French Inventor Franck Zal Wins European Inventor Award 2026
05-Jul-2026
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Source : The European Patent Office (EPO)
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Visits : 68
• Franck Zal receives the European Inventor Award 2026 in the SMEs category for developing a universal oxygen carrier derived from marine worms
• His technology helps preserve organs and tissues by delivering oxygen during storage and transport
• The invention is already used in transplantation and is being explored for applications in regenerative medicine, wound healing and cell culture
• The award was presented during the European Inventor Award 2026 ceremony in Berlin today
MUNICH - The European Patent Office (EPO) has awarded French biologist and entrepreneur Franck Zal the European Inventor Award 2026 in the SMEs category for developing a universal oxygen carrier derived from the marine lugworm Arenicola marina. According to the ONT–WHO Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation, more than 170 000 organs were transplanted worldwide in 2024. Yet preserving organs outside the body remains one of the major challenges in transplantation medicine, as oxygen deprivation can quickly damage tissues before surgery takes place. Zal's invention helps address this challenge by delivering oxygen during organ storage and transport, extending preservation times and supporting successful transplantation procedures, according to the official website of EPO.
The European Inventor Award recognizes inventors whose innovations provide answers to some of the world's most pressing challenges. The other finalists in the SMEs category were Jan Čmelík and his team from the Czech Republic for advancing needle-free electrospinning technology for reliable, industrial-scale nanofiber production and Przemek Ben Paczek and his team from Poland for a magnetic levitation system designed to retrofit existing railway infrastructure. Zal's work has transformed a biological adaptation found in nature into a medical technology now used in transplantation and other healthcare applications.
“This award is a recognition not only of my work or the work of Hemarina and its teams, but also the essential role of fundamental research as a driver of innovation. It is a reminder that investing in science, knowledge and long-term exploration is one of the most powerful ways to address society’s greatest challenges,” said Zal.
Nature-inspired oxygen delivery
One of the main challenges in organ transplantation is keeping organs oxygenated outside the body. Without oxygen, tissues begin to deteriorate, limiting the time available for transport and transplantation.
Zal's solution is based on the hemoglobin of the marine lugworm, a species capable of surviving prolonged periods without oxygen during low tide. He developed a process to isolate and purify this molecule, creating the M101 platform, a universal oxygen carrier that functions independently of blood type and without triggering immune reactions.
"Nature remains the largest laboratory on Earth, and some of its most valuable solutions are still waiting to be discovered. It includes a vast library of 3.8 billion years of innovation, and we must learn to read its books. As Leonardo da Vinci said in his Codex Atlanticus, we need to scrutinize nature. It is there that our future awaits,” said Zal.
Today, the technology is used in HEMO2life®, a CE-marked product for organ preservation. It is also being explored for applications in regenerative medicine, wound healing and cell-culture systems.
Building a new approach to organ preservation
Zal's scientific journey began with research into marine organisms living in extreme environments. While studying the lugworm, he identified properties that suggested its hemoglobin could have important medical applications. Convinced of its potential, he founded Hemarina in 2007 to transform the discovery into practical healthcare solutions.
To ensure a reliable and sustainable supply of the biological material, Hemarina established a dedicated aquaculture facility in Noirmoutier, France. The company has since built a substantial intellectual property portfolio that protects the technology and supports its commercial development.
Today, the invention is being deployed across a growing number of medical applications and has contributed to advances in organ preservation, an area of increasing importance as transplantation programs expand worldwide.
All the winners of the 2026 edition of the European Inventor Award were announced at a ceremony in Berlin.