The inventors of biodegradable plastics, DNA fingerprinting and a new HIV drug are among 12 individuals and groups nominated for the European Inventor of the Year Award 2007.

The award, which is now in its second year, was set up by the European Commission and the European Patent Office.

For the first time the European ICT Prize awards ceremony took place at CeBIT, the world's largest ICT trade fair in Hannover, Germany. "Information and communications technology opens up a world of new possibilities - new ways of working and new ways of living," said Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding as she awarded the prizes.

The ICT Policy Support Programme (or ICT PSP) aims at stimulating innovation and competitiveness through the wider uptake and best use of ICT by citizens, governments and businesses.

The programme builds on the aims of the previous e-TEN, Modinis and e-Content programmes and will support the aims of the new integrated strategy i2010 - European Information Society 2010.

Whether you are learning a foreign language, training for the city marathon or want to lose five kilos – the digital motivator eCoach will help you to achieve your personal goals. The system runs on any cell phone or PDA and provides just the right amount of motivation.

Instead of the shrill sound of the alarm clock, your cell phone wakes you in the morning with a happy mp3 song.

A new electronics industry appears to be on the verge of exploding on the scene in Europe, and one company is at the forefront of this pioneering development.

Earlier this year, the UK technology start-up Plastic Logic announced that it had secured USD 100 million (€76 million) worth of venture capital to help build the world's first commercial plant for plastic electronics manufacture.

The Q-REC project entitled "European Quality Labelling and Certification of Electronic Health Record systems (EHRs)" is a Specific Support Action for the strategic objective 2.4.11 "Integrated BioMedical Information for better Health" as addressed in Call 4 of the Information Society Technologies Work Programme.

Help is at hand for cardiovascular patients: In future, a smart sensor network will monitor sufferers and alert the doctor when necessary. Fraunhofer researchers will be presenting the "Mobile Health Assistant" at the CeBIT fair in Hanover from March 15 to 21, 2007 (Hall 9, Stand B36).