From bees to space shuttles: International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva honors top innovations

The first public edition of the International Inventions Fair in Geneva since 2019 was a great success. Two hours before closing time, the organizers announced that the Fair had gathered over 22,000 people in just five days. This global innovation event exceeded all expectations in terms of the quantity and quality of exhibitors.

“The entire team of the Fair is delighted with the success of this 48th edition. The level of creativity and innovation presented this year was exceptional, and we are thrilled to see so many inventors, visitors, and guests from all over the world come together to celebrate the spirit of invention,” said Caroline Simonet, the event’s director.

Over a thousand inventors from around 40 countries including Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, participated in this year’s event, showcasing their inventions and engaging with industry professionals.

The inventions of the two honorary hosts, the zero-emission MobyFly foiling boat from the Swiss company MobyFly and the model of the Stratoflight space shuttle from the French company Stratoflight, were among those on display.

The Grand Prix, the highest distinction of the Inventions Fair, out of 50 very high-level innovations submitted, was awarded to the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, represented by Sébastien Floquet and Aneta Ozieranska, for a dietary supplement that strengthens bees against external threats. This non-toxic food molecule inspired by natural enzymes is designed to protect bees from external aggressions, which in turn helps develop colonies and reduces bee mortality. The innovation was validated through tests conducted in hundreds of hives across four countries. The development of this food molecule is a vital step in preventing bee extinction, a worldwide phenomenon largely provoked by disease.

The disappearance of bees is a concerning problem as their role in biodiversity is essential. The survival of plant species largely depends on flower pollination, a role that is fulfilled by bees. The University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines’ achievement in developing this food molecule offers a promising solution to help protect the species.

The public’s vote for the most popular invention awarded the Prix du Public to the Swiss company Genius Loci for its connected medals, which allow for the widespread promotion of heritage. Finally, the International Press Prize was awarded to the Swiss company Loghydrogen for the Hydrogen HTi1 System, designed to reduce polluting emissions and the consumption of all vehicles. The Inventions Fair also recognized about 50 other inventions for their innovations.

The next edition of the International Inventions Fair in Geneva will take place in the spring of 2024 at Palexpo. The outstanding success of this year’s event demonstrates the continued importance of innovation and invention in today’s world, as well as the ability of global events to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures to collaborate and share their ideas.