Jean-Claude Kihn, president of Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Carlos Cipollitti, Vice President EMEA for Product Development, rewarded the inventors with the “Patent and Trade Secret Award” plates in presence of numerous regional Goodyear leaders. This year, the associates came from Luxembourg and Hanau/Germany research and development facilities, as well as from several European Goodyear Dunlop plants.

This annual evening was opened by Bernd Kutsch, in charge of the GIC*L patent department. In his welcome speech Mr. Kutsch congratulated the many inventors for their efforts in 2016: “In total, 48 utility patents, 25 design patents and 20 trade secrets have been granted in 2016. In addition, 160 invention disclosures were generated in 2016, representing close to 50% of the global invention disclosures for the same period”, he added.

Carlos Cipollitti also congratulated the inventors: “I believe that we can really be proud about these figures. Your remarkable efforts in creating sustainable technologies and safe tires will considerably support our company to reach its objectives of customer satisfaction and growth.”

New technologies in the 4x4 tire segment for Asia, a new tire sealant and application technology for passenger tires, as well as numerous new tires that have been developed for the original equipment passenger tire market were highlighted during the evening.

Thus, three teams were recognized as the ‘Inventors of the Year 2016’. Six inventors were also recognized with the ‘Silver Coin Award’ for multiple patent or trade secrets.

The Innovation Center in Colmar-Berg is the most important R&D center of the company in Europe and the second worldwide. With its 3.290 associates, Goodyear Luxembourg is the second industrial employer of the Grand Duchy.