The CNRS 2021 Innovation Medal laureates

François Jérôme, Nora Dempsey, Amanda Silva Brun and Antoine Aiello © Yves Almecija / Christian Morel / Frédérique Plas / CNRS Photothèque - Antoine Aiello, Nora Dempsey, François Jérôme and Amanda Silva Brun are the four recipients of the CNRS 2021 Innovation Medal. Created 10 years ago, this distinction honours people whose outstanding research has led to significant technological, economic, therapeutic or social innovations that promote French scientific research. From patent filings and pre-maturation programmes for innovative projects, to a joint research laboratory with economic stakeholders and accompanying future start-up creators, " Scientists who demonstrate the desire to turn the results of their research into an asset for the socio-economic fabric now have a vast choice of opportunities ," says Jean-Luc Moullet, the CNRS Deputy CEO for Innovation. The four laureates of the CNRS 2021 Innovation Medal illustrate the diverse paths this can take while pursuing high-quality research. For Jean-Luc Moullet, " It is not a matter of turning every scientist into a start-up creator, but it is important to continue to foster the spirit of entrepreneurship in laboratories. " -   Antoine Aiello - Ecological engineering at the service of the sea " I am guided by a vision of the world where the sensible exploitation of natural resources, accompanied by scientific innovation, aligns harmoniously with the environmental, social and cultural specificities of a territory ," says Antoine Aiello, who himself comes from a family of fishermen, and is a specialist in modelling and behavioural simulations of complex systems.