The 2015 rules and regulations of the Théophile Legrand Prize

Regulations of the 2015 Théophile Legrand International Prize for Textile Innovation

ARTICLE 1 – AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Following the establishment of the Institut de France’s Théophile Legrand Foundation in 2007 by Dominique and Christian Cambier, The Théophile Legrand International Prize for Textile Innovation has annually awarded two prizes for original contributions to textile innovation since 2009. In 2015, two different prices for the same amount: "The Théophile Legrand International Prize for Textile Innovation in the service industry" and "The Théophile Legrand International Prize for Textile Innovation at the service of man” will be awarded to researchers, PhD students or engineering students under study contract, who will show the ability to invent the ‘textile of tomorrow’, the original creation of fabrics and fibres or new ways of industrial textile production. Entrants are permitted to submit current work in progress. By enlightening technical or industrial creations, the aim of the prize is to facilitate and support innovations in the textile industry and research, capturing the spirit of imagination and competition.

We define textile innovation as: What defines the creation and invention of a new product, either a new application, configuration or amendment to an already existing product with the use of supple materials or advanced textiles. The product will open up markets and be of commercial value through responding to consumer and business needs appropriately as far as textile innovation and advancement is concerned. We define a ‘supple material’ when possessing flexible properties which can be easily manipulated, bent and folded without breaking.

An innovative textile design project can be submitted for consideration if the entrant or team of researchers is able to prove that the project, product and the invention of newly used elements are of their own work. Selection criteria are the same for inventors of new textile fabrics as well as those innovators of new processes of textile production. To this effect, all entrants are judged on their creativity, originality, innovation to the field and the project’s ability to be industrially reproduced. 

ARTICLE 2 - ORGANISATION

The 2015 Prize is organised by the Théophile Legrand Foundation, Institute de France and its coordinator Paul Schuler, under the authority of the Union des Industries Textiles, trade association representing the diversity branches and French textile regions (Clichy - F- 92110).

 It is eagerly supported by AUTEX (Association of Universities for Textiles - Pakistan / Australia/ Europe / China / USA / Russia / Japan /) ; The Union of Textile Industries (UIT) ; The Organisation of Technical textile Manufacturers of France and Belgium (CLUBTEX) ; IFM (The French Institute of Fashion) ; IFTH (French Institute of Textiles and Clothing), Clusters French textile competitiveness of the European Technology Platform of Textiles and clothing, textile engineers French schools (GEMTEX laboratories, Roubaix ; Duflot Industrie, Astirum EADS, Tenthorey, Prigest and the following National Colleges : The National College of Arts and Textiles, Roubaix ; School of Enigineering, Lille ; The Institute of Technology and Chemistry, Lyon ; and the National College of Engineers, Sud Alsace) ; the Department of Texiltes, Gand University (Gent), Belgium ;  as well as the eco-museum of Avesnois and the Association “Escapades Sambre-Avesnoises”.

 ARTICLE 3 – SELECTION CRITERIA

The following are not eligible for consideration: Winners of the 2013 Théophile Legrand Prize, members of the organisation committee, laboratories or organisations involved in or sitting on the judging panel.

 There are three stages to the process:

1 - Verification of a candidate’s eligibility (undertaken by the co-ordinator of the 2015 competition) beforeJanuary31, 2015

2 - Nominations to a committee of experts chaired by the Union des Industries Textiles beginning in February 2015
3 - Selection of winners by the jury chaired by Dominique and Christian Cambier March 4, 2015
4 - Validation of the winners by the Board of Directors of the Foundation and the Institute of France between 6 and 9 March 2015

Applications by Email only must be submitted before January 31st 2015 to: theophile-legrand@hotmail.fr.

Following submission, the co-ordinator of the 2015 Prize will email back a confirmation of receipt notification.

All additional documentation that cannot be scanned (fabrics, prototypes etc.) must be posted to the following address:

Prix Théophile Legrand de l’Innovation Textile - Paul Schuler / Agence SP&C - B.P. 40 035 - 59 612 Fourmies Cedex -France

To be considered, candidates must meet the following criteria:

-         This international competition is open to researchers, postgraduate researchers (PhDs) and Masters Students.

-         The idea / invention proposed must be feasible and able to be reproduced under realistic conditions. Its purpose and function must be recognised or easily identifiable.

