The European Patent Office (EPO) honored Indian-American chemist Sumita Mitra with the European Inventor Award 2021 in the “Non-EPO countries” category.
“Sumita Mitra took an entirely new path in her field and demonstrated how technological innovation, protected by patents, can transform a sector, and in this case bring benefits to millions of dental patients,” says EPO President António Campinos.
“Her invention remains commercially successful nearly 20 years after its launch – another reason why she is an inspiration to the next generation of scientists.”
The enduring legacy of Mitra’s work can be seen in the fact that 3M was named as one of the top three manufacturers of global composite fillings in the dental restoration market in 2019.
“Curiosity and exploration are the essential points of starting an innovation. It is something that we really need to cultivate in our children,” Mitra says.