join us to

celebrate
the spirit of
invention
 a celebration
of unlimited
possibilities
The greatest inventors are pushing the boundaries of the
possible, coming up with new, creative solutions to the
challenges of our day. This year we are excited to once
again gather with the most innovative minds to celebrate
their outstanding contributions to the way forward.
Attend this years prestigious ceremony at the Arsenale
di Venezia and experience genius up close.

2 3
european inventor award 2017

celebrating inventors

Technology can make our lives easier; it can help us to communicate better, travel faster and
more safely, and live longer. And behind every major technological innovation is an individual or
team of inventors who have shown remarkable creativity and dedication, often against the odds.

It was to honour these individual women and men that we established the European Inventor
Award in 2006. This Award is unique among innovation prizes in that it honours inventors not
only for the genius of their scientific or technological breakthroughs, but also for the impact
their invention has had on society and the economy.

This years finalists and winners will be selected from over 450 proposals the highest
number ever put forward for the Award. Their inventions cover a wide range of fields from
satellite navigation to green plastics to medical technology.

We are very pleased that this year the 12th edition of the European Inventor Award will take
place in Venice, which has a prominent place in the history of patents and inventions. It was
here that the Venetian Senate passed the first patent law in 1474, which is considered a
foundation of modern international patent statutes.

The future of the European patent system also looks bright: Italy along with 25 other EU
member states may soon enjoy the benefits of the new unitary patent system. The introduction
of the unitary patent and establishment of the Unified Patent Court, which could finally
become a reality in 2017, will be a boon to inventors and the European economy.

I hope you will join us at the Award ceremony on 15 June as we celebrate some of Europes
most outstanding inventors, who devote their lives to improving ours.

Benot BattistelliPresident

5
the sail a symbol
of human ingenuity
european inventor award 2017

the trophy
about the award
The sail-shaped trophies presented to award winners take on new
significance this year in Venice, a historical maritime power, and the
birthplace of the modern patent system. As a lasting symbol of
exploration and ingenuity, the sail recalls how an inventive idea can Since 2006, the European Inventor Award has established itself as one of Europes top
propel humankind to uncharted shores. The trophy was conceived
innovation prizes. It recognises outstanding inventors from around the world, and their
by German industrial designer Miriam Irle and is crafted with new
materials every year. In 2017, the trophy will be fashioned from inventions, all of which have been granted a patent by the EPO. The prize honours the
traditional Murano glass using a centuries-old glassblowing technique.
contribution of inventors to social progress, economic prosperity and employment
Murano glass is recognised as a historic symbol of artistry in Venice.
through their invention. It puts a spotlight on the individuals behind the inventions that
are changing our lives for the better.

The European Inventor Award is presented in each of the following categories:

Industry:
to outstanding and successful inventors whose inventions have been patented by large
European companies

Research:
to pioneering inventors working at European universities or research institutes

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs):

to exceptional inventors at European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Non-EPO Countries:
to outstanding inventors from outside the EPOs 38 member states who have been granted
a European patent

Popular Prize:
to the European Inventor Award finalist who receives the most votes from the public
on the EPO website and in social media in the run-up to the ceremony

Lifetime Achievement:
honouring the long-term contribution of a particular European inventor

The winners of this years Award will be announced at a prestigious ceremony on

15 June 2017 in Venice.

6 7
 relishing
the spirit of
discovery

"when i see that our

immediate results made a
difference in their lives,
you look at the effort and
say, that was worth it."
helen lee
2016 winner of the popular prize

8 9
Portuguese Prime Minister Antnio Costa (left) and EPO
President Benot Battistelli presenting Anton van Zanten
with the 2016 Lifetime Achievement award

Anton van Zanten's daughter

expressing her appreciation

"you only become an inventor

when youre not satisfied.
when youre satisfied with
everything, you have no urge
to create anything new."

anton van zanten
winner of the lifetime achievement category in 2016

"this is why the

European Commissioner, Carlos Moedas at
the 2016 award ceremony in Lisbon

award is so
important. its
todays inventors
who make the
future possible."
carlos moedas
european commissioner for research, science and innovation

