Kemira announced the Innovation Contest for 2007 to activate its research and development operations. During the contest the number of announced inventions and patent applications was almost quadrupled. Overall 205 inventors, from 9 countries participated in the contest. Four finalists have now been selected to compete for the EUR 100,000 grand prize. The prize can be used to reward one invention or split by several inventions. The prize will be split by team members that have participated in the making of the invention.
The best invention of the year 2007 is expected to support the business strategy, and to be unique and patentable. The invention must be technologically suitable for Kemira. It must also deliver significant business growth and allow for rapid commercial launch.
The finalists of the Kemira’s Innovation Contest are:
Finalist no. 1
Efficient, less polluting and less energy consuming UVITEC® 2D method for example parquet boards and PVC flooring. The method enables replacement of organic solvent based formulations by water borne substitutes. The method uses ultraviolet LED light sources in order to efficiently cure surface treatment materials in an oxygen-free environment. Inventors: Mikael Knif and Kari Soljamo.
Finalist no. 2
Novel Calcium Sulfate crystallization process and products based on it. This new technology for manufacturing paper fillers and coating pigments has lower investment costs and it enables lower energy consumption, ability to modify the end product, bigger application area through improved logistics and better possibilities for the product quality management. Inventors: Tarja Turkki, Outi Grönfors, Esko Tirronen, Pasi Hagelberg, Veikko Laakso, Perttu Heiska, Mari Ojanen and Esko Aarni.
Finalist no. 3
Nano-Gel Technology for the cosmetic industry’s needs. With this new technology Kemira can offer its customers ultra fine titanium dioxide particles in an easy to use form. This technology enables to manufacture for example sunscreens and cosmetics with lower production and investment costs. Inventors: Gerd Dahms, Benjamin Fiebrig, Andreas Jung and Esa Latva-Nirva.
Finalist no. 4
Environmentally benign waste slurry management for farms. This new concept and equipment gives large animal feeding operations a cost-effective way to manage their waste streams in an environmentally benign way. Inventors: Victor Johnsson and Preben Nissen.
The winner of the Kemira’s Innovation Contest will be declared by the jury on June 11, 2008. The members of the jury are: President and CEO Harri Kerminen, Deputy President and CEO Esa Tirkkonen, President of Kemira Pulp&Paper Jyrki Mäki-Kala, President of Kemira Water Pekka Ojanpää, President of Kemira Specialty Hannu Virolainen, President of Kemira Coatings Visa Pekkarinen, EVP of Technology Johan Grön and EVP of R&D Hannu Toivonen.
More Information
Hannu Toivonen, EVP, R&D
hannu.toivonen@kemira.com
tel. +358 (0)10 862 1813