On 4 July, the European Patent Office (EPO) announced the winners of the European Inventor Award 2023 at a ceremony in Valencia, Spain. The prize rewards inventors for inventions that make an exceptional contribution to improving peoples’ everyday lives
The 2023 winners
Industry
Converting waste and residues into high-quality renewable solutions
Pia Bergström, Annika Malm, Jukka Myllyoja, Jukka-Pekka Pasanen and Blanka Toukoniitty (Finland)
The team from the Finnish company Neste have been part of developing a unique technology that enables a wide variety of wastes and residues to be transformed into premium-quality renewable products, such as fuel.
Research
A safe and sustainable way to store hydrogen
Patricia de Rango, Daniel Fruchart, Albin Chaise, Michel Jehan, Nataliya Skryabina (France)
The French team combined their expertise and interests to develop a method to store hydrogen more safely and sustainably with less energy.
SMEs
Reducing noise with an advanced acoustic material
Rhona Togher, Eimear O’Carroll (Ireland)
The Irish physicists 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 that lower fire and explosion risks (China)
Kai Wu and team
EPO – All the winners: European Inventor Award and Young Inventors Prize 2023