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Thales Scottish Technology Prize - Guidelines for Competitors

Thales is looking to strengthen its links with the academic community in Scotland via the Thales Scottish Technology Prize. This year the prize will be for laser technology and applications. The value of the prize will be a £40,000 contribution to the winning research programme, and there will be individual prizes of up to £2,500 for the best entries.

Thales makes laser range-finders and target designators. We also make sighting systems for soldiers and armoured fighting vehicles, which include laser range-finders.

We are looking for technology to enable new types of product or to improve existing products. We want to identify projects that will benefit you, your university and our company.

The prizes will be awarded for the entries, which, in the opinion of the judges have the best combination of relevance to the Thales business, innovation, technical quality and potential for rapid transition into a product.

Thales has no rights to the intellectual property in your entry. See Rules of the Competition.

You can only submit entries through the website. Please do not send letters or emails.

You can paste the text of or type your entries directly, and you can attach diagrams.

There is no restriction on the number of entries you can submit.

No entries will be accepted after October 31st 2008.

Entries should be concise. You can support your words with as many diagrams as you like. A picture paints a thousand words!

We need your CONTACT DETAILS: name, university, telephone number and email address.
Tell us your CONCEPT in no more than 100 words. How will it be used? What will it look like? Concentrate on the benefits of your idea. A diagram is probably essential for this part of the entry.
Next you should tell us about the TECHNOLOGY involved. What will it allow us to do, and how is it going to work? This is the place to demonstrate the potential and practicality of the idea. Use diagrams to make the case. Remember that, for most products, size, weight, power consumption and cost are important considerations. Keep your submission short - tell us the key facts and features in under 500 words.
Lastly, give us your views on a PLAN to get us working on your technology. Is it ready to go with a commercial agreement? Do we need a joint project to develop the idea? How long do you think it'll take to get the technology out of the lab and into the market? This is just an indication at this stage - keep it below 100 words.

Thales Scottish Technology Prize - Competition Rules

1. Competitions and Eligibility for Entry

Thales Optronics Limited, with Scottish Enterprise, is holding a competition of ideas in the field of laser technology and applications.
The competition is open to staff and students from any department registered with any Scottish University during the competition period. This includes visiting and exchange students.

2. Content and Timetable

Entries must be submitted by completing the online entry form.
Entries must describe an idea in the field of laser technology that is: (i) relevant to Thales Optronics' business and (ii) novel, to the best of the entrant's knowledge.
All entries must be the original work of the entrants.
All entries must be factual and conform to the requirements of the Guidelines.
It is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure that no third party has any rights in relation to the idea forming the subject of the entry that may prevent its future exploitation.
Entries will be accepted from June 10th until October 31st 2008.

3. Judging

The judging panel will consist of representatives of Thales and Scottish Enterprise.
The decisions of the judging panel will be final and not subject to appeal.

4. Prizes

Prizes will be awarded as follows at the discretion of the judging panel:
- £40,000 (forty thousand pounds sterling) to support the research of the winning entrant. This prize will be paid through the University to which the winning entrant is affiliated
- £2,500 (two thousand five hundred pounds sterling) for the winning entrant.
- £1,500 (one thousand five hundred pounds sterling) for the runner up
- £1,000 (one thousand pounds sterling) for third place;
- £1,000 (one thousand pounds sterling) for the best entry from an undergraduate;
- £500 (five hundred pounds sterling) for other finalists.
Winners of prizes will be notified in writing.
Prizes will be awarded at a prize giving ceremony and an entrant must be present or be represented at the ceremony in order to claim his prize.
Entrants who win prizes must give their consent to being involved in a reasonable amount of publicity surrounding the competition for example, without limitation, photographs and interviews for the press.

5. Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Protection

Entrants are urged to mark as "confidential" any portion of their entries that they consider to be confidential. All entries shall be held in confidence.
It is the responsibility of the entrant to confirm that he has the rights to any intellectual property contained in his idea and has taken appropriate steps to protect it.
By submitting an entry to the competition, the entrant does not transfer ownership of the intellectual property in his idea to Thales or any third party. Thales Optronics Limited cannot, and will not, take responsibility to protect the intellectual property or other rights of the entrants.