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370786
Fri, 06/12/2015 - 01:43
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3 Japanese Win European Tech Award for Carbon Nanotube Discovery

Paris, June 11 (Jiji Press)--Three Japanese scientists have won a prestigious European technology award for their discovery of carbon nanotubes, an allotrope of carbon that could be used in a wide range of products, and for the development of a sustainable process to produce them. The award ceremony for the annual European Inventor Award, presented by the European Patent Office, took place in Paris on Thursday. The three Japanese--Sumio Iijima, honorary fellow at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, a Japanese government affiliate known as AIST, Akira Koshio, assistant professor at Mie University, and AIST researcher Masako Yudasaka--won the award in the category of "non-European countries." CNTs, which have a cylindrical structure of carbon atoms, were discovered in 1991. They are superior to metals in terms of strength and electric conductivity, and are also easier to process. CNTs are expected to be used in such products as semiconductors and fuel cells. The EPO said that CNTs "make computers faster, car and aircraft parts more stable, and solar modules more efficient." "The manufacturing process developed by the Japanese team of researchers makes it possible to even use CNTs for cancer treatment," it added. Yudasaka told reporters: "I'm very happy as CNTs were highly evaluated. I will work harder in my research." The award, which was launched in 2006, is granted to those who have made exceptional contributions to social development, technological progress and economic growth. There are five categories for the award--lifetime achievement, industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, research and non-European countries. Winners in the five categories are selected by an international jury. Besides them is the Popular Prize, the winner of which is chosen by a popular vote on the Internet. All winners of this year's awards were honored at Thursday's ceremony. At the ceremony, EPO President Benoit Battistelli said, "The inventors honored today have contributed immensely to advancing technology," adding, "Their inventions improve our everyday lives, create economic value, generate employment and even save lives." It is the second time that Japanese researchers have won the award. In 2014, a Japanese team received the Popular Prize for inventing QR codes. END

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