Applications and proposals are being accepted for the international 2008 Berthold Leibinger Innovationspreis ("innovation prize") for outstanding research and development in applied laser technology. The private foundation Berthold Leibinger Stiftung GmbH of Ditzingen, Germany, has granted the prize for innovations in the application or generation of laser light in any field biennially since 2000. A total of €35,000 (about $50,000) is awarded to the three winners (first prize €20,000, second prize €10,000 and third prize €5000). Nominees will present their work during a foundation jury session in April 2008. Winning innovations in the past include new sources of laser light, such as disk and fiber lasers; laser scalpels for lung cancer surgery; and a new microscopy procedure for cell research. In 2006 first place was awarded to Karin and Raimund Schütze, founders of PALM Microlaser Technologies GmbH, a subsidiary of Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH, for their development of new laser technology for biomedical research. Berthold Leibinger, who established the foundation, is chairman of the supervisory board of Trumpf GmbH + Co. KG in Ditzingen. The deadline for applications is Nov. 30; for more information or to apply for the 2008 Berthold Leibinger Innovationspreis, visit: www.leibinger-stiftung.de
