European Patent Office: European Inventors Once Again Set Global Innovation Standards "Patents Secure Investments Worth Billions in R&D"

High-stability deformable concrete, adjustable spectacle lenses, water purification with ultraviolet light, highly efficient biomass combustion, transmission amplifiers for optical fibre cables or methods for diagnosing Alzheimer's genes: the fifteen nominations for the European Inventor Award 2011 cover a vast span of pioneering technological solutions. Europe's most prestigious innovation prize will be awarded on 19 May in Budapest.

MUNICH & BRUSSELS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--European Inventor Award 2011

“Harnessing technological creativity for marketable innovation is an essential means of ensuring that Europe remains competitive on the global scene”

The award was launched by the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2006 with the support of the European Commission (EC). This year, the EPO, again supported by the EC, is joined by the Hungarian EU Council Presidency in the organisation of the event. Prizes in five categories - Industry, Research, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Non-European countries and Lifetime achievement - will be presented at an award ceremony in Budapest.

A high calibre international jury, including prominent personalities such as European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek, selected the fifteen finalists from a large number of proposals submitted to the EPO, the key factors in its choice being technical content, economic impact and social relevance of the inventions.

"The nominations for the European Inventor Award 2011 are a positive proof that European enterprises can hold their own with cutting-edge products in a wide range of fields," says EPO President Benoît Battistelli. "With the revenue from their patents, companies are able to invest billions in research and development year after year. This investment in turn works to the benefit of society as a whole."

The inventors come from a dozen countries covering many regions of Europe. Medical research leads the field, followed by energy technology and then construction engineering, vehicle technology and telecommunications.

"Harnessing technological creativity for marketable innovation is an essential means of ensuring that Europe remains competitive on the global scene," adds EU Internal Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier. "Inventors are key figures in our knowledge society. They secure and create millions of jobs, making a major contribution to Europe's economic future."

View the full release with the nominations at:
http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110303.html


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