Announcement and participation conditions Rising RESEARCHERS Scientific Innovation AWARD 2024

The company Promega GmbH, located in 69190 Walldorf, Gutenbergring 10, Germany, registered in the Commercial Register under number HRB 7338 Mannheim (hereinafter "Promega"), organizes a competition entitled " Rising Researcher Award " (hereinafter referred to as the "Competition"), published on its website, see https://www.promega.com/en/global-data/promega-worldwide/europe/localized-content/region-pages/rising-researchers/rising-researchers-award/ (hereinafter the "Website").

1. OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the Contest is to select from Promega the best abstract submitted by June, 30 2024 by an Eligible Entrant (see also 2.1.1) that meets the criteria mentioned in 2.1.2 below.  

2. PARTICIPATION

Participation in the competition implies unconditional acceptance of the provisions of these rules. 

2.1. Criteria for participation:

2.1.1 Any natural person of legal age (hereinafter referred to as "Candidate") who is a PhD student in biology, biotechnology, biochemistry and who is a resident of Germany, Austria or Poland is eligible to participate, with the exception of Promega employees and their family members.

2.1.2 Each candidate must propose an abstract to Promega that meets the following cumulative conditions:
• Background: Why? What is the subject of the study?
• Objective: what is to be studied and what is the goal?
• Relevance of the topic: where should the research question lead? What is to be improved? What is the scientific or applied relevance of the topic?
• Methods: How will it be conducted? Are technologies/products from Promega used
• Preliminary results, if available.
• The abstract must meet scientific publication criteria that can be presented or correspond to a scientific publication in a congress or professional medium. 
• The abstract must not exceed 500 words. No illustration is required at this stage.
• The abstract is in English.

2.2. How to submit applications:

2.2.1 To enter the competition, the candidate must complete the form on the website by entering his/her first name, last name, and e-mail and postal address, and the laboratory to which he/she belongs. Receipt of the form by June 30, 2024.

2.2.2 By participating in the competition, the candidate declares that he/she follows internal guidelines of the institution and that he/she may accept the offered prizes, if any.

2.2.3 By participating in the competition, the candidate agrees that his/her data, abstract, video and photo may be published on the Promega website for an indefinite period if nominated. 

2.2.4 Any entry that is incomplete, incorrect, late and/or does not comply with the above conditions of participation will be excluded from the contest.
 
3. SELECTION OF WINNERS

3.1. First step – selection of five nominees:

3.1.1 A selection committee composed of employed Promega scientists (technical support, and product managers) will select 5 nominees. 

3.1.2 This selection committee will select the five nominees based on the criteria outlined in 2.1.2 above.

3.1.3 This committee ensures that each of the 5 nominees are pursuing a student doctorate training (laboratory certification).

3.1.4 The committee will meet between July 1 - July 30, 2024 and notify the 5 nominees by email beginning July 31, 2024. 

3.1.5 The committee will publish the results of the 5 nominees on the website starting October 15, 2024, as well as their abstracts. 

3.2. Second step – selection of the winner of the competition:

3.2.1 From the publication of the list of five nominees and the corresponding abstracts on the Promega website, the nominees have until September 15, 2024, to send Promega a completed questionnaire and, ideally, a video to promote their work. This information will allow a sheet to be created for each nominee with their profile and research project on the Young Researchers Awards website before voting begