The 2026 Lépine Competition awarded a prize to an invention focused on protecting oceans and coastlines: an underwater vacuum cleaner capable of collecting waste and microplastics in coastal and diving areas. Described as both "ecological and fun," this device was conceived by inventor Alan Mario D'Alfonso Peral and was among the standout innovations of this year's competition.
Designed for direct operation in shallow seabeds, the device collects plastics, debris, and polluting particles without significantly disrupting the aquatic ecosystem. The goal is to provide an accessible solution for both divers and local communities facing increasing coastal pollution.
The environment at the heart of the innovations of the Lépine Competition
This award confirms the growing importance of environmental innovations at the Concours Lépine, where projects related to waste management, water protection, and sustainable technologies are increasingly present. Several inventions recognized in recent years already addressed stormwater treatment or the reduction of urban pollution.
Created in 1901, the Concours Lépine remains one of the main French springboards for independent inventors. Each year, several hundred projects are presented to a jury tasked with rewarding the innovations deemed the most useful, original, and economically viable.
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