Today, 29 September, Argentina celebrates Inventor's Day in honour of the birth of Ladislao José Biro, the famous inventor of Hungarian origin who became a naturalised Argentinean citizen and revolutionised the world with the creation of the biros, popularly known as the ‘birome’.

Born on 29 September 1889, Biro arrived in Argentina in the 1940s, fleeing war-torn Europe. It was in Argentina that he perfected his most famous invention: the birome, an acronym of the surnames Biro and Meyne or the ‘biro’ in Anglo-Saxon countries or the biros in Spain.

The ‘biro’ was patented in 1943 and its success brought it worldwide fame. At first, it was adopted by the British air force because of its ability to write at high altitude without losing ink. Soon after, the invention went mainstream, becoming indispensable in the daily lives of millions of people. The simplicity and functionality of its design transformed the way mankind communicates. The ballpoint pen became so popular that it replaced the pen and graphite pencil as a writing tool.

Biro went on to patent 32 inventions, including a washing machine, a perfume dispenser, an automatic gearbox for cars of the time and an electromagnetically powered vehicle.

Inventor's Day is not only a recognition of Biro's legacy, but also an invitation to celebrate all creators whose ingenuity transforms the world. His legacy lives on every time someone takes a pen in their hands. He died on 24 October 1985 in Buenos Aires.