Kilkenny native, Jane Ní Dhulchaointigh, founder and CEO of Sugru, has been shortlisted as finalist for this year’s European Inventor Award 2018, an annual prize for innovation awarded by the European Patent Office (EPO).
Ní Dhulchaointigh and her team will compete in the category ‘Small and medium-sized enterprises’. The award consists of four additional categories, as well as a publicly voted ‘Popular Prize’, the winners of which will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on June 7th.
Ní Dhulchaointigh and her team have been selected for their creation of Sugru, the world’s first mouldable glue, which has the adhesive qualities of superglue. Used to repair everyday household items, Sugru adheres to most materials, including metal, glass, and fabric and once set, remains strong, flexible, waterproof and able to withstand high and low temperatures.
“Jane Ní Dhulchaointigh’s invention invites us to rethink our behaviour when it comes to discarding damaged or broken items in favour of a more considerate treatment of our environment,” said EPO President Benoît Battistelli, announcing the European Inventor Award 2018 finalists. “Her invention is proof that innovative European SMEs can benefit from patents to effectively establish their leadership in the development of sustainable consumer products.”
Previous finalists and winners of the European Inventor Award include Charles Hull, the inventor of 3D printing, Ingeborg & Prof Erwin Hochmair, the inventors of the Cochlear implant as well as Martin Schadt, the inventor of LCD technology.
