For ten years The Economist has presented Innovation Awards to some of the world's leading creators, entrepreneurs, innovators, scientists and thinkers - people who map our future by changing the way we work, think and live, such as De Soto, Gates, Jobs, Miyamoto, Wales and Zuckerberg. This year's theme is "the essence of truly great innovation," so The Economist has invited every Innovation Award winner from the last ten years to attend this year's ceremony: the Anniversary prize will be awarded to the innovator of the decade voted for by you.

The world of materials is developing swiftly and becoming increasingly complex. Designers have known for a long time that the success of a product and its design also depends on the right choice of materials. Pioneering materials can provide functional, aesthetic and production-related impulses. At the same time, engineers and developers are inspired by design requirements to develop new materials and technologies. To highlight this interrelation, to demonstrate the importance of materials for industrial design-oriented applications and to establish a platform for designers, material manufacturers, developers, engineers and producers for a get-together, MunichExpo has been organizing the MATERIALICA Design + Technology Award for eight years.