As someone who has to go through a lot of international press releases, I always admire the precise, no-nonsense wording of a proper German missive. "Outline your innovative competence by participating in [our] award," reads the brief for the MATERIALICA Design + Technology Award 2012. If the language doesn't tell you these guys ain't playing around, the entry fee will: 190 Euros if you enter by May 31st (though students get a break with a mere 25 Euro ante).

So what are the MD+T Awards? The eight-year-old competition is meant to "demonstrate the importance of materials for industrial design-oriented applications" and is broken into four categories:Material

This central award category focuses on materials and material systems, the properties of which meet the demands of tailored technical and design applications. Construction and functional materials from all materials classes (plastics, metals, glass, ceramics, natural materials, semiconductors, and composites) may be submitted in this category. A material sample indicating the most important material properties and the scope of applications is required for the jury session.

Surface & Technology

This category focuses on new surfaces and their manufacturing processes. Descriptive text for jury session: Description of the surface or manufacturing process, supported by a material or product sample.

Product

In this category, products from all industrial an design branches may be submitted on the condition that they are already subject to (serial) production or in which new or already known materials or material properties have been used in an innovative way. The original product or—in the case of large submissions—a scale model is required for jury evaluation.

CO2 Efficiency

For this category, materials, products, surfaces, technologies, or methods may be submitted that reduce CO2 emissions demonstrably. This may be achieved by means of saving materials in components or by reducing energy input during the manufacturing process or processing. However, the saving of resources, recycling, or reduction of manufacturing steps can also contribute actively to a greener environment. CO2 efficiency has to be outlined reasonably for jury evaluation.

There is no cash prize, but award winners receive publicity, publication, prestige and participation in the MATERIALICA Design Show held in October of this year in Munich. And just remember that if you decide not to enter, it will be viewed as nothing less than you concealing your innovative incompetence.

Download competition details here.