Edmund Optics (EO) has announced the finalists for its 2012 higher education global grant programme.
The education grant programme offers a total of $80,000 in EO products and runs in Europe, the Americas and Asia. The programme intends to support research and innovation in the field of optics and imaging at universities and non-profit research institutions. Potential grant recipients were chosen from more then 750 applications received from candidates representing 53 countries.
The 45 finalists representing 22 different countries submitted applications ranging from non-invasive optical systems for cancer detection and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) techniques for macular degeneration, to remote laser sensing of insects for malaria detection and optical probing of glacial ice for climatic analysis.
This year, the European EO Research and Innovation Award will support projects with product donations of a value of €7,000, €5,000 and €3,000. In addition, the company will invite the three European winners to Vision 2012, the machine vision trade show held in Stuttgart, Germany (6-8 November).
An additional $5,000 USD will be awarded to a project that best embodies the legacy of Edmund Optics' founder Norman Edmund.
‘This is a very exciting time for us. We are amazed at the breadth and scope of the applications we received from almost every corner of the globe,’ commented Kirsten Bjork-Jones, director of global marketing communications.
After securing more in-depth information about the programmes, the EO selection team will select three award recipients for each region, the Americas, Asia and Europe, based on three criteria: technical merit, the innovative use of optics in a laboratory or research setting, and an emphasis on improvement in quality of life given by the programme.
‘Our award programme supports cutting-edge research while advancing the growing interest in optics at the university level. This programme not only allows us to explore the diverse aspects in our own industry, but also sustain the emergence of technology and sciences that might not otherwise have had a chance to continue if it wasn't for opportunities like EO's grant programme,’ added Bjork-Jones.
The European Research and Innovation Award recipients will be announced 14 September.
