Two inventions take first place in the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy competition Double recognition for Unifi’s innovation at the 2023 edition of the Intellectual Property Award (IP Award), a competition organised by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, which rewards the best research patents developed by universities, public research bodies, and scientific hospitals holding patents.Unifi secured first place in two of the six technological categories in the competition: Med Tech, Climatech, Agritech, The Energy of the Future, The Future from Space, and The Future of the City (mobility, logistics, cyber security, and telecommunications).The final stage of the competition—held in collaboration with NETVAL and Invitalia—took place on Wednesday, 30 October, at Palazzo Piacentini in Rome. The University participated with five patents.The first winning invention, submitted in the Climatech category, was developed by the Department of Biomedical, Experimental, and Clinical Sciences 'Mario Serio'. It concerns an environmental sanitisation device that creates an invisible ultraviolet radiation barrier, 15 to 20 centimetres thick, combined with a laminar airflow with controlled temperature and humidity. The barrier is designed to be positioned vertically between areas that need to be isolated from the transfer of microbial aerosols. The inventors are Franco Fusi, Barbara Patrizi, Giovanni Romano and Guido Toci.“The potential positive impact on public health and infection prevention makes this invention deserving of recognition. We are confident it represents a significant step towards safer, healthier, and more protected environments,” noted the judges.The second patent won first prize in the "The Future of the City" category, specifically in the subcategory of Women’s Entrepreneurship. Developed by the Department of Information Engineering, the patented technology involves a synthetic aperture radar mounted on a drone. This radar can automatically scan an entire airport runway, providing high-resolution images that detect even the smallest debris or foreign objects posing significant risks to aircraft during take-off or landing. The device can operate in low-visibility conditions, including at night or in fog. The inventors are Massimiliano Pieraccini and Alessandra Beni.“This invention paves the way for a future where air travel is increasingly safe,” the judges commented, “enhancing the confidence of both passengers and operators.”The inventors from Florence were awarded a €10,000 prize to further develop and promote their patents. Published on: October 30th, 2024