Quality Innovation Award 2021 – international winners announced: Alpha DaRT™ cancer treatment is the winner of 2021 Award
The Innovation of Innovations prize was awarded to Alpha DaRT™ (Diffusing alpha-emitters radiation therapy) cancer treatment of Alpha Tau Medical, Ltd. from Israel. Alpha DaRT is a novel radiation technology that can treat recurrent, metastatic, and locally advanced cancers. In comparison to existing radiation therapies, it is highly effective, safe, and tolerable for patients.
Quality Innovation Award was organized for the 15th time. Participants were from Botswana, China, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Ruanda, Russia, South-Africa, Serbia, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden and Zimbabwe.
A total of 561 innovations participated in the competition and the best 25 were recognized with Awards or Prizes. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional Award Ceremony was postponed. It will be hosted by the Russian Organization for Quality in April.
As always, the winners of the Award in each category passed a strict methodology of evaluation based on their novelty value, usability, learning, customer orientation and effectiveness. The winners were chosen by the participating national Quality Associations via a rigorous voting process.
“We systematically promote innovation and sustainable development also among our international partner organizations. Individual countries have increasingly submitted their innovations first to national and then international evaluation. This way, innovations will automatically gain visibility in numerous countries. This year, we welcomed India as a new member to our network”, says Mr. Juha Ylä-Autio, Chairman of the Quality Innovation Award 2021.
For more information, please see www.qualityinnovation.org or contact
LAATUKESKUS EXCELLENCE FINLAND
Mr. Juha Ylä-Autio
+358 40 752 3312
juha.yla-autio@laatukeskus.fi
www.laatukeskus.fi
info@laatukeskus.fi
Full list of awards:
Innovation of Innovations:
Alpha Tau Medical, Ltd. / Israel
Alpha DaRT™ (Diffusing alpha-emitters radiation therapy) cancer treatment
Alpha DaRT is a novel radiation technology that can treat recurrent, metastatic, and locally advanced cancers. What makes this new therapy unique among radiation therapies is that, for the first time, it employs alpha particles for treatment of solid tumors. Alpha DaRT treatment consists of intratumorally-inserted radionuclides that emit alpha particles which kill tumor cells, sparing healthy cells nearby. In comparison to existing radiation therapies, it is highly effective, safe, and tolerable for patients. Alpha DaRT can potentially fill a huge unmet need for treatment of advanced cancers that are resistant or have become refractory to prior conventional therapies such as X-rays and chemotherapy, and when surgery is not an option.
Potential innovations
Award Winner: MEDICSEN /Spain
Non-invasive artificial pancreas for diabetes based on insulin delivery through a needle-free Smartpatch
Needle-free smartpatch for painless insulin delivery and machine learning algorithms to predict future patient needs, automatically delivering the correct amount of medication to improve control.
Prize Winner: Metsä Spring Oy/ Finland
Kuura textile fibre
Metsä Group is developing a new concept for the production of more sustainable textile fibres. As a hub firm, Metsä Group has orchestrated a network of over 50 partners to reach this point.
Prize Winner: National Research University “MPEI” / Russia
Autonomous cogeneration energy source based on micro hydraulic power plants using the principles of nature likeness technologies
Highly efficient hydraulic turbines for autonomous energy sources with a blade system designed using the principles of the “whale’s fin” and “shark gills” structure, which provide an increase in the efficiency and reliability of hydraulic units.
Circular economy and carbon neutrality innovations
Award Winner: Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai /China
The Air Disinfection and Purification Solution Based on CKER (Coronavirus Killer) System and Its Application
A novel air disinfection and purification system called CKER (Coronavirus Killer) was developed at the crucial moment of global epidemic prevention and control. The CKER system was based on three Gree patented core technologies, namely the high efficiency trap technology based on the combination of high density plasma and HEPA, the accurate temperature control technology based on target temperature of virus inactivation and the rapid purification method of space airflow organization.
