Unveiling Tomorrow: The 2024 European Inventor Award Winners

Celebrating Women in Science and Innovation This Year

Lifetime Achievement Award

The lifetime achievement award was presented to Dame Carol Robinson, a distinguished chemist whose pioneering work in mass spectrometry has revolutionized analytical science.

• Recognition of historical contributions by women scientists.
• Highlighting advancements in analytical chemistry.

Key Contributions of Dame Carol Robinson

Her research introduced new methodologies for molecular detection and quantification, enabling breakthroughs in fields such as pharmacology and environmental monitoring.

European Inventor Award 2024: Celebration of Cutting‑Edge Innovation

Key Moment: Five Years of Impact

“Many of these projects have already shaped our lives,” the ceremony began, setting the stage for inventors who had already left their mark on society. Contestants awaited the announcement of the projects that best impressed the paneland, by extension, the science community worldwide.

Live Stream from Malta

The European Patent Office (EPO) streamed the awards live from Malta, conferring recognition on creators whose breakthroughs span a wide array of fields.

Winners Handed Out by an Independent Jury

• Automotive manufacturing – breakthroughs in vehicle production and design.
• Computer vision – advanced techniques and applications.
• Magnet technology – innovations in magnetic materials and applications.
• Renewable energy – new energy solutions and sustainability efforts.

New Youth‑Focused Twist

In addition to honoring seasoned inventors, the EPO introduced an exciting novel element to the Young Inventors Prize, encouraging fresh talent from across Europe.

Public‑Voted Popular Prize

The award circuit also highlighted the winner chosen through public voting, underscoring community engagement in scientific progress.

About the European Patent Office

The EPO is Europe’s chief patent authority, granting rights to novel inventions. The European Inventor Award is a prestigious emblem that signifies excellence in engineering and science across the continent and beyond.

Want to revisit the ceremony? Click here to replay the full awards event.

Carol Robinson (UK) Honored with the 2024 European Inventor Award—Lifetime Achievement

Event Overview

The European Patent Office (EPO) celebrated a remarkable array of innovations across four primary segments: Industry, Research, Non‑EPO Countries, and SMEs. These breakthrough contributions have addressed a spectrum of global challenges, ranging from transformative healthcare solutions to environmentally conscious manufacturing processes.

Young Inventors Prize

Dedicated to the next generation, the Young Inventors Prize recognizes creators under 30 who are driving sustainable advancements. Unlike the main award categories, finalists for this prize need not possess an issued European patent, allowing fresh ideas to flourish from the outset.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Carol Vivien Robinson, based in the United Kingdom, was selected for the Lifetime Achievement honor. Her pioneering approach to mass spectrometry has deepened scientific insight into proteins in their native contexts, thus accelerating progress in drug discovery and the field of personalized medicine.

EPO Award Winners & Projects

• Industry: Innovative manufacturing methods that reduce waste and improve resource efficiency.
• Research: Cutting‑edge techniques in genomics that enhance diagnostic precision.
• Non‑EPO Countries: Groundbreaking renewable energy solutions tailored to emerging markets.
• SMEs: Adaptive technology platforms that support small businesses through digital transformation.
• Young Inventors: Sustainable materials and eco‑friendly prototypes designed by under‑30 innovators.
• Lifetime Achievement: Carol Robinson’s transformative mass spectrometry methods.

Industry

IT and Germany Nominate Innovators for the 2024 European Inventor Award

Industry Category Highlights Advanced Aluminium Casting

Fiorenzo Dioni (Italy) and Richard Oberle (Germany) have been selected as finalists in the Industry segment of the European Inventor Award 2024. Their work focuses on cutting-edge aluminium casting techniques that dramatically cut carbon emissions in automotive manufacturing.

Unlike traditional methods that require dozens of separate castings to build a vehicle underbody, the team introduced the Giga Press—the world’s largest high‑pressure aluminium die‑casting machine. This breakthrough allows a car’s underbody to be assembled from only two to three large, integrated castings, drastically simplifying production and boosting sustainability.

Runners‑up in the Industry Category

• Fertram Sigurjonsson (Iceland) and his team: Developed a biotech‑derived wound‑healing product made from fish skin.
• Ulf Landegren and Simon Fredriksson (Sweden): Pioneered molecular diagnostics that improve disease detection and management.

Research

Cordelia Schmid (Germany) Receives the 2024 European Inventor Award in Research

German researcher Cordelia Schmid has been honored with the European Inventor Award 2024 in the Research category by the European Patent Office for her groundbreaking AI solutions that bring machine perception closer to human visual understanding.

Transforming AI Vision

Schmid’s work pushes the boundaries of artificial intelligence beyond simple object detection. Her algorithms enable machines to:

• Interpret contextual scenes with depth and nuance.
• Decipher human actions to anticipate intent.
• Predict future events within dynamic video sequences.

These capabilities open new horizons for human‑computer interaction—whether in commercial applications or scientific research.

Real‑Time Efficiency

A hallmark of the project is its real‑time processing, crucial for scenarios demanding immediate responses—such as autonomous driving, robotic assistance, and live surveillance.

Other Notable Entries

• Tonio Sant & Daniel Buhagiar (Malta) – Proposed a sustainable offshore energy storage system.
• David Devos & Caroline Moreau (France) – Developed innovative, low‑side‑effect treatments for Parkinson’s disease.

These teams represent the breadth and impact of innovations celebrated by the European Inventor Awards this year.

Non-EPO Countries

Masato Sagawa Receives the 2024 European Inventor Award

Category: Research

Background

Masato Sagawa of Japan has earned the prestigious European Inventor Award for his groundbreaking work in creating high‑performance permanent magnets that power today’s advanced technologies.

Historical Context

Until the early 1980s, the industry relied on costly mixtures of samarium and cobalt to achieve the necessary magnetic strength. Driven by the affordability and favorable magnetic traits of iron, Sagawa set out to explore alternative alloys that could deliver comparable performance at a fraction of the price.

Innovative Approach

• Implemented a sintering technique that fuses powdered components through carefully controlled heat and pressure, while preserving a fine microstructure.
• Identified the critical role of boron when introduced into a neodymium‑iron lattice, enabling the formation of a magnet with exceptional properties.

Impact on Modern Technology

The miniaturization of hard drives in the 1980s ushered in the personal computer boom, and since then permanent magnets have become integral to countless modern devices. Sagawa’s materials now underpin a range of high‑tech applications, from electric motors to data storage systems.

Runners‑Up

• Brazilian Team: led by Fernando Catalano and Micael Carmo, innovated methods to cut noise and lower carbon emissions for aircraft.
• American‑based Visionary: David Fattal, advancing display optics and software that enable glasses‑free 3D imaging.

SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises)

Olga Malinkiewicz and Her Team Secure 2024 European Inventor Award

Polish innovators led by Olga Malinkiewicz have triumphed as the winners of the European Inventor Award 2024 in the SMEs category, thanks to their groundbreaking thin‑film perovskite solar‑cell printing technology. Their work aligns seamlessly with the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive, which targets a 45% share of renewable sources in the EU’s total energy mix by 2030.

Perovskite solar cells offer a promising alternative to conventional silicon panels, boasting superior absorption across a broader spectrum of sunlight, thereby enhancing energy conversion efficiency.

Additional Recognition

In addition to the main award, Olga and her team were honored with the Popular Prize for their innovative contribution.

Runner‑Ups for the Year

• Sirpa & Markku Jalkanen (Finland) — pioneers in targeted immunotherapy for cancer treatment.
• Bruno Mottet & Lydéric Bocquet (France) — developers of osmotic power generation using nanostructured materials.

Young Inventors prize

Celebration of the Young Inventors Prize

Purpose of the Award

The Young Inventors Prize, now in its third year, shines a spotlight on the creativity of individuals 30 and under who develop technical solutions that align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. It emphasizes the vital influence of youth in fueling innovative global advancements.

2024 Winner

Rochelle Niemeijer – 29‑Year‑Old Dutch Scientist

• Achieved first place for a portable AI‑driven chemistry kit.
• The device rapidly detects bacterial pathogens responsible for infections such as urinary tract infections.
• By providing quick and accurate diagnostics, it enables faster, more precise medical treatment decisions.

Young Inventors Prize 2024: Celebrating Trailblazing Minds

1. Rochelle Niemeijer – Netherlands

• Recognized for groundbreaking innovation that promises to reshape the future of technology.
• Her projects have attracted international acclaim for their creativity and impact.

2. Valentyn Frechka – Ukraine

• Developed cutting‑edge technology that converts plant leaves into sustainable paper.
• Solution addresses critical issues of deforestation and carbon emissions.
• Highlights Ukraine’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

3. Khaoula Ben Ahmed, Ghofrane Ayari, Souleima Ben Temime, Sirine Ayari – Turkey

• Collaborative team behind MOOVOBRAIN, an integrated smart wheelchair‑control system.
• Empowers individuals with severe disabilities to navigate freely and independently.
• Showcases Turkey’s leading innovation in assistive technology.

About the Prize

The Young Inventors Prize 2024 honors exceptional creativity across diverse fields, celebrating breakthroughs that promise to improve lives and the planet.

Special thanks to women in science

Celebrating Collaborative Success

All recipients took a moment to commend their fellow collaborators, affirming that without the scientific foundations that enable such endeavors, the achievements would remain impossible.

A Rousing Salute to Women Pioneers

• From everyday conveniences to technological leaps: coffee filters, GPS navigation, security systems, windshield wipers, Wi‑Fi connectivity, dishwashers – and even a hint of the spirit that brewed our favorite beers.

New direction for the Young Inventors Prize

Young Inventors Prize Turns Independent

Starting in 2025, the Young Inventors Prize will be celebrated through its own dedicated ceremony, distinct from the European Inventor Award.

Under the new arrangement, the European Patent Office will alternate hosting the two events. The cycle will begin with the Young Inventors Prize in Iceland in 2025, followed by the European Inventor Award the next year, in 2026.

Nomination Window – Call for entries is now open for the 2025 Young Inventors Prize.

Key Highlights

• Hosted exclusively by the EPO.
• Separate event emphasizes emerging inventors.
• European Inventor Award scheduled for 2026.