Kerecis optimistic for innovation award

Kerecis CEO Fertram Sigurjónsson is moderately optimistic about winning the prestigious European Inventor Award next week, for his groundbreaking invention of using fish skin for healing wounds and sores. Competing against strong contenders from large European countries, his nomination highlights the innovative strides made by Kerecis in the medical field.

Article on Iceland Monitor

Sigurjónsson is EWMA's Entrepreneur of the Year

The online voting for the European Inventor Award, presented by the European Patent Office, is currently underway. As reported in Morgunblaðið in mid-May, Fertram Sigurjónsson, founder and CEO of Kerecis, has been nominated this year. He received the nomination for his invention of using fish skin for healing wounds.

Sigurjónsson and the Kerecis development team were selected from over 550 candidates.

The public online voting has been ongoing for several weeks, and the public can cast their votes. It is evident that Kerecis’s competitors come from considerably larger communities, as he is competing against teams from Sweden on one side and Germany and Italy on the other.

Busy with production

In an interview with Morgunblaðið, Fertram as he is familiarly known in Iceland, expressed moderate optimism about winning the online vote.

“We haven't engaged in a special campaign, as we are busy getting our product into the hands of doctors and helping people. We are delighted with every vote we receive and hope for the best, but my thoughts are more with patients worldwide who need help,” says Fertram.

The nomination is in the category of manufacturing, and three inventors have been nominated. The results will be announced at a ceremony in Malta next week, on 9 July.

Fertram states that this nomination is extremely significant, as the European Patent Office oversees all patents in Europe. The nomination is, of course, a great honour, but it is more important to raise awareness of Kerecis's fish skin and thus promote its increased use.

“The results from using it are often incredible, and we are proud to contribute to improving people's health worldwide. Despite the success, many are still unaware of Kerecis. Awards of this kind can certainly help spread knowledge about the Icelandic fish skin and ensure that more patients in need can benefit from it,” he concludes.

Votes for the European Inventor Award can be cast by clicking here.