10 11
Alim-Louis Benabid, winner of the 2016
award in the Research category

Antnio Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal,

on stage with the 2016 winners

"in the right

An inspired audience at the 2016
ceremony in Lisbon

circumstances,
creativity can
have a huge
economic and
social impact
on daily lives."
euronews
12 13
 Jrgen Weizenecker (left) and Bernhard Gleich (right) after their
names are announced as winners of the 2016 Industry award

2016 Lifetime Achievement

finalist, Tore Curstedt (right) and his
wife enjoying good company

"this prize is a recognition that there are many people

that try their whole life to improve things."
bernhard gleich
winner of the industry category in 2016

Prime Minister of Portugal, Antnio Costa, surrounded

by the media before the 2016 ceremony

2016 Non-European
Countries finalist,
Arogyaswami Paulraj
(middle) and his Ulrich Quaade (right) and
wife meeting the Tue Johannessen congratulating
14 15
EPO President, Benot one another after winning their shared
Battistelli (right) award in the 2016 SMEs category
the venetian
empires centre for
innovation
Arsenale di Venezia, the location of the 2017 European Inventor Award,
once served as the shipbuilding centre for the Republic of Venice and was a
major commercial venture in its time. Like the brilliant inventors of today,
great minds from the past have been inspired by Venice.

Physicist and inventor, Galileo, was a consultant to shipwrights and

instrument makers at the Arsenale, and the famous Italian poet, Dante, wrote
of it in his masterwork, The Inferno. The Arsenale is an historic symbol of
economic, inventive, and engineering power in Italy, and this year it will give
a stage to a new generation of innovators for the 21st century.

16 17
 european inventor award 2017

venice: nurturing inventors for 500 years

Venice has a noble history of protecting and supporting inventors. In 1474 the Venetian
Senate drew up a law to protect inventors, one of several from the Renaissance period
which led to the development of the modern patent system. Their policies succeeded in
replacing the secrecy of the old craft guilds with a thriving economy based on sharing
knowledge and ideas. The celebrated Murano glassmakers were amongst the first to
benefit. Venice has always been an inspiring city for new ideas and we feel there is no
better place to honour this years finalists. The charming canals and countless attractions
of Venice never cease to delight.

1 2

3 4

1 Formerly the official residence of the Doge and the seat of 3 The Murano glass factories, on the island of Murano,
the Venetian Republics government, the Doges Palace is one produce world-famous sculptures and stemware
of the main landmarks of Venice 4 The Venice Biennale is a world-renowned art exhibition,
2 The Carnival of Venice is an annual festival, famous for its promoting new trends in contemporary arts, dance,
extravagant and unique masks architecture, cinema and theatre
A typical Venetian gondola, with a
glimpse 18
of the Church of San Giorgio 19
Maggiore in the background
 1

european inventor award 2017

italy: where ideas come alive

Dozens of things we enjoy every day have origins as sparks of illumination in the minds of
great Italian thinkers, and theres no sign it will stop. The piano was invented in Italy, as
were eyeglasses, the barometer and the espresso machine. The first newspaper circulated in
Florence in 1563, and the typewriter was brought to us by Pelligrino Turri an Italian.

More recently, Italian inventors have come up with innovations in a diverse range of technologies,
and many have been honoured through the European Inventor Award: Federico Faggin for his
invention of the microchip, Benedetto Vigna for the 3D motion sensor, Catia Bastioli for
biodegradable plastic, and Luigi Cassar for self-cleaning concrete. An upswing in European
patent applications from Italy clearly indicates that Italian innovation continues to light our
way into the future.

