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KAINOTOMIA ∂ƒ∂À¡∞ ∫∞π ∆∂á√§√°π∞
innovation, research & technology
I
nnovative inventions and new technology awards were
given for the second consecutive year by the Industrial
Property Organisation (OBI) and the General Secretariat
for Research and Technology, on October 5, 2004, in the OBI
event hall in Athens. The purpose of these awards is to reward
inventiveness and ingenuity, that contributes to the
advancement of technology and the improvement of the
economy's competitiveness.
Representatives of the academic community, as well as
members of research centres, private and public institutions
involved in research and innovation attended the event. In his
speech, the Minister of Development Dimitris Sioufas stressed
the priority that the Ministry places on research, technology,
human creativity and intellectual activity aimed at developing
and improving the quality of life.
The General Secretary of Research and Technology, Professor
Ioannis Tsoukalas, emphasized the need for a less
bureaucratic, more functional and effective framework, which
will allow the public to benefit from inventions by any person or
group. Professor Tsoukalas went on to say that, in order to take
advantage of the ingenuous Greek mind, we must abandon
the introversion that characterises many of our actions with
respect to the means available to develop that ingenuity.
Professor Georgios Koumandos, President of the Industrial
Property Organisation (OBI) stressed the fact that inventions
require funds, both for the necessary research as well as for the
protection of the results of that research. «But since research
funding is beyond OBI's responsibilities, we have established
awards for invention as a means of supporting the inventors'
inspiration and motives».
In total, awards were given to eight inventions, selected among
the applications for patents which had been submitted within
the last five years. The submissions were evaluated by a
committee of experts, chaired by Professor Emmanuel Koukios
of the National Technical University of Athens. For the first five
inventions, the award included a monetary prize (10,000 Euro
for the first prize, 6,000 Euro for the second prize and 3,000
Euro for each third prize).
The continuation of this OBI initiative is expected to reinforce
a culture of innovation and ingenuity in Greece. As Prof. E.
Koukios said, «This initiative must be the starting point and a
source of inspiration for many other 'journeys' for people,
groups and institutions upon the seas of innovation and
ingenuity, that are so vital to the Greek economy and society».
The award-winning inventions are:
First Prize
Concentrator Type Triple Hybrid Solar System for the
Simultaneous Production of Electrical, Thermal and Cooling
Energy
Inventor: A. Papadopoulos (Mechanical/Electrical Engineer)
Second Prize
An Automatic Process for Reliable and Secure Creation and
Distribution of Quantum Keys
Inventors: I. Vrettaros (Physicist, responsible for e-learning in the
Net Media Lab of the National Center for Scientific Research
«Demokritos»), I. Bakopoulos (Mathematician, post-graduate
scholar of NCSR «Demokritos»), A. Dringas (Electrical Engineer,
responsible for the Applied Technologies Department of NCSR
«Demokritos»)
Third Prize
Non-Peptide Mimetics Based on the Active Sequence
S42FLLR46 of the Thrombin Receptor for the Treatment of
Thrombosis and Cancer
Inventors: I. Matsoukas (Professor of Chemistry, University of
Patras), M. Maragoudakis (Professor of Medicine, University of
Patras), D. Vlahakos (Assistant Professor, Medical School,
University of Athens), K. Alexopoulos (Chemist, Regional
Hospital of Patras «Aghios Andreas»)
Third Prize
Gas Flow Microsystem and Specially Designed Housing for
Use in Medical Equipment for Respiration Control
Inventors: A. Nasiopoulou (Director of the Microelectronics
Institute of NCSR «Demokritos»), G. Kaltsas (Assistant Professor
of the Electronics Department of the Technological Educational
Institute of Athens)
Third Prize
Device for studying the Angular Momentum and the moment of
Inertia of a Body (Strophormoscope)
Inventor: D. Tsaousis (Physicist, Education Advisor for Natural
Sciences Teachers in the prefectures of Ioannina and Corfu)
Honourable Mention
Internal Combustion Axle-Motor
Inventor: V. Dimos (Civil Engineer)
Honourable Mention
Self-cleaning Filter
Inventor: A. Dermitzakis (Mechanical Engineer)
Honourable Mention
Transgenic Organism Production Method Using Transposable
Elements
Inventors: H. Savvakis (Professor of Molecular Genetics at the
University of Crete), F. Grosveld (Professor of Cell Biology and
Genetics at the Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands)
Spotlight on Inventors: 2
nd
Greek Patent Awards
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