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MEP Award for "research & innovation" goes to Paul Rübig
9 October 2008
Austrian Paul Rübig was presented with the MEP Award in the EPO-sponsored category "research & innovation" at a ceremony at the Renaissance Hotel in Brussels last night.
A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 1996, Mr Rübig, 55, is part of the European People's Party and European Democrats (EPP-ED) faction. He was selected for the award from a shortlist that also included Philippe Busquin of Belgium, former Commissioner for Research, and Reino Paasilinna of Finland.
A strong advocate for small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe, Mr Rübig is an active member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. He has supported SME participation in EU projects, such as the Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7) and the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP).
Mr Rübig has repeatedly called for a reduction in the cost of patenting for SMEs and fair access to jurisdiction, championing alternatives such as mediation and arbitration. He was involved in the Doha Round discussions at the World Trade Organization, taking a keen interest in trade-related aspects of intellectual property.
The Austrian also served on the jury for the first European Inventor of the Year awards in 2006, presenting the trophy to the winners in the category "New EU member states".
The MEP Awards, organised each year since 2005 by The Parliament Magazine, recognise and celebrate the work of MEPs in a range of policy areas. This year, the EPO sponsored a new award, marking achievements over the past 12 months in the field of "research & innovation".
Further information
- The Parliament Magazine: MEP Awards 2008
- Patent system: The EPO and the EU
- Innovation and the economy: European Inventor of the Year