IE&IS Valorization Award 2023 for two pioneering research teams

December 15, 2023

With the award, the Department highlights the impact both teams are making with their research.

Image: iStock

The Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences (IE&IS) awards the annual Valorization Prize to two outstanding research teams that have generated significant impact with their pioneering projects.

Tugce Martagan & Ivo Adan, Alp Akçay & Melvin Drent

In the project "Operations Research Improves Biomanufacturing Decisions for Lifesaving Medicines," the research team led by Tugce Martagan revolutionized the biomanufacturing operations industry. By applying Operations Research models to optimize biomanufacturing operations for the first time, Tugce and her team have not only realized savings of 200 million euros at MSD Animal Health in Boxmeer, but also achieved an impressive 40% reduction in CO2 emissions.

From left to right: Geert-Jan van Houtum (Dean IE&IS), Rick Kapteijns (intern at MSD, master’s student in the OML program), Tugce Martagan (associate professor OPAC group), Marc Baaijens (director at MSD Animal Health), Coen Dirckx (data scientist at MSD and PhD candidate at TU/e), Ivo Adan (chair OPAC group) and André van Lammeren (committee chair). Alp Akçay and Melvin Drent are not in the picture. Photo: Odette Beekmans

The jury praised the team's broad approach, to which 15 MSc students contributed. And which also led to the creation of an Operations Research department within MSD and knowledge transfer to production sites in the US.

Moreover, the innovative application of operations research has been incorporated into the educational curriculum and course materials, and there are plans to expand the research to the human drug and food industry

Rudi Bekkers & Elena Mas Tur & Emilio Raiteri

With the project 'Research: Investigating the feasibility of large-scale essentiality testing to overcome inefficiencies in the European market for patents related to technical standards', the research team led by Rudi Bekkers has made a crucial contribution to the European patent assessment system.

From left to right: Geert-Jan van Houtum (Dean IE&IS), Rudi Bekkers, Emilio Raiteri and André van Lammeren (committee chair). Elena Mas Tur is not in the picture. Photo: Odette Beekmans

Working with many stakeholders and proposing a regulation to the European Parliament and Council, they have proposed an effective solution for assessing the "essentiality" of patents for technological standards. The proposal, which the European Commission plans to make mandatory, has the potential to set patent licensing rules at the European level, with an estimated market value of $20 billion per year.

The jury is enthusiastic not only about the results of the research, but also about its methodology and broad impact. The scientific contribution of the research is recognized as vital to the further development of the European system.

Research-driven

Both teams are commended for collaborating with stakeholders and solving societal problems with their research-driven approach. The 2023 Valorization Prize, including a plaque and a cash prize of 5,000 Euros, was awarded to Tugce Martagan, Ivo Adan, Alp Akçay, and Melvin Drent. And to Rudi Bekkers, Elena Mas Tur, and Emilio Raiteri.

Exceptional Contributions

The IE&IS department congratulates both teams for their exceptional contributions and looks forward to the continued impact of their innovative research on various industries and societal issues.

Media Contact

Marc Rosmalen

m.rosmalen@tue.nl