The 2011 Embraco Innovation Awards ceremony was held Thursday in Beijing, focused on bringing more high quality innovative products that support sustainability to market.

More than 100 professors, students, and professionals from universities, research institutions, and academic organizations from across China participated in the competition, which highlighted 59 innovative cooling technologies. Wang Luyi was awarded the grand prize of $100,000 for the design of a miniature spherical compressor.

"China's government and industrial sector are working together to advance new regulations and products to meet an urgent need to save energy. The government's 12th Five Year Plan places heavy emphasis on energy efficiency," said Joao Carlos Brega, global president of Embraco.

"Embraco as an industry leader has a great responsibility to offer high energy efficiency compressors. With a direct gateway to universities, the 2011 Embraco Innovation Award edition has proven to be the right step in creating innovative energy efficiency solutions," he said.

Founded in Brazil in 1971, Embraco specializes in cooling solutions and is a world leader in the hermetic compressor market.

In April 1995, Embraco launched a joint venture with Beijing Longda Light Industry Holding Ltd, called Embraco Snowflake. In 2006, Embraco China began operations at its new plant in Beijing.

liwoke@chinadaily.com.cn