The award, which is now in its second year, was set up by the European Commission and the European Patent Office. It is designed to recognise inventors whose work has made a significant contribution to technical development in Europe and beyond, and so made Europe's economy stronger. The award has four categories: industry, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)/research, non-European countries and lifetime achievement.
The nominees include Alec Jeffreys, who is up for a lifetime achievement award for inventing DNA fingerprinting, a team of Italians who developed biodegradable plastics made of plant starch, which are now used in a range of applications, and a group that developed a drug which has helped to significantly increase the life expectancy of HIV sufferers.
"The nominees' successful inventions have strengthened Europe's technological and economic stand and have pushed the world's technological frontier further ahead," commented European Commission Vice President Günter Verheugen. "Technological progress is a crucial factor to keep pace with our major competitors and we should be proud of having one of the world's most brilliant minds in the EU."
The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Munich, Germany, on 18 April.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.european-inventor.org
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