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£10m marine energy prize unveiled £10m marine energy prize unveiled
(about 3 hours later)
A £10m prize for innovation in renewable marine energy is to be announced by the first minister during his trip to the US. The world's largest prize for marine renewable energy innovation has been announced by the Scottish Government.
Alex Salmond will give more details of the Saltire prize in a Scotland Week event at National Geographic's world headquarters in Washington. The £10m Saltire Prize aims to push the boundaries of research in the global fight against climate change.
He believes the economy could reap huge rewards by sponsoring research in wave and tidal technology. Scottish first minister Alex Salmond unveiled details of the scheme while on a visit to the US.
Mr Salmond will also urge US firms to choose Scotland as a European base. To be eligible for the prize, innovations must be commercially viable and will be demonstrated in Scotland, the government said.
Speaking at the National Geographic Society's world headquarters in Washington, Mr Salmond said the prize would also deliver clear economic benefits at home.
This global initiative is hugely exciting. It puts Scotland at the very heart of the battle against climate change Alex SalmondScottish first minister
"Scotland won the natural lottery with oil and gas in the 1970s and has won it again in its potential for planet-saving renewable energy," he said.
"Our Saltire Prize is a call to action to scientists around the world to help bring the power of the seas around Scotland and indeed the United States, online that much sooner."
It is thought the seas around Scotland could generate a quarter of Europe's tidal power and 10% of the continent's wave energy.It is thought the seas around Scotland could generate a quarter of Europe's tidal power and 10% of the continent's wave energy.
The government hopes its offer of £10m will inspire scientists from across the world to work out new ways of cashing in on marine renewables. The Scottish Government wants half of its electricity from renewable energy by 2020, with a target of 31% by 2011.
It will be the world's biggest prize in marine renewables and it will be treated extraordinarily seriously Alex SalmondFirst Minister class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/7325892.stm">Glenn Campbell's Tartan diary 'Real' solutions
It has been billed as the world's largest single prize for marine power technology. Mr Salmond added: "This global initiative is hugely exciting. It puts Scotland at the very heart of the battle against climate change and builds on our nation's substantial reputation for innovation in the areas of science that matter."
To be eligible for the prize, innovations must be commercially viable and be demonstrated in Scotland. The National Geographic Society's head of global missions, Terry Garcia, was announced as one of the first members of the international prize committee, along with Scotland's chief scientific adviser, Prof Anne Glover.
Mr Salmond told BBC Scotland that he was confident the link-up with National Geographic would ensure entries were attracted from across the world. "The world's oceans are an incredibly valuable global resource in a myriad of ways, and we applaud the Scottish Government's efforts to generate real energy solutions involving marine renewables," said Mr Garcia.
He added: "This is going to have a huge impact. It will be the world's biggest prize in marine renewables and it will be treated extraordinarily seriously. Mr Salmond was criticised by Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen, who said: "Marine renewable technology needs sustained investment, not recycled gimmicks."
"The history of such innovation prizes shows that they repay their investment many, many times over.
"I think it is exciting news and an exciting day for Scottish renewables, and for marine renewables in particular."
But Mr Salmond was criticised by Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen, who said: "Marine renewable technology needs sustained investment, not recycled gimmicks."