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Top Spanish inventor scores ‘tech Oscar’

Spanish engineer José Luis López Gómez has been named one of Europe's top inventors by the European Patents Office.

Top Spanish inventor scores 'tech Oscar'
José Luis López Gómez has spent more than four decades improving the quality of Talgo trains. Photo: Mikel Ortega

López Gómez nabbed the patent office's publicly-voted Popular Prize for his work in developing a system to help Spain's Talgo trains run more safely along rails, especially in mountainous areas.

The wheel system also means the trains can travel much faster around curves.

The award is akin to a technology Oscar, according to Spanish news site 20minutos.

Receiving the prize, López Gómez recalled how his brother had told him that it would be difficult to develop something new because everything has already been invented.

But "everything can be optimized to improve the quality of life," he told the audience at the prize ceremony in Amsterdam.

Around 500 guests attended the award ceremony at the Beurs van Berlage in the capital of the Netherlands, including Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands and Michel Barnier, the European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services.

López Gómez has spent more than four decades improving the quality of Talgo trains.

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