The co-founders of the Dublin-based company Lios, Rhona Togher and Eimear O’Carroll, were named winners of the SME category of the 2023 European Inventor Award on 4 July.
The co-founders of the Dublin-based company Lios, Rhona Togher and Eimear O’Carroll, were named winners of the SME category of the 2023 European Inventor Award on 4 July.
The European Patent Office honours promising inventors each year with European Inventor Award in recognition of both their contributions to the advancement of science and technology and the impact that their inventions have on our daily lives. Spain’s Valencia hosted the ceremony for this year’s awards.
After being chosen as finalists in May from a pool of more than 600 applicants, Togher and O’Carroll have triumphed.
The physicists said in a joint statement that the award “recognises many years of hard work and commitment to making the world a quieter place.” It is a true honour to be recognised alongside so many notable inventors who have contributed so significantly to their fields.
Fionn Ferreira, another participant from Ireland, took third place in the Young Inventors division. The 22-year-old from West Cork is combating microplastics pollution with his magnet-based technique that “quickly, safely, and without harm” removes microplastics from water.
“It’s great that you guys are honouring young inventors, in my opinion. Although young people make up only about 25% of the world’s population, we represent 100% of its future, Ferreira said after receiving the honour,” said Ferreira.
According to the European Environment Agency, long-term noise exposure severely disrupts sleep for 6.5 million people in Europe. According to the agency, over 100 million people in Europe are subject to harmful levels of noise pollution.
High noise levels can also cause hearing issues like tinnitus, which Togher and O’Carroll have personally experienced.
Established in 2009 as Restored Hearing, Lios has created technology that uses cutting-edge, patented materials for hearing protection to shield people from avoidable hearing damage.
The two main products of the former Start-Up of the Week are Sound Bounce hearing protection and Sound Relief tinnitus sound therapy.
In 2020, Lios and the European Space Agency worked together to develop Sound Bounce materials for space travel. Togher and O’Carroll outperformed 5,000 international applicants to take home the She Loves Tech 2022 awards.
The two added after winning, “Winning this award serves as a reminder of the value of innovation and the impact it can have on our society. “We hope that this recognition will encourage others, particularly young girls, to pursue their own inventions and to keep expanding the realm of the possible.”