Luxembourg-based steel and mining company ArcelorMittal today announced the launch of its new awards, 'Les Prix des Innovateurs', which will reward those who contribute to the future of the Industry in France.
The Prix will take place annually, rewarding projects leaders who have committed projects to the future of France's industrial sector. As a reward, ArcelorMittal will financially contribute to the development of chosen projects in order to help them be realised, as well as offer its logistic support to the teams.
As each year more efficient production processes and higher performing products are developed, the awards will aim to highlight the innovative potential of the heavy industry sector. ArcelorMittal stated that it intends to use its position as a leading global steelmaker to support a number of industrial innovations which exist in the economy of France, a country chosen to host the company's Research and Development.
The call for projects will be launched online this month, with the application selection process beginning in late 2015 and lasting four months. The final ranking will be determined in the first three months of 2016 and the first edition of the awards ceremony will take place in spring 2016.
The contest will be open to all individual project holders, young entrepreneurs and students holding innovative solutions that hold the potential to have a real impact on society. Selection criteria will involve project ingenuity, maturity, feasibility, potential extensions and quality of presentation.
"As the leading steel company in France, we are a major contributor to industry and innovation in the country," commented Aditya Mittal, CFO and CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe. "Now, with this award we also want to contribute to the growth of the project and business creation ecosystem by providing our support to 'innovators', whether they are students or young entrepreneurs [...] we are particularly proud as well to support its development in another way, by encouraging through this awards scheme the industrial innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow".
