Munich – Fifteen scientists and engineers have been nominated for the European Inventor Award 2013 organized by the European Patent Office (EPO) for their contributions to technological, social and economic progress.

 

 

The award is presented annually by the European Patent Office (EPO) to outstanding inventors in five categories. For the first time, the public are also invited to cast their vote to select the winner of the Popular Prize from among the 15 finalists. The 2013 winners in all categories will be announced at a ceremony in Amsterdam on 28 May in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands.

This year’s nominees cover the fields of medical technology, pharmaceuticals, optics, metallurgy, electronics, computers and LCD technology. They originate from nine European and two non-European countries. The 15 finalists were selected by a prominent international jury from 160 inventors and teams originally put forward.

“These cutting-edge inventions show that Europe continues to be a world leader in innovation in all areas of technology from engineering to medicine to computers,” said EPO President Benoît Battistelli. “All of this year’s nominated inventors have not only come up with major scientific and technological advances, but they have contributed to improving health and standard of living, and created jobs and economic wealth. All of the inventions are protected by a European patent, which has helped get many of them off the ground.”

The European Inventor Award 
Launched in 2006, the European Inventor Award is presented annually by the European Patent Office (EPO). The award honours inventive individuals and teams whose pioneering work provides answers to the challenges of our age and thereby contributes to social progress, economic growth and prosperity. Nomination proposals are submitted by the public, and by patent examiners at the EPO and Europe’s national patent offices. The finalists and, subsequently, the winners are chosen from among the nominees by a high-profile international jury, which includes experts from the areas of business, politics, media, academia and research.

Henry Borzi