2026 European Inventor Award Presented – Swiss Candidate Goes Home Empty-Handed
The European Patent Office’s gala ceremony to present the European Inventor Award took place on July 2 in Berlin. The award recipients were honored for inventions that improve healthcare, advance the energy transition and sustainable food production, and promote the circular economy.
This year's award winners come from a wide variety of technological fields and countries. Through their inventions, they are tackling challenges ranging from malaria prevention and organ transplants to the integration of renewable energy, battery recycling, and sustainable food production.
Industry: No Award for Swiss Finalist
Greek-Swedish food scientist Angeliki Triantafyllou received the award for developing a patented enzymatic process that has improved the taste, texture, and shelf life of oat-based beverages. Her innovation increased the solubility of the proteins while preserving their structure, thereby helping to transform oat beverages from a niche product into a widely accepted alternative to dairy products.
The Swiss-Greek inventor Evangelos Eleftheriou was also a finalist in this category. With his innovations in magnetic data storage, flash technology, and in-memory computing, he has made a significant contribution to a more energy-efficient digital infrastructure. However, this was not enough to win an award.
Research
Irish-British scientist Sir Adrian Hill is receiving the award for developing the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine. In clinical trials, the vaccine achieved a protection rate of 75–80 %, thereby exceeding the World Health Organization’s target for malaria vaccines. In 2023, the WHO recommended its widespread use.
Awards from Non-EPA Countries as Well
Chinese inventors Xie Yinghao and Yu Haijun are receiving the award for developing a battery recycling process that converts end-of-life lithium-ion batteries into high-quality cathode materials. Their technology enables the recovery of critical raw materials while significantly reducing both the use of chemicals and CO₂ emissions. The two inventors also won the People’s Choice Award, which was determined by a combination of public voting and a jury decision.
SME
French biologist and entrepreneur Franck Zal is receiving the award for developing a universal oxygen carrier derived from the lugworm. His technology helps preserve organs and tissues by supplying them with oxygen during storage and transport—it is already being used in transplant medicine.
Life's Work
Professor Rainer Marquardt is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for the development of the Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC). This marked a breakthrough in power electronics that became the global standard for voltage-source-controlled high-voltage direct current transmission systems. Marquardt’s inventions opened up the high-power range—up to the gigawatt range—for electronically controllable power flow control. Today, they are used in modern power grids, in the integration of offshore wind energy, and in long-distance DC transmission.
Source: European Patent Office
This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/europaeischer-erfinderpreis-2026-verliehen-schweizer-kandidat-geht-leer-aus/
