A Spanish engineer reaches the finals of the 2013 European Inventor Award

José Luis López Gómez, a railway engineer for Talgo, is one of the three finalists in the ‘Industry’ category for the 2013 European Inventor Award. This award honours inventors whose achievements provide examples of the innovation needed for economic, technological and social development in Europe. The winners will be announced on 28 May in Amsterdam.

The project devised by López Gómez
The invention patented in 2007 by López Gómez for which he has been nominated, is a wheel suspension system that considerably improves high-speed rail travel as it allows the wagon and wheels to automatically adapt to slopes and curves, so that passengers do not feel the stresses on the train as it takes a curve. “High-speed trains play an important role in today’s Europe. They are an environment-friendly alternative to other means of transport so they have an essential role to play in increasing labour mobility in Europe”, said Benoît Batistelli, President of the EPO. He added, “The invention by Mr López Gómez shows that European firms are the leading innovators in this market which is growing worldwide”.

This technology is designed for a fast-growing sector: from 2008 to 2011, the worldwide fleet of Talgo high-speed trains rose from 1,737 to 2,517 units. From 2009 to 2011, the track for Talgo trains was extended from 10,700 to 17,000 km. In 2014, there will be a total fleet of over 3,700 Talgo units on a network of track covering 43,000 km all over the world. Talgo trains can be found in France, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Canada and the US.

About the European Inventor Award
The European Inventor Award was created in 2006, and the European Patent Office (EPO) presents it every year. The awards go to inventive individuals and teams whose pioneering work meets the challenges of our time, contributing to social progress, economic growth and prosperity. The general public and patent examiners nominate candidates through the European Patent Office and through national offices. The finalists are chosen among the nominees by a high-level international jury that includes experts in the areas of business, politics, the media and academic and research institutions. This year, for the first time, the public has been invited to send in votes for the “Popular Prize”.

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