Inspirational Innovation at International Invention Exhibition

Gadgets and gizmos galore were touted on the expo floor when the International Invention Exhibition came to Geneva last week. Smart boots, strange seats, and all sorts of innovative ideas abounded. Thousands of devices were on display as exhibitors from 45 different countries came to demonstrate their prototypes. They came in hopes of catching the eye of investors or winning awards for the people, companies, and governments who have funded the projects.


Out of all the projects and participants honored, I’m sad to say none of the winning innovations came from America. I think we should take that as a challenge and get to work on ideas for the 40th annual event in 2012. Here are a select few of my favorite inventions from the winners’ list this year and why they are worthy of the award.

GRAND PRIX OF THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF INVENTIONS OF GENEVA:
Winner: Ayton from Switzerland
Invention: Howasu FloodStop
Why it’s important: It’s a mobile system for protection against flooding where buildings are protected against incoming water easily and fast.

PRIZES OF THE WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION (WIPO):
The best young inventor:
Winner: Mr. Chandra Thirukanthan from Malaysia
Invention: SCALOGEL
Why it’s important: It’s a tropical wound healing management product that works quickly in difficult environments

The best young inventors from the Universities Pavilion:
Winner: Piotr Gorski from Poland
Invention: Device for making writing easier for people with motricity problems
Why it’s important: This can help people with special needs communicate clearly

PRIZE IFIA - INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF INVENTORS' ASSOCIATION:
Winner: Mr. Maugeri et alea from Russia
Invention: Fire-retardant paint with thermal protection and with bactericidal properties
Why it’s important: Reducing the level of gas released which kills more people than flames in fires

PRIX MAWHIBA-FONDATION DU ROI ABDULAZIZ ET SES COMPAGNONS POUR LE TALENT ET LA CREATIVITE:
Winner: Mrs. Suzana Yusup from Malaysia
Invention: BIOSAX, a bio fuel from Malaysian agriculture waste via a catalytic conversion process
Why it’s important: Imagine the possibilities of an actualized Mr. Fusion from Back to the Future where trash turns into fuel

PRIZE OF THE OFFICE FOR THE PROMOTION OF INDUSTRIES AND TECHNOLOGIES OF GENEVA – OPI:
Winner: The City of Geneva from Switzerland
Invention: LED light bulb for ribbon lighting
Why it’s important: It has the same optical characteristics as incandescent filament bulbs but which saves 90% of electricity

PRIZE OF THE STATE OF GENEVA :
Winner: Kim Hyun-min from Korea
Invention: Substitute for a fluorescent lamp
Why it’s important: It has a long life, is energy saving and environmentally friendly

PRIZE OF THE CITY OF GENEVA:
Winner: Ang Haisong et alea from the Nanjing University from China
Invention: Biomimetic micro air vehicles
Why it’s important: They are intelligent, wireless “flying eyes” for different surveillance applications

PRIZE OF IRAN FRAMECO – I.R. OF IRAN:
Winner: Mr. Sergey Belov et alea from Russia
Invention: Contrast thermo-laser therapy for treatment connected with the human Papilloma virus (HPV)
Why it’s important: Most people don’t even know they have it, but HPV is so common that 50% of sexually active adults contract it in their lifetime and can possibly lead to cancer

PRIZE OF THE LEGAL COMPANY “GORODISSKY & PARTNERS” - RUSSIA:
Winner: Mr. Manuel ASLANIS, from Greece
Invention: Proteus, a windmill with a hydraulic power convertor
Why it’s important: The time is now for clean energy and renewable power research

PRIZE OF THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF CLUJ-NAPOCA – ROMANIA:
Winner: Chi-ho et alea from Hong-Kong, China
Invention: Optical method for delaying the progression of myopia in children
Why it’s important: The fewer children who need glasses the better, especially in third world countries where parents can’t afford to fix their children’s vision

PRIZE OF THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF INVENTIONS OF TAIPEI:
Winner: Mr. Masoud Mansouri from Iran
Invention: System for diagnosing cancer cells based on image processing
Why it’s important: The sooner doctors can catch cancer the higher the survival success rate


By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer with experience in web, film, photography and animation as well as traditional fine arts like painting and sculpting. In addition to writing for ScienceCareerSiteBlog.com, she is co-founder of design and promotion company, BlackChip Solutions with fellow Nexxt blogger, Staci Dennis. Heather’s spare time consists of making puppets, teaching Sunday School, building Legos and doing science experiments with her children.