literacy through play, bringing smiles to young learners’ faces as they acquire skills like computer programming.
Third place
Removing microplastics from water
Fionn Ferreira (Ireland)
The twenty-two-year-old environmentalist tackles microplastic pollution with his magnet-based method, which extracts microplastics from water quickly and safely without causing harm.
A popular gift
A safe and sustainable way to store hydrogen
Patricia DeRango, Daniel Frussard, Albin Saiss, Michel Jehan, Natalia Scriabina
The Popular Prize is the only prize in which the winner is determined by public vote. Although it was a tough competition, the French team had already won the research category and taken home the trophy.
Maybe the winners above have inspired you to innovate or you know an innovator who deserves a trophy. If you do, please nominate them for the award in 2024 through the links below.
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