Brussels, 17/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - Despite what may be said, Europe is a driving force of innovation, according to Commissioner Michel Barnier. He was speaking during the European Patents Office 2014 European Inventor Prize awards ceremony on Tuesday 17 June. This ceremony is similar to the Oscars for technology and innovation. Four prizes were awarded to Europeans, including Artur Fischer from Germany, for his wall plug; Peter Home Jensen, Claus Hélix-Nielsen and Danielle Keller for a water purifying membrane; Christopher Toumazou from the United Kingdom for a quick DNA test and the Franco-Belgian team of Koen Andries and Jérôme Guillemont for a new anti-tuberculosis medicine. European Patents Office president, Benoit Battistelli, stated that “their ingenuity and creativity are an indicator of Europe's position as a regional leader in technology” and pointed out that patents played a major role in protecting this status on a daily basis. The foreign prize went to Charles W. Hull from the US for 3-D printing and the public prize to the Japanese team that invented QR (Quick Response) codes. (MD)