New high in inventors hoping for backing
A record number of 790 exhibitors have taken part in the 42nd International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, touting for funding for around 1,000 ideas. The five-day fair, which ended on Sunday, attracted 60,200 visitors.
Licensing deals worth a total of CHF50 million ($56 million) were struck.
Of the 45 countries present, 54% of the inventors were from Asia and the Middle East. They included Muhammad Muzammel Mokhtar of Malaysia, pictured, with his design of a chair that can become a single or double seater and is easy to pack away.
China had the highest number of exhibitors overall. Japan and the United States did not take part due to legal protection reasons. A quarter of exhibitors were private individuals and the remainder, universities and businesses.
“There are more and more inventions in the fields of energy, ecology, the environment and safety. It’s a clear trend,” said spokesman Gérard Sermier.
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