Researcher, engineer, a man of conviction, Jean Jerphagnon, who departed in 2005, was also the founder of the Opticsvalley association, the network for optics, electronics and software engineering technologies and their convergence in the Ile-de-France (greater Paris) region.

Opticsvalley, in conjunction with ten other innovative actors, pays tribute to him by initiating the Jean Jerphagnon Prize that will reward a project of technological innovation and dissemination in optics and photonics in any field of application.

The prize, for the amount of 10,000 euros, will be awarded to a researcher or engineer who has an innovative project of great scientific value or strong industrial potential, having at least one optic or photonic element and is a milestone in his/her career.

The applicant must be at least 40 years of age and will be selected yearly depending on the value of his/her research results, national and international reputation, motivation or the relevance of his/her project.

Application deadline is September 6, 2008. The list of nominees will be published on October 20 and the prize awarded on December 9 at the Collège de France.

To apply, see the Jean Jerphagnon Prize website.