Laser manufacturer Jeanologia (Valencia, Spain) has launched a laser design competition to celebrate the 2015 International Year of Light declared by the United Nations. With an award of 6000 Euros (nearly $6600), Jeanologia will lead the Project until the start-up of the company. The initiative aims to attract talent to optics and photonics to ensure a future generation of engineers and innovators in the field of laser technology. The competition is geared towards research centers, universities, and non-profit entities throughout Spain and the registration period ends on June 30, 2015.
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The initiative seeks to encourage the creation of laser-based companies and best ideas based on TRL 6 (Technology Readiness Level) will be selected in order to become a real company. The projects presented may be based on any type of laser (solid state, fiber, CO2). Neither the sector in which this technology is applied is limited. In any case, the entrants must provide a report on technical and economic feasibility. The application of laser technology is already an essential part of sectors such as textiles, telecommunications, medicine and daily life with barcode readers in supermarkets or eye surgery.
The deadline to register for the ideas competition is the 30th of June 2015. Registration can be performed through Jeanologia's website. In this first stage, participants should describe their idea, fields of interest where to apply it, and contribution of their projects to innovation and feasibility.
The presentation of the development of the project may be made until 20 October 2015. In this second stage, shortlisted teams will need to further explain their ideas and provide an investment plan. Finally, the selected teams must present their projects in front of the Judging Panel. This third phase will take place in November 2015.
The process of selection and evaluation of innovative ideas of the competition will be accomplished by a jury composed of personalities from the business, financial world and research leaded by Ramon Sans, president of SECPhO and R&D director of Jeanologia. The jury's decision will be announced through the website and through communication to participants in the third stage of the competition.
Located in Valencia (headquarters) and Barcelona (laser production plant), Jeanologia is composed of a team with more than 30 years of experience in laser and eco-efficient technologies. More than 120 technical and creative people share a common passion: innovation.The company currently has more than 4,000 machines sold in 45 countries across 5 continents in such applications as marking, coding ID + tracking, engraving, cutting, welding, micro-welding, surface treatments, micro-drilling and pre-cutting in a variety of sectors such as textiles, packaging, food and beverage, leather and footwear, metal, ceramics, and pharmaceuticals.
SOURCE: Jeanologia; http://www.jeanologia.com/jeanologia-award/