Chennai: The European Patent Office (EPO) honoured Indian-American chemist Sumita Mitra with the European Inventor Award 2021 in the ‘Non-EPO countries’ category.
Mitra was the first to successfully integrate nanotechnology into dental materials to produce stronger and more aesthetically pleasing fillings, which are now used by dentists around the world, a press note said.
“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,” said 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.”