The CKER system has already been applied in our novel antivirus air purifier, which was developed epically to kill the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The test results of the third-party authority showed that the antivirus air purifier using CKER system can rapidly reduce the fine particulate matter and eliminate a range of harmful pathogens. Moreover, the field test report from Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences clearly proved that the inactivation rate of SARS-CoV-2 is higher than 99% after one hour operation.
Up to now, the products have been exported to more than 50 countries and regions around the world, the sales of the products have reached more than USD 156.7 million, adding USD 24.1 million in profits and USD 11 million in taxes.
Prize Winner: Solarstone OÜ / Estonia
Click-on framing kit
World’s first solution that renders standard PV panels into weatherproof 2in1 roofing material
Prize Winner: TATA Chemicals Limited / India
Wealth from Waste: Dead Batteries To Pigments – Cobalt aluminate
A mission towards Sustainability brought focus on converting hazardous metal extracted from waste Li-ion batteries into a value-added chemistry that also reduces impact of mining and ecological damage. The product, cobalt aluminate pigment was successfully synthesized utilizing recovered cobalt and a major part of the aluminium raw material from recycled sources (spent Li-ion batteries). The pigment’s desirable total solar reflectance properties are at par with that made from virgin raw materials. A good Total solar reflectance (TSR) value of pigments is desirable to keep inner temperature of buildings lower, reducing air-conditioning costs and contributing to lower carbon footprint.
Health care sector innovations
Award Winner: Alpha Tau Medical, Ltd. /Israel
Alpha DaRT™ (Diffusing alpha-emitters radiation therapy) cancer treatment
Alpha DaRT is a novel radiation technology that can treat recurrent, metastatic, and locally advanced cancers. What makes this new therapy unique among radiation therapies is that, for the first time, it employs alpha particles for treatment of solid tumors. Alpha DaRT treatment consists of intratumorally-inserted radionuclides that emit alpha particles which kill tumor cells, sparing healthy cells nearby. In comparison to existing radiation therapies, it is highly effective, safe, and tolerable for patients. Alpha DaRT can potentially fill a huge unmet need for treatment of advanced cancers that are resistant or have become refractory to prior conventional therapies such as X-rays and chemotherapy, and when surgery is not an option.
Prize Winner: Respiray / Estonia
Wearable Air Purifier
Respiray’s wearable air purifier immediately eliminates 99% of airborne viruses and bacteria by disinfecting inhaled air with safe UV-C technology.
Prize Winner: The Government of Moscow, JSC “Electronic Moscow”/ Russia
AI-based computer vision technologies for medical image analysis
The analysis of 4 types of radiological tests and the diagnostics of lung cancer and pathologies, breast cancer, COVID-19, osteoporosis, and ischemic heart disease provided by the neural networks.
Prize Winner: INYCOM/Spain
CADIA: Aid system for the detection of various pathologies based on image analysis with AI techniques
Design and implementation in a regional health service of an innovative technological solution that helps the detection of various pathologies through intelligent image analysis and its demonstration in breast cancer screening.
Education sector innovations
Award Winner: The Government of Moscow, JSC “Electronic Moscow” / Russia
Moscow Electronic School (MES) – the unified educational ecosystem
MES is an innovative educational platform, which has no analogs in Russia by the number of users. It satisfies the demand of Moscow in terms of services provided and the scope of the educational content.
Prize Winner: BASQUE CULINARY CENTER /Spain
Basque Culinary Center: Promoting culinary training and innovation in the university environment
Basque Culinary Center is a pioneering project at global level that has taken gastronomy to the academic and research sphere, launching the first Faculty of Gastronomic Sciences in Spain (the first Degree in Gastronomy) and the first technology centre specialised in gastronomy.
Prize Winner: GRUPO EDELVIVES / Spain
Go STEAM: Integrated Competency-Based Learning across all school, from Kindergarten to Secondary
A subscription platform that democratises the development of STEAM skills across subjects: it merges content, assessment and technology in a secure, invisible and personalised way.
