© Siemens

Adriana Urda, an engineer at Siemens Wind Power in Brande, Denmark, noticed how much waste was produced during the manufacture of permanent magnets for direct drive wind turbines. With the intention of avoiding this, she set about developing a new method. The goal: to produce magnets from rare earths in a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective way. And she has succeeded. The 34-year-old has been named "Inventor of the Year 2016" in the "Young Talent" category.