Italy offers myriad visual delights, it has given us new forms in the fields of fashion and
furniture design, as well as automotive genius from the houses of Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Fiat
11
and Pirelli. Our concepts of modernity have largely been conceived in Italian studios
1 1 One of Italys most prominent inventors, Federico Faggin was the
where industrial design and contemporary art come alive. 2
first winner of the European Inventor Awards Lifetime Achievement
category in 2006 for the development of the microchip in 1971. His
invention revolutionised technology in the 20th century, bringing us
everything from personal computers to modern cars.
famous italian inventions 2 The Italian fashion industry boomed after the Second World War,
and now makes up some 11% of the countrys total exports. More than
700 BC: Dentures 1593: Water pump 1800: The electric battery 1965: Desktop computer
300 000 people were employed in the industry in 2014.
The Etruscans, an ancient Galileo developed a water Alessandro Voltas lifelong Olivettis Programma 101,
3 The Italian automotive industry goes back to the late 1800s, and
civilization living in what is now pump, which employed one interest in electricity led him a programmable calculator,
Italian cars have developed a reputation worldwide for their design
Italy, invented dentures made horse and twenty buckets to stack alternating zinc and is the predecessor to the
and speed. Today Italys automotive industry is the 5th largest in Europe.
from the teeth of other humans to irrigate fields. His invention silver disks and attach metal contemporary desktop
or animals such as oxen. was awarded a patent in wires to produce a steady computer. 10 were sold to
Venice in 1594. current of electricity. NASA for the Apollo space
1423: Lazaretto
project.
The first Lazaretto, or quarantine 1709: The piano 1899: Long distance radio 3
station, was set up on a Venetian Bartolomeo Cristofori, born 3 transmission
island to isolate sea-travellers in the Venetian Republic, Guglielmo Marconi, an 2007: Biodegradable plastic
who may have been carrying the maintained harpsichords and inventor and engineer, Catia Bastoli, and her team,
plague. invented the piano under the achieved the first long invented plastics made of
patronage of Prince Ferdinando distance radio transmission insoluble vegetable starch
1500: Scuba gear
de Medici in Florence. across the Atlantic in 1899. that biodegrade. The plastics
Leonardo da Vinci invented scuba
He won a Nobel Prize for turn into soil in a normal
gear in Venice to facilitate sneak
Physics in 1909. compost pile in 3 to 8 weeks.
attacks from under water. The
tanks were made of leather and
the breathing tubes of reeds.

20
european inventor award 2017
jury members
The independent jury that judges proposals for the European Inventor Award
consists of international authorities in the fields of business, politics, science, academia
and research.
Mario Moretti Polegato (Chair)
Inventor of the breathable shoe,
founder and Chairman of the Geox
Group, and recipient of several major
awards for his innovations. Mr Moretti
Polegato was a finalist in the Europe-
an Inventor Award 2012 in the Lifetime
Achievement category.
Dora Gro
Member of the Board of Administration
of the European Platform of Women
Scientists, and responsible for
international affairs at the Institute of
Fisheries and Aquaculture of Hungary's
National Agricultural Research and
Innovation Centre.
22
Eleni Antoniadou
President of the European Health
Parliament in Brussels, researcher in
regenerative medicine and co-founder
of the start-up initiative Transplants
without Donors. She raises awareness
about organ trafficking and has won
numerous awards for her work.
Wolfgang M. Heckl
Director General of the Deutsches
Museum, and professor of experimental
physics, Oskar von Miller Chair of
Science Communication at the Techni-
cal University Mnchen.
Jos Lus Arnaut
Managing Partner of Portuguese law
firm, CMS Rui Pena & Arnaut.
Mr Arnaut served as Deputy Prime
Minister of Portugal between 2002
and 2004 and has held numerous
government positions. He was also
chair of the jury in 2016.
Roger Highfield
Director of External Affairs at the
Science Museum Group. He was the
science editor of The Daily Telegraph
for over 20 years. Writer or co-author
of seven popular science books and
numerous articles.
european inventor award 2017
Antnio Campinos
Executive Director of the EU Intellectual
Property Office. Mr Campinos also
serves as President of the Administra-
tive Council of the Centre dtudes
Internationales de la Propit Intellec-
tuelle (CEIPI).
Ingeborg Hochmair
CEO of MED-EL Medical Electronics
Corporation and recipient of two hon-
orary degrees in medicine for her pio-
neering scientific work. Ms Hochmair
was a finalist in the European Inventor
Award 2014 in the Lifetime Achieve-
ment category.
Virna Cerne
Director of Research and Development
and member of the Executive Board at
the Dr Schr group in Trieste. A leading
researcher in gluten-free technologies,
she was a finalist in the Industry
category for the European Inventor
Award 2016.
Helen Lee
Head of Diagnostics Development Unit
at Cambridge University and CEO
of Diagnostics for the Real World Ltd.
She chaired the Diagnostics Steering
Committee at the WHO and was the
winner of the Popular Prize at the 2016
European Inventor Award.
Tore Curstedt
Former Assistant Director at the Karo-
linska University Laboratory. He helped
develop a leading treatment that has
saved the lives of hundreds of thousands
of preterm babies. He was a finalist in
the European Inventor Award 2016 in the
Lifetime Achievement category.
Angelika Niebler
Member of the European Parliament and
of the Parliament's Committee on
Industry, Research and Energy, and the
Committee on Women's Rights and
Gender Equality. She is a lecturer at the
Faculty of Business Management at the
Munich University of Applied Sciences.
23
 and the finalists
are
european inventor award 2017

