70 Nominees have been announced for one of Europe's most coveted technology prizes. At stake – a total of €700,000 in prize money, to be awarded to the winning candidates for the 2007 European I

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. 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.

This year, the judges faced the daunting task of evaluating 450 candidates from 30 countries - an all-time record for the 13 years of the Prize.

For the companies selected, nomination for the Prize is an endorsement of their technological and business potential. It boosts their commercial prospects and helps attract finance for their business ventures. The Nominees also compete for a share in that €700,000 prize money.

Germany can be particularly proud with sixteen companies among the 70 candidates nominated: A3M, Biometronix, Byometric Systems, Fraunhofer Inst For Telecomm, hello2morrow, ipoque, itWatch, jCOM1, Netviewer, Océ Document Technologies, SYMTAVISION, ubitexx, Vmscope, Vrmagic, X-aitment, xThink Deutschland.

The complete list of Nominees is at: www.ict-prize.org

Following further tough evaluations, the judges will propose 20 finalists from among the Nominees. The European Commission will select the Winners and Grand Prize Winners in March, based on the ratings of the judges. Each winner carries off a prize of €5,000. The three Grand Prize Winners each walk away with a cheque for €200,000.

The Grand Prize Winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony, on 16th March. This year, the ceremony takes place, at CeBIT, one of the world's major ICT events, in Hanover, Germany. European Commissioner Viviane Reding will award the prizes.

Follow the European ICT Prize selection process at: www.ict-prize.org. The 20 finalists will be announced on the website on 19 February.

The European Information and Communication Technologies Prize is organised by Euro-CASE* with the support and sponsorship of the European Commission.

*Euro-CASE is a European non-profit organisation of national academies of Engineering, Technologies and Applied Sciences from 20European countries