Prize will help the winner bring a product to the market, writes Dick Ahlstrom, Science Editor.

A €1 million prize to help bring an innovative product to market is on offer to Irish participants following the introduction here of the Altran International Innovation Award. The competition is open to individuals or companies and the award presentation takes place next June in Paris.

French-based international science and technology consultancy Altran Group funds the prize via an independent foundation that oversees the competition. Now entering its eight year, this is the first year Irish competitors can get involved due to the establishment of an Altran subsidiary in Dublin.

The international group includes 200 companies that employ 16,500 and have a combined turnover of more than €1.2 billion, according to Mr Xavier de Bustos, managing director of Altran Technologies Ireland.

The local company must contribute to the independent charity, Altran Foundation for Innovation, in order for those in the Republic to be able to participate, Mr de Bustos said.

The foundation's competition and the Irish subsidiary were officially launched last Wednesday at the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle. The local Altran firm opened two years ago and employs about 40 staff, including 30 with PhDs, Mr de Bustos said.

A second Galway office is due to open next year and 40 more staff will be employed, he said. The company specialises in innovation consultancy.

"We bring technology and access to technology to companies that want to innovate. We want to help develop indigenous companies."

The company provides consultancy services to a number of the Republic's top publicly quoted companies, Mr de Bustos said, which includes financial service companies and a number of Irish-based medical device manufacturers.

The Irish subsidiary did not become involved in the foundation's activities until it had had a chance to build a customer base, he stated. Involvement in the competition is only open to countries where there is an Altran firm contributing financially to the foundation.

"The foundation is very important to us," Mr de Bustos said. "It is open to anybody in Ireland, whether an individual or a company. It involves a prize of €1 million. Sometimes, it is partially given in cash but generally it is benefit in kind, consultancy services provided by Altran."

Each year, Altran adopts a theme and the one chosen for the 2004 competition is: "Discovering, Understanding and Enjoying Science through Innovation".

The foundation chose this theme as its contribution towards attempting to reverse the decline in student interest in the sciences, according to the company. It was also appropriate given the importance of technology and research in the context of a knowledge-based European economy.

"This year's theme has particular resonance for Ireland as we look to encourage the next generation of scientists and researchers to support the technological boom, which will support our economic growth in the coming years," said the president of the foundation, Mr Michel Friedlander, who attended the launch earlier this week.

"The 2004 Altran Foundation for Innovation prize will single out innovations that make science appealing and accessible to the widest possible audience," Mr Friedlander said.

"It is a very exciting competition and we are hoping that there will be many entries from Ireland competing for the first prize in Paris next year."

On offer to the winner is comprehensive technological and related consultancy aimed at ensuring that the winning idea is turned into a working product with market potential.

The company employs engineers, scientists, business managers, economists and marketing specialists so most of the resources needed to bring an innovation through to commercialisation are present via the foundation's prize.

The programme allows for the widest possible range of participants. This includes individuals or companies, the media including journalists, webmasters, producers and television or radio programme presenters.

Laboratories may apply as can cultural centres, teaching and training organisations and private or public entities involved in the public understanding of science. Schools, universities and associations may also apply.

Only the winning projects and other finalists will have their project ideas made public. This is subject to the individual consent of each applicant.

The company also points out that Altran derives no commercial gain from the submitted innovative ideas. Nor does it benefit commercially from the support that it offers to winners of the award.

Key selection criteria include:

the general relevance of the project;

the innovative nature of the project;

it must offer an adequate market potential and be economically viable;

it must be a feasible project.

The 1997 award went to a research group who developed a laser system for cleaning buildings and monuments without damage.

An implantable pain control system won the prize in 1998 and the following year the prize went to a project involving a system that produces clean drinking water from seawater.

More recently, prizes have been awarded for a system that ensures the adequate chilling of transported cold foodstuffs and another for a rapid detection system for food bacteria. In some years, the foundation makes two awards. Applications for the prize must reach the foundation by January.

More information about the competition and previous winners is available from the foundation's website at www.foundation-altran.org.