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Empresas y finanzas

European Patent Office: Europe Hails Top Inventors


    Today the inventors of a ground-breaking AIDS treatment, lighter and

    more environmentally friendly aluminium car frames, a powerful but

    pain-free laser scanner for the eye, and a robot designed to overhaul

    medical surgery were presented with the European Inventor of the Year

    2008 award. Europe´s top innovation prize

    honours pioneers whose inventions have changed our everyday lives and

    helped to strengthen Europe´s competitiveness.

    The award trophies were handed over by the Slovenian President Danilo Türk

    Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen

    and the President of the European Patent Office (EPO), Alison Brimelow

    at a celebratory gala in Ljubljana.
    An international jury selected the winners in the following categories:

    Lifetime Achievement:Erik De Clercq of the University of

    Leuven (Belgium) for landmark contributions to antiviral treatment

    including the development of the drug cocktail for AIDS which has

    become the gold standard of our day.

    Industry:Audi´s Norbert Enning

    Ulrich Klages, Heinrich Timm, Gundolf Kreis, Alois Feldschmid

    Christian Dornberg and Karl Reiter (Germany) for revolutionising

    automotive manufacturing by making car frames lighter and safer

    through the use of aluminium.

    SMEs and Research:Douglas Anderson, Robert Henderson and

    Roger Lucas of Scotland´s SME Optos (United Kingdom) for developing a

    new laser scanning technology for the eye which allows powerful but

    pain-free examination of the retina.

    Non-European Inventors:SRI International´s

    Philip S. Green (United States) for developing a robotic surgical

    system that has helped to improve surgery in Europe by allowing

    surgeons to perform complex procedures with the highest precision.

    Günter Verheugen, Vice-President of the

    European Commission, said: "All

    winners of the European Inventor of the Year 2008 award developed truly

    groundbreaking inventions. They are evidence of Europe´s

    innovative strength and competitiveness. Promoting innovation remains a

    top priority for creating jobs and growth."
    Andrej Vizjak, Minister for Economic Affairs of Slovenia, explained:

    "The Slovenian Presidency is firmly

    committed to advance Europe´s competitiveness

    and innovative capacities. The groundbreaking inventions honoured today

    underline the importance of an effective legal framework for the

    protection of intellectual property rights to support the creative

    potential of the European economy. We are convinced that an agreement on

    a Community patent and EU patent jurisdiction will help to boost Europe´s

    innovative process and international competitiveness."
    Alison Brimelow, President of the EPO, added: "The

    award-winners have excelled in their creative achievements. Their

    success demonstrates the importance of patent protection in the

    invention process. If we want to tackle climate change or develop new

    ways of treating diseases, we need a quality-oriented patent system

    which stimulates and sustains innovation. The IP system can be a pivotal

    element in the efficient diffusion of cutting-edge technologies, as this

    year´s awards clearly demonstrate."
    European Inventor of the Year: the

    background
    Among the array of innovation awards, the European Inventor of the Year

    stands out not only because of the quality and prominence of the winning

    researchers, but also because of its unique selection procedure and

    geographical span. In selecting the award winners, an independent and

    high-profile international jury was able to draw on the expertise of the

    EPO and of patent examiners from national patent offices. The jury

    looked at inventions that had been patented and successfully marketed

    between 1993 and 2002. The prize is purely symbolic and does not involve

    any financial or other reward.
    The prize recognises inventors and innovations that have made a

    significant and lasting contribution to technical progress in Europe and

    beyond, and thus have strengthened Europe´s economic position. The

    European Inventor of the Year Award was jointly instituted by the

    European Commission and the European Patent Office (EPO).
    This year´s award ceremony was held in Ljubljana alongside the European

    Patent Forum 2008 "Inventing a cleaner future". This EPO conference

    provides a platform for internationally renowned experts to discuss the

    potential role of the intellectual property system in combating climate

    change. For more information, please go to:
    http://www.epo.org/about-us/events/epf2008/forum.html
    Audiovisual text and pictures can be downloaded here:
    http://www.epo.org/topics/news/2008/20080410.html