Lios Wins the European Inventor Award from the European Patent Office

We are thrilled to announce that we won the prestigious European Inventor Award in the SME category! The ceremony was hosted in beautiful Valencia, in Spain, and was also live streamed to tens of thousands of people online. 

The competition was fierce; out of a pool of over 600 contenders, Lios co-founders, Rhona Togher and Eimear O'Carroll, were crowned the winners of the SME award by the European Patent Office (EPO). We would like to congratulate all the winners and finalists for their remarkable accomplishments, particularly our fellow SME nominees Luca from D-Orbit and Antoine from Ynsect. 

The calibre of talent and innovation showcased at the EPO’s European Inventor Awards was truly remarkable. Being in the company of such brilliant minds has inspired us to continue pushing boundaries and striving for excellence. You can watch the ceremony back here and learn more about the amazing inventors. 

Speaking about the win, co-founders, Togher and O’Carroll said, “We are honoured to win the European Inventor Award in the 'SME' category and would like to express our sincere gratitude to the European Patent Office. This award recognises many years of hard work and commitment to making the world a quieter place. It is a genuine privilege to be acknowledged alongside so many noteworthy inventors who have made such significant contributions to their fields”. 

At the heart of our triumph lies our groundbreaking invention, SoundBounce - an advanced acoustic material that reduces the negative effects of loud noise. This advanced and lightweight sound-dampening technology can be incorporated into machinery and vehicles, reducing exposure to high noise levels. In addition to the environmental advantages related to noise reduction, the materials used to make SoundBounce have a low environmental impact as they are non-toxic and recyclable at end-of-life.

According to the European Environment Agency (EEA) approximately 20% of the EU population lives in areas with unacceptable noise and vibration levels. High noise levels have been linked to poor sleep and higher instances of heart problems. Due to noise pollution, the EEA estimates that 22 million people across Europe currently suffer from chronic high annoyance, whilst 6.5 million suffer chronic high sleep disturbance. Exposure to loud noise can also cause high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbances, and stress.

The European Inventor Award, launched by the EPO in 2006, is one of Europe's most prestigious innovation prizes. The award celebrates individuals and teams, who have created solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing our society today, and who hold a European patent. Judged by an independent jury of former award finalists, the nominations are evaluated for their contribution to technical progress, social and sustainable development, and economic prosperity. Past winners and more information about the award can be found on the EPO’s website. 

This is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Lios. With the EPO award as a key milestone, we are more motivated than ever to continue innovating, pushing boundaries, and making a positive impact in reducing noise pollution and creating better, quieter products. We are excited to embark on new projects, collaborations, and initiatives that will shape the future.

The Lios team is immensely grateful for the support we have received throughout our journey. We would like to thank our dedicated team, partners, investors, and customers who have believed in our vision and supported our mission to make the world a quieter place. A very special thanks to our patent attorneys, Purdy Lucey. Mark and the team have been long standing supporters of our vision and are trusted collaborators in protecting our intellectual property. 

We are also thankful to the European Patent Office for recognising our contributions and providing a platform for innovators to shine.

Stay tuned for more updates on our upcoming projects, innovations, and exciting developments. Together, we can pave the way for a quieter, more peaceful future.