Salon International des Inventions de Genève

The Grand

Prix

The most prestigious award of the Exhibition

The Grand Prix is the highest distinction of the Exhibition. It rewards the most promising invention that addresses a global issue. 

2024

Ms. Sumaiya Al Siyabi, Oman

ECOSPHERE, a product that uses biology and nanotechnology to degrade microplastics in aquatic organisms.

2023

Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France, and Moldova State University

A non-toxic molecule which strengthens bees against external aggressions.

2021, 2022

Special editions

The International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva did not award any prizes in 2021 and 2022 due to the special and virtual editions.

2019

GRST Holdings Limited, Hong Kong

The first recyclable car battery.

2018

Ms. Carly SY LAM and Mr. Chi Ho TO,  Hong Kong

DIMS, spectacle lens with multiple “micro-lens segments” project myopic defocus and provides clear vision for the wearer simultaneously. That can slow myopia progression in children by 60%.

2017

Mr. Tantibundhit and his team, Thailand

Screening for diabetes by a simple photograph of the retina coupled with software that makes an immediate diagnosis.

2016

Company CATHAY PHOTONICS of the Baptist University of Hong Kong

Method for applying a thin layer of sapphire onto a glass surface to reinforce it.

2015

Company VITARGENT, Hong Kong

Their no-animal in vivo testing method using transgenic fish eleutheroembryos.

2014

Company Irewind SA, Switzerland

Camera system which can follow a movement, recognise it and return it instantly in the form of a customised film to anyone who owns a smartphone.

2013

Company MBTelecom, Romania

Method and system for inspecting airplanes, regardless of their size. Designed for customs, armies, airports and airlines to X-ray a plane, in order to improve security.

2012

Company Rehab Robotics, Hong Kong

Robotic Hand of Hope – A Hand Rehabilitation System. Made of aluminium, it is designed for people having had a cerebral attack and allows them to recover motor capacity in their hands, with just the power of thought.

2011

Company AYTON for Howasu FloodStop, Switzerland

Mobile system for protection against flooding: buildings are protected against incoming water easily and fast.

2010

Mrs. Celia Sanchez-Ramos Roda, Spain

System for identifying a person, based on ocular biometry. Uses the variations of corneal topography as identification data.

2009

Company MBTelecomLtd S.R.L., Romania

ROBOSCAN – ROBOtic SCANner designed for X-ray trucks and containers in a fully automated sequence. Remotely controlled, it avoids human presence inside the area and high risk of professional or accidental exposure to ionized radiations.

2008

INCASOLUTION, Republic of Korea

Software and multiple plug allowing absolute control of the consumption of electricity in stand-by mode.

2007

Mr. Guido AZZOLIN, from the company MECCANICA BREGANZESE, Italy

Mechanical shovel whose skip allows materials to be scooped up and reduced into pebble-sized pieces.

2006

Ms. Chantara Thevy RATNAM & Mr. Khairul ZAMAN, Malaysia

Process for manufacturing medical instruments. It is achieved without using toxic or carcinogenic material and the medical materials can, if necessary, be re-sterilised.

2005

ABC Tec, France

Ecological cleaning process for boats’ hulls.

2004

FLEXSTONE GmbH, Germany

Mechanical shovel whose skip allows materials to be scooped up and reduced into pebble-sized pieces.

2003

Mr. Renat AKCHURIN and alea, Russia

Portable kit for heart operations. This allows operations on a still-beating heart. For operating theatres as well as rural hospitals.

2002

Company - STYFOLOGIE- CENTER, Switzerland

Body statics measuring system for detecting physical imbalances in the human body.

2001

Mr. José Luis LLEO-FAURA, Spain

ROOTER POT, a mechanical flower pot for fast development or the roots of trees, bushes and all kinds of plants in just 2 to 3 months.

2000

Company – GEODESIGN, Sweden

“Aqua Barrier”, a system for stopping floods using ordinary wooden palettes.

1999

ANGEL & COMPANY, Quebec, Canada

Alarm system detecting the sounds and movements in young babies.

1998

MM APUNEVICH Alexandr & TITARENKO Evgeny, Russia

Portable water and plasma apparatus designed to cut ferrous and non-ferrous metals, to solder and braze steel and copper, to fuse and heat different substances.

1997

SWARTKLIP PRODUCTS, South Africa

RO-BUST, compact, easy-to-use equipment for splitting rocks and boulders.

1996

Company SORELEC, France

Low consumption multi-piston water pump for wells and boreholes with different flow rates and depths.

1995

Mr. Max ROGMANS, the Netherlands

Invention of a combined “air-liquide” filling system for medical pressure-relief cushions.

1994

Mr. WANG Xiang Sheng, China

Micro-processor for diagnosis of heart disease.

1993

Mr. Dieter Meier et Heinz Ruppert, company ZEMENTSCHAUM-TECHNIK INTERNATIONAL Gmbh, Germany

Invention and development of a machine capable of producing cement foam in a single operation. The material thus created allows the construction of prefabricated elements or light but stable buildings.

