+++ International competition closed +++

The search for the surgical wound closures of tomorrow
100 years ago, B. Braun introduced the first-ever industrially manufactured sterile surgical sutures – and since then, we have enjoyed an exceptional success story, based on the intensive exchange of expertise and experience between representatives of medical research, medical training, medical practice, and industry.

We would like to invite you to share your ideas with us. We invite you to push back the boundaries of the possible, to develop pioneering solutions for surgical wound closure, and to leverage your scientific, technical and creative skills to the full – by taking part in The Future of Sutures competition.

Progress is about diversity, and that is the philosophy behind this competition. We welcome innovative and progressive proposals for sutures and wound closure from all perspectives and fields. We will be awarding prizes for the best ideas across three broad themes: Natural science and technology; medicine and usability; form and function. These are just suggested themes, intended only as a guide to the proposals you may wish to submit.

The competition is open to individuals and teams from all areas of medical surgery, research and development, and creative minds generally. Your vision of wound closure is what counts.

In return for Sharing Expertise with us in this very special way, we will be offering total prizes of over 400,000 euros. The competition has been initiated and is organized by B. Braun Melsungen AG, supplier of high-quality healthcare technology to markets worldwide. The Royal College of Surgeons of England, the German Society of Surgeons (DGCH), and the European Federation of Biotechnology have kindly agreed to be patrons.

The Future of Sutures competition is divided into two stages. The first stage is at a national level, with a prize being awarded to the winner in each participating country. The deadline for entries for the first stage is March 28, 2008. All national winners, from approximately 30 countries, automatically qualify for the second international stage.

At both stages, the ideas are evaluated by an independent panel of judges comprising our patrons’ representatives, the competition organizer, and other experts from the fields of medicine and technology. Prizes are awarded across all three themes; there is no separate prize per theme.

The official international awards ceremony will take place on December 5, 2008, at Langenbeck-Virchow Haus in Berlin.
Langenbeck-Virchow Haus is home to the headquarters of the German Society of Surgeons, and to a branch of the Aesculap Academy.