The prize is awarded to companies for new and imaginative products and services based on information and communications technologies, or "digital technologies." This covers the converging fields of computer, media and communications industries -- considered to be among the driving forces in modern economies.
Following the initial selection in January of 70 nominees from a record-breaking 450 candidates, the judges faced the difficult task of choosing the final 20 companies that will compete for a share of the prize money. The winners and grand prize winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at CeBIT, one of the world's major ICT events, in Hanover, Germany on March 16th.
Germany heads the list of finalists with an impressive 7 representatives, followed by France (4), Austria (3), Sweden (2) and Finland, Israel, Norway and the UK each with 1 finalist.
The Prize is supported by the European Commission as part of its efforts to promote Europe's ICT industry and boost growth. Participation is open to candidates from 33 countries. The Commission will select the winners and grand prize winners in March, based on the ratings of the judges. Prizes will be presented by European Commissioner Viviane Reding at CeBIT on March 16th.
The European Information and Communication Technologies Prize is organized by Euro-CASE -- a European non-profit organization of national academies of engineering, technologies and applied sciences from 20 European countries -- with the support and sponsorship of the European Commission.