1992

Mr. Christian Diat, France

Apparatus particularly effective in the cleaning of works of art or facades It easily removes graffiti or pollution deposited on stones.

1991

Bennie Olde Heuvel and Gert Timmermans, The Netherlands

Continuously variable transmission system mounted on a bicycle.

1990

Mr. Gérard Pavard et Mr. Jack Sagot, France

Relief marker pencil for the blind and visually impaired.

1989

Gudmar Olovson, Sweden

"Spearbut", the screw button that attaches without thread or needle.

1988

Mr. Bernard Pillot, France

Wheelchair for the handicapped "Living upright". This revolutionary medical device allows people who are condemned to a seated position due to paralysis of the lower limbs (paraplegia, tetraplegia) to reach a standing position at will, in a few seconds and without outside help, and thus to return to an almost normal life.

1987

Mr. Jean Fritsch, France

Magnetic system for the quick and safe fixing of light bulbs for lighting purposes the bulb is dressed at its base with a simple sleeve receiving a metal plate, whereas the new socket is made up of only two magnets embedded in injected plastic.

1986

Mr. Walter Schupbach, Switzerland

Three-dimensional stereophonic system, reproducing sounds with an unprecedented fidelity to date using a single speaker. Based on a new hyperbolic line and a sound reflection system against a stable wall, this concept is inspired by Thomas Young's (1773-1829) two-slit experiment in quantum physics. This inspiration led to the development of Stereolith, with an adaptation of its formula in acoustics, with a sound propagation speed of 345 meters per second at 20 degrees.

1985

Mr. Bao-Shen Liu, Taïwan

Multi-functional vernier ruler allowing the precise control of external or internal angles of a part and all measurements of widths, depths... This small, revolutionary design instrument includes various accessories that facilitate most of the functions used in technical drawing.

1984

Company Symtol Engineering Ltd., England

High expansion foam generator for the most effective firefighting. A mixture of harmless chemical liquid and water is blown into the generator, which produces 135 m3 of foam per minute. This is up to 950 times the volume of the original liquid.

1982

Mr. René Nolot, France

Particle distribution method allowing, among other things, to sow with a very high precision seeds of different shapes and sizes per unit. Thanks to a pneumatic device, the seeds are sucked into the soil at the chosen rate, which can vary between 1'000 and 26'000 per hour.

1981

Mr. John W. Cruse, England

Sowing method consisting of a simple seed drill in which the vegetable seeds are placed in suspension in a liquid gel. This gel loaded with seeds up to 8mm in diameter is deposited in a regular manner in the furrow, a device of the seeder allowing it to be covered with fine soil.

1980

Mr. Georges Aubert, France

Automatic chain for continuous cutting and evisceration of pigs without any manual intervention. This set of machines, whose revolutionary character has been pointed out by several specialists and slaughterhouse managers, offers considerable advantages: reduction of about 50% of the time needed for these operations, absolute hygiene, and easier sanitary control. The line can process between 290 and 300 pigs per hour.

1979

Mr. Franco Sala, Italy

Device for infallibly detecting the accidental and temporary defrosting of products to be stored at temperatures below 0°C It consists of a small plastic capsule, with an insignificant appearance, which changes colour irreversibly as soon as the "cold chain" is interrupted, or modified by heating only a few degrees, between the producer and the consumer.

1978

Mr. Pierre Baude, French residing in Switzerland

New solar cells with photovoltaic effect to lower the cost of electricity from the sun or ambient light from CHF 11 to CHF 1 per watt. It is the new material used and the manufacturing technique of the cells that allow this dramatic reduction in the price of electricity and a higher appointment than conventional systems.

1977

Mr. Ngo Van Chuc, France

Electronic device used to listen to or record remotely and wirelessly any installation that reproduces sound: Hi-Fi system, radio, tape recorder, television... This revolutionary device makes it possible to pick up and amplify sounds up to a distance of 80 metres using a radio or other installation equipped with frequency modulation.

1976

Mr. Angelo Caffa, Italy

A system of retractable metal beams of variable length, formed by links and supporting panels that allow for the watertight covering of surfaces that need to be both open air and covered. These links, contained in strips in a store, unroll and fit into a device to form a rigid frame.

1975

European Propulsion Company, France

Active magnetic bearing system consisting of electromagnets for operating rotors in magnetic suspension or for replacing ball and fluid bearings. Characterized by the absence of any mechanical contact, silent operation and the possibility of very high rotational speeds, active magnetic bearings are used in precision measuring devices, centrifuges, compressors and any system that does not tolerate vibrations.

1974

Dr. in medicine Roland Doerig, Switzerland

Apparatus for preserving and transporting living organs for transplantation. This is the first independent, fully automatic, portable device that can keep two organs under permanent infusion for 24 hours.

1973

Mr. Ali Sekhavat, Iran

Nuclear seismograph for recording seismic waves and detecting earthquakes in advance.

1972

Company International Promotion Engineering, Spain

Portable apparatus generating alternatively cold or heat, usable in medicine, cosmetics, computer science, toy manufacture, etc.