Neste’s inventors honored with major award from European Patent Office

Neste’s Annika Malm, Pia Bergström, Jukka-Pekka Pasanen, Jukka Myllyoja and Blanka Toukoniitty have been honored with the European Inventor Award 2023 in the industry category. (Photo: European Patent Office)

Inventors with global renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer Neste Corp. have been honored with the prestigious European Inventor Award 2023 in the industry category.

The award was granted by the European Patent Office.

The industry-category award presented July 4 at a ceremony in Valencia, Spain, recognizes inventors of commercially successful technologies patented by large European companies.

The winning team representing the Neste innovation community included inventors Pia Bergström, senior feedstock specialist; Annika Malm, senior associate; Jukka Myllyoja, R&D fellow; Jukka-Pekka Pasanen, senior associate; and Blanka Toukoniitty, technical-support lead for feedstock growth.

They were granted the award for their work on converting waste and residues into high-quality renewable solutions.

In this area, they have been involved in the innovation work and related patents.

“Gratitude is uppermost in our minds—we highly appreciate this award,” the team stated. “We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to each collaborator who has contributed with their know-how, dedication and unwavering support into Neste’s extraordinary achievement on converting waste and residues into high-quality renewable solutions. This award is a reward of our cooperation and long-term hard work towards the common company goals.”

Lars Peter Lindfors, Neste’s executive vice president of innovation, said, “As a company, we are thrilled and honored to receive the European Inventor Award. This recognition reflects intelligence, passion and relentless pursuit of excellence of our innovation community. It further reinforces our commitment to innovation and our position as a leading industry player. I would like to warmly congratulate the winners for the award and thank them for their contribution to the company’s success.”

Innovation has been driving Neste’s growth, and it is one of the enablers of Neste’s success, the company said.

“Looking ahead, Neste is committed to advancing its research, development and innovation work in order to create novel, innovative solutions that respond to evolving challenges and contribute to the development of the industry,” Neste stated. “This prestigious recognition further motivates the company to pursue excellence and push the boundaries of innovation.”