winners way to venice

The names of the three finalists in each of the five categories will be announced in April 2017. Once
The selection process for the European Inventor Award relies on detailed research by EPO the fifteen finalists are announced the public can chime in to vote for their favourite inventor in the
experts and tough decisions by the independent international jury. The jurors evaluate the Popular Prize. All the details including photos and videos of the inventors and their inventions, will
inventors not only on their technological advances but also on their social and economic impact. be available on our dedicated website, www.epo.org/european-inventor.

1. CALL FOR PROPOSALS Meanwhile, we can already tell you that the 2017 finalists are from at least nine different countries,
Nominations from any technical field are invited from the general public, national patent
namely, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Morocco, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom
offices and EPO staff. The open call for proposals runs from April until October each year.
and the United States. Their inventions cover a wide range of technological fields including medical
technology, vaccines, green plastics, chemistry, semiconductors and satellite navigation.
The winners will be announced on 15 June 2017 in Venice.
2. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS
A panel of EPO experts rigorously evaluates the proposals to ensure they fulfil all legal
requirements and represent significant inventions. A shortlist of 40-50 candidates is
submitted to an independent jury, including detailed reports on the technical, societal and
economic merits of their inventions and biographical information on each candidate.

3. JURY DECISION
At a meeting each juror carefully reviews the shortlisted candidates and allocates points
for their first, second and third choices in the five categories. After voting and discussions,
three finalists (including one winner) remain in each category.

4. FINALISTS ANNOUNCEMENT
The EPO officially announces the names of the fifteen finalists to the public in April.
Hundreds of news outlets begin reporting and speculating on who the winners might be.

5. POPULAR PRIZE VOTING

In parallel to the finalists announcement, the public is also invited to vote for their
favourites in the "Popular Prize". The prize is awarded to the finalist who receives the
most votes on the EPO website and social media in the run-up to the ceremony.

6. WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT
The winners in the five categories and the Popular Prize are announced at the Award
ceremony in June.

24 25
Martin Schadt Laura van 't Veer
winner of the 2013 Lifetime winner in the
Achievement category for SMEs category in
his development of LCD 2015 for her
european inventor award 2017
technology gene-based
breast cancer

programme event details

test

15 june 2017 award ceremony venue

european inventor Arsenale di Venezia (Venetian Arsenal)
award ceremony Tese di San Cristoforo
Halls 92-94
10.00 Meet and Greet Castello

honouring
30122 Venice
11.00 Award Ceremony

genius
The awards will be presented to accommodation
winners in the following categories: For recommended hotels, please visit
Industry www.epo.org/european-inventor
Research
Now in its 12th edition, the European Inventor Award has SMEs further information
over the years honoured the work of more than 150 Non-EPO Countries Hotline +49 89 2399 1830
outstanding scientists and engineers, who are changing Popular Prize Fax +49 89 2399 1835
our world. This internationally recognised prize for Lifetime Achievement E-mail: european-inventor@epo.org
Hugh Herr
innovation is an opportunity to give these inventors the www.epo.org/european-inventor
2016 Non-European Countries
recognition that is so rarely sought, but so richly deserved. finalist was honoured for his 13.00 Reception and Buffet Lunch
development of "bionic" knee
and ankle prostheses

Terence Percival (left) and

John O'Sullivan
2012 winners in the Non-European
Countries category for their invention
of WLAN technology

please register by 26 MAY 2017

www.epo.org/register-award

26 27
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www.epo.org/european-inventor

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www.youtube.com/user/EPOfilms

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imprint
Published and edited by: European Patent Office, Munich, Germany, EPO 2017
Responsible for content: Jana Mittermaier, Director External Communications