-         To be accepted, the proposed project should not be commercialized.

-         It is imperative that candidates maintain a high standard of submission of application both in the quality of images and in the formatting of documents (High Quality photographs, presentations etc...).

-         Entries can be from an individual candidate or a researcher team.

Textile projects should meet the following criteria:

- Be original.

- Be innovative.

- Marketable

If a prototype exists, it must be presented at the prize-giving ceremony.

ARTICLE 4 – CANDIDATES’ APPLICATION DOSSIER

Dossiers are to be submitted in French or English. The following information must be included at the bottom right hand corner of each page: Candidate’s name / The name of the project / The 2015 Théophile Legrand International Prize for Textile Innovation

 Every application dossier must include the following documents:

-         Cover letter. with the selected class accordingly: Either "textile innovation in the service of man" or "textile innovation for the industry"

-         An extended CV of the candidate.

-         The name of the invention by the Candidate.

-         Comprehensive list of all previously achieved works and / or research projects (max. 5 pages).

-         Photos, illustrations or videos illustrating the project.

-         Contact details for all businesses or partners associated / affiliated with the development of the design and / or prototype.

-         A letter of guarantee, certificate of authentication of the project signed by the laboratory manager / director.

-         If applicable, a list detailing all publications of already completed works / projects (reports, articles, etc...)

ARTICLE 5 – COMPOSITION OF JUDGING PANEL

Winners are decided by a jury composed of representatives of the Théophile Legrand Foundation - Institut de France, the Union of Textile Industries, the French Textile and Clothing Institute, the French Institute of Fashion and experts in the field of research, industry and textile innovation.

ARTICLE 6 – JUDGES’ DECISION

Participation in this international competition confirms an understanding and acceptance of the current terms and conditions as well as acceptance of the Jury’s selection criteria as outlined in Article 2.

The selection committee will be meeting in February 2015 in Paris.

The decisions of the Jury are subject to the approval of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, presided over by Gabriel de Brogile, Chancellor of the Institut de France.

The Board of Directors will convene before the end of March 2015. The decision of the Board, Judges and experts is final and the board does not have to to justify his decision.

The two winners will be announced in writing 48 hours after the deliberation and will be transferred to candidates and partners of the 2015 Prize for textile innovation.

ARTICLE 7 – TOTAL VALUE OF PRIZES

The "Théophile Legrand Innovation Award Textile Service Industry": 8 000 Euros.

The “Théophile Legrand International Prize for Textile Innovation at the service of man”: 8 000 Euros.

Prize winners are free to use the prize money as they see fit on the understanding that it will promote and advance their project.

Prize winners must clearly display the following attribution on all communication linked to their project for a minimum of two years: « Lauréat de la Fondation Théophile Legrand – Institut de France »

ARTICLE 8 – PRESENTATION OF PRIZES

- The "Théophile Legrand Innovation Award Textile Service Industry" will be presented Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at the Conference Centre "Capital 8", 32 rue de Monceau in Paris (F - 75).
- The "Théophile Legrand Textile Innovation Award at the service of man" will be presented Saturday, March 21 at the museum of Avesnois textile museum and social life, Maria Place Blondeau, Fourmies (F - 59).

Prize winners will commit to being present for the ceremony and receipt of the prize where they must show a multimedia presentation of their project.

ARTICLE 9 - COMMUNICATION – THE MEDIA AND DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION

Candidates take full responsibility for the accuracy of all information provided through the course of their project and the work they produce and may be subject to a demand of justification by members of the judging panel. Candidates must declare that they are the authors and owners of the work. The Foundation reserves the right to engage in media coverage of the prize, particularly through the press.

 Candidates will give permission in advance for the Fondation Théophile Legrand – Institut de France to use their name and to publically present their projects, using whatever means the Foundation sees appropriate, including public exhibitions and promotional information in relation to the prize, excluding the additional future opportunities and subsequent rights of the prize winner resulting from the prize award as detailed in article 7.

 For the purposes of the competition, candidates waive all copyright of, and agree to the distribution of, any photographs and videos taken at the award ceremony. Winners agree in advance to the Fondation Théophile Legrand – Institut de France reporting on the projects as detailed in their application dossier. Which means, candidates must expressly inform the Foundation of any documents or information that they want to remain confidential. The organisers accept no responsibility for any claims made by a third party.

