Berlin Ceremony Honours Global Innovators Behind 2026 Patent Awards

The 2026 winners represent a diverse cross-section of global innovation. Sir Adrian Hill, an Irish-British scientist, received the Research award for the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, which surpassed World Health Organization efficacy targets. In the SME category, French biologist Franck Zal was honored for his use of marine lugworm hemoglobin as a universal oxygen carrier to improve organ transplantation outcomes.

Greek-Swedish scientist Angeliki Triantafyllou secured the Industry prize for an enzymatic process that stabilized the texture of oat-based drinks, shifting the product from niche status to a mainstream dairy alternative. Meanwhile, Chinese inventors Xie Yinghao and Yu Haijun claimed both the Non-EPO Countries category and the public-voted Popular Prize. Their technology recovers critical raw materials from lithium-ion batteries, curbing carbon emissions and chemical waste.

Professor Rainer Marquardt’s Lifetime Achievement award celebrates his development of the Modular Multilevel Converter. This power electronics breakthrough established a global standard for high-voltage direct current transmission, enabling the integration of offshore wind energy and high-capacity power grids. The independent jury, comprised of former finalists, selected these winners to highlight inventions that directly address urgent global needs in health, energy, and environmental sustainability.