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The European Inventor Award 2022 announced the names of its 13 finalists on Tuesday. Among them, three have developed advanced and visionary techniques in terms of health. Focus on these three research teams.
The European Patent Office (EPO) announced the list of 13 finalists for the European Inventor Award 2022 on Tuesday 17 May.
This price, “unique competition in this field in Europe”has been organized by the EPO since 2006. Often compared to “the Eurovision of innovation”, The European Inventor Award is a science popularization event that rewards inventors whose innovations provide answers to the major challenges of our society.
This year, 3 finalist research teams worked on health, and more specifically on cancer research and medical technologies.
The first scalable robotic exoskeleton for children
Elena García Armada, a Spanish engineer, invented the first-ever scalable robotic exoskeleton for children in wheelchairs. It would help paralyzed children move around.
The exoskeleton responds to light movements and absorbs shocks, establishing itself as a treatment option for millions of children with disabilities.
Elena García Armada obtained medical certification for her exoskeleton in 2021, of which she has sold several copies to Spanish and Mexican hospitals.
X-ray imaging for better breast cancer screening
Swiss scientists Marco Stampanoni and Chinese Zhentian Wang and their teams have developed an imaging system for better screening of breast cancer: by phase contrast. This advance would allow for higher resolution mammograms and help better detect breast tumors at an early stage.
In parallel, scientists are developing a 3D mammography device that would reduce pain during breast cancer screening.
A therapeutic vaccine platform for the treatment of cancer
Swiss biotechnology engineer Madiha Derouazi and French immunologist Elodie Belnoue and their team have developed a platform to manufacture therapeutic cancer vaccines. They developed what seemed impossible: a system that would bring together the different components of a vaccine. The goal? Strengthen the body’s immune response to cancer.
For the moment, the research team is working on a therapeutic vaccine against metastatic cancer.
The winners of the European Inventor Award 2022 will be revealed during an online ceremony on June 21 on inventoraward.epo.org.
If you want to choose your favorite inventor or inventor, it is also possible to vote now on popular-prize.epo.orgwhich will allow another research team to obtain a prize, that of the public on June 21st.