European Inventor Award 2019
Father of the lithium-ion battery nominated
The European Patent Office announces the nomination of Japanese chemist and engineer Akira Yoshino for the European Inventor Award 2019. Yoshino is considered the father of the lithium-ion battery, which today supplies billions of devices with energy.
The European Inventor Award was established by the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2006 and honors individual inventors and teams of inventors whose inventions provide solutions to some of the most pressing problems of our time. This year, the EPO nominated Japanese chemist and engineer Akira Yoshino. Yoshino is one of three finalists in the 'Non-EPO countries' category. The nomination recognizes his work on lithium-ion battery technology, which today powers billions of devices around the world.
In 1983, Yoshino developed the first modern lithium-ion battery. Over the course of his long career, he continuously improved his invention, for example by introducing a safe anode material and a heat-sensitive membrane. Yoshino thus developed the materials and features that make lithium-ion batteries work safely. Today, he continues his work as a consultant and honorary member of the Asahi Kasei Corporation.
"Akira Yoshino laid the foundation for today's lithium-ion technology and industry," said EPO President António Campinos. "Thanks to him, there are rechargeable batteries."
This year, the winners of the EPO's Innovation Award will be announced at a gala event in Vienna on June 20.
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