Robert Grass and Wendelin Stark nominated
- D-CHAB
- LAC
- LPC
- LOC
- IPW
- Highlights
- ICB
The European Patent Office (EPO) announced the 15 finalists for the European Inventor Award 2021. The prize recognizes outstanding inventors and their contribution to technology, society, and economy. This year, Wendelin Stark & Robert Grass are nominated in the category "research" for their new method of storing data in DNA (see the video). In parallel, the public can vote for them to win the Popular Prize. The voting is open and will close during the award ceremony on June 17.
Inventors are the engine of progress and find new solutions that improve our everyday lives. To honor this creative force, the European Patent Office launched the European Patent Award in 2006. It aims to motivate future inventors and helps to protect ideas as well as encourage innovation.
The prize – a trophy in the shape of a sail as a symbol of the departure for uncharted shores – is awarded annually by an international jury in five categories: Industry, Lifetime achievement, Non-EPO countries, SMEs and Research. The jury evaluates innovations not only on their technological originality but also on their economic and social impact. In parallel, the public is also invited to vote for their favorites to win the Popular Prize. The winners in each category, and in the Popular Prize, will be announced at the award ceremony – held virtually for the first time in 2021, after the corona-related cancellation of the event in 2020.
DNA-based data storage
This year, the jury has selected 15 inventors and inventor teams from all over the world as finalists. They are also nominated for the Popular Prize. Among them are Robert Grass and Wendelin Stark from D-CHAB at ETH Zurich. external pageYou can vote for them here. The two chemical engineers were able to convince the jury with their innovative method of data storage (see video) which involves encoding digital data on to DNA strands and encapsulating them within protective glass particles. The method could be used, e.g., to apply DNA markers to products, enabling origin tracing throughout the supply chain. In addition, the method makes it possible to store data, securely protected from decay, presumably for thousands of years.
The award ceremony will take place on June 17, 2021 at 7 pm and can be followed in external pagethe livestream here.