Public sector innovations
Award Winner: Centre for Agricultural Research (short name: CAR) / Hungary
ProPlanta Cost and Environment Friendly Fertilization Advisory System
Built on the unique database of the Hungarian long-term fertilization experiment network, the software helps the farmers in the economic and sustainable utilization of nutrients.
Prize Winner: VISESA: Vivienda y Suelo de Euskadi, S.A. – Euskadiko Etxebizitza eta Lurra, EA / Spain
Novel role of the Administration as Delegated Promoter for fostering neighbourhood rehabilitation
Visesa as one-stop-shop for administrating, contracting and supervising both the design and execution of the rehabilitation following a turnkey model as well as administrating the financing on behalf of the beneficiaries.
Prize Winner: Dorot Geriatric Hospital / Israel
Drones in medical service – From fighting COVID-19 to universal solutions
Autonomic drone delivery networks between medical facilities for medical supply service, including pharmacological items and preparations, COVID-19 swabs, lab. specimens, blood products, organs etc, real time and on demand, resulting in improved medical care, fewer costs, and sustainability.
Business innovations (micro & startup companies)
Award Winner: EGA SOLUTIONS S.L. / Spain
Full traceability information management system for high value-added industries
A solution for full traceability along the mounting process for the machining of aircraft engine parts by setting up a scalable, flexible and sustainable technology ecosystem in terms of operational and economic efficiency.
Prize Winner: COCUUS / Spain
Mimethica: The first Food-Tech platform which joints multiple Technologies and proprietary ingredients (bio-ink/bio-gels) for the formulation of new food
The resources to feed the entire population are limited and we cannot address it with today’s solutions. We have started the Food Science revolution and we have implemented in the industry new Plant-Based and Cell-Based manufacturing processes.
Prize Winner: Edeva AB / Sweden
Actibump
The Actibump is an active speed bump that is only a speed bump for those who speed. The main problem that it solves is the compromise between traffic safety and accessibility for buses.
Business innovations (small and medium sized enterprises)
Award Winner: NOAQ Flood Protection AB / Sweden
NOAQ Boxwall
The NOAQ Boxwall is a free-standing self-anchoring temporary flood barrier
Prize Winner: COMERCIALIZADORA LA RIOJA ALTA S.L. / Spain
Quality control, traceability and food security system employing artificial intelligence
Innovative artificial intelligence system for quality control and serialization of the minimum unit of the finished product for commercial traceability and food security purposes.
Prize Winner: ATRIA INNOVATION / Spain
SIARA: AI System for identification and classification of waste through Computer Vision
SIARA improves the efficiency of the selection plants processes of plastic packaging waste, cans and briks through a Computer Vision system based on Deep Learning for the detection and removal of unwanted bulky waste.
Business innovations (large companies)
Award Winner: JSC “Ion Exchange Technologies”, National Research University “MPEI”/ Russia
High efficiency drinking-quality water purification system for feeding an open-type water heating system
The use of nanofiltration (NF) to obtain the make-up water of an open-type water heating system leads to a reduction in operating costs and a reduction in the cost of treated water both with traditional technologies and with reverse osmosis, as well as to obtain water more suitable for drinking compared with reverse osmosis permeate.
Prize Winner: První brněnská strojírna Velká Bíteš, a.s. / Czech Republic
Innovation of precision casting technologies for new types of castings of superalloy nickel-based turbocharger parts
A new technology for precision casting of new generation of turbocharger parts and production of shell moulds with technology consistent with the European Grean Deal strategy was implemented and verified.
Prize Winner: Peikko Group Corporation / Finland
BOLDA®, a compact, high-strength Column Shoe for bolted connections in precast concrete columns
BOLDA® is a new-generation compact and heavy-duty Column Shoe. BOLDA® Column Shoes can be
used to connect a precast concrete column either to the foundation of a building or on top of
another concrete column.