Karl Leo has been awarded with the European Inventor Award in the “Lifetime Achievement” category
On June 17, the European Patent Office (EPO) awarded Hector Fellow Karl Leo, professor of optoelectronics at TU Dresden, with the European Inventor Award 2021 in the “Lifetime Achievement” category in an online award ceremony.
Thereby, the EPO is honoring his pioneering work in the field of organic semiconductors, which led to the development of high-efficiency organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic solar cells and organic transistors.
Leo's patented OLED technology was commercialized through Novaled AG, a start-up he co-founded in 2001. Introduced in flat screens and other electronic devices, OLEDs improve not only image brightness but also resolution, contrast and power efficiency. This caught the attention of Samsung, which acquired Novaled in 2013 in order to use OLEDs in its products.
The European Inventor Award was launched by the EPO in 2006 and is one of the most prestigious innovation awards in Europe. It highlights how creative thinking contributes to societal development, drives economic growth and improves our everyday lives.
Congratulations to Karl Leo!