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