ARTICLE 10 - CONFIDENTIALITY

All content of documentation received by the candidate as well as discussions pertaining to the decision making of the judging panel will remain strictly confidential. The judging panel together with any person who has come in contact with any information pertaining to the candidate’s project will treat the information in the strictest confidentiality particularly as far as specific details and content of the concerned project. .All members of the judging panel will sign a clause of confidentiality.

ARTICLE 11 –INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Candidates remain the sole owners of any project entered for consideration in this competition. Ultimate responsibility concerning the protection of their projects remains with the candidate. Candidates will ensure that they take all appropriate action to protect the intellectual property of the work they submit to the competition. The Foundation will accept no responsibility in the event of any loss of intellectual property in relation to a candidate’s project / innovation.

 Intellectual property rights pertaining to the creation, concept or inventions included in the application dossier remains the exclusive property of the candidates. The judging panel and competition organisers will not be held responsible for any publication of a candidate’s protected work by a third party or by the candidate.

 Candidates solemnly swear to be the owners of the copyrights attached to their projects and will be able to demonstrate these rights to the organisers of the Théophile Legrand International Prize for Textile innovation in the event that these rights are brought into question at any stage of the competition.

 ARTICLE 12 – LOGISTICS

The coordinator of the competition will take full responsibility for the travel and hotel expenses of the two prize winners of the 2015 Théophile Legrand International Prize for Textile innovation. Prize winners and a guest of their choice will have free entry to the event.

ARTICLE 13 – LEGAL OBLIGATION

Protection of personal information: all participants are advised that all personal information provided is correct and is necessary for successful entry to the competition. Participants should be aware that any information provided will be verified by the competition organisers.

 As stipulated in Article 27 of the Freedom of Information Act (No. 78-17 – January 6^th 1978), participants have the right to access and correction of any personal information in writing to the co-ordinator of the Théophile Legrand International Prize for Textile Innovation.

 A full copy of all rules and regulations pertaining to the competition is housed at the Institut de France in Paris. These rules and regulations are available in full from the coordinator of the Prize and of the Institut de France, or by visiting the Foundation’s website at: www.theophilelegrand.com or the Théophile Legrand Prize’s blog at: www.prixtheophilelegrand.com.

The current competition has been accepted as fully compliant with French law.

ARTICLE 14 - MODIFICATION AND CANCELLATION

The organisers reserve the right to modify or cancel the 2015 Prize due to unforeseen circumstances or as a result of external circunstances to the Prize and beyond its control without prior notice.

 Organisers will not be held responsible for the loss of any information via post or in email, problems in getting information / dossiers to the Foundation or any lapses on the candidate’s part that would prevent them taking part or that would necessarily limit their participation (such as, for example, internet failure, messaging failure, social networking failures).

ARTICLE 15 – CANDIDATE’S RESPONSIBILITY

All candidates accept and agree to abide by all of the above terms and conditions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / CONTACT:

 Paul Schuler, Coordinator of the 2015 Théophile Legrand International Prize for Textile Innovation

Phone: + 33 (0)6 62 85 60 11 (Mobile) or + 33 (0)3 27 60 73 96 (Land line) / Email: theophile-legrand@hotmail.fr

Postal Address: Prix Théophile Legrand - Paul Schuler / Agence SP&C - B.P. 40 035 - 59 612 Fourmies Cedex - France

Website: www.theophilelegrand.com 

Emmanuelle Butaud-Stubbs, Union des Industries Textiles

Phone: + 33 01 47 56 31 25

Email: ebutaud@textile.fr / Postal Address: 37-39 rue de Neuilly, 92110 Clichy / / Website: www.textile.fr

Louis de Genouillac, Institut de France 

Phone: + 33 (0)1 44 41 44 20 (Land line) / Email: l.degenouillac@institut-de-france.fr

Postal Address: Les Fondations de l'Institut de France – 23 quai Conti – 75 270 Paris Cedex 06 / Website: www.institut-de-france.fr

 Website : www.theophilelegrand.com

Regulations of the 2015 Théophile Legrand International Prize for Textile Innovation : Regulations of the 2015 TLIPTI.pdf