Health innovators get top prizes

A number of medical technologies have been awarded a symbolic European innovation prize for their contribution to improved quality of life and technical progress in Europe. 

The inventors of a ground-breaking antiviral treatment for AIDS, a pain-free eye-scanner and a robot designed to overhaul medical surgery were honoured with three of the four European Inventor of the Year 2008 awards, handed out on 6 May. 

The prize is purely symbolic and does not involve any financial or other reward, but “recognises inventors and innovations that have made a significant and lasting contribution to technical progress in Europe and beyond,” as well as strengthening European competitiveness. 

The award’s origins date back to discussions which took place several years ago between Commissioner Günter Verheugen and former European Patent Office (EPO) president Alain Pompidou, who regretted that there was no European award related to innovation and technology in the broadest sense. To fill the vacuum, the European Inventor of the Year was established and given out for the first time in 2006.

The 2008 prizes were awarded to inventions which were patented and successfully marketed between 1993 and 2002. 

“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 boost Europe’s innovative process and international competitiveness,” said Slovenian Minister for Economic Affairs Andrej Vizjak.

Despite widespread support for the idea of a simple EU-wide patent system that would save companies the cost and effort of having to apply for protection under different national patent regimes, member states have not been able to reach a consensus. The main hurdle regarding the Community patent is the difficulty of reaching agreement over the language in which the patent should be written. 

“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,” said EPO President Alison Brimelow.

The last of the four 2008 prizes went to an inventor of lighter and more environmentally friendly aluminium car frames, which make cars more fuel-efficient as aluminium is lighter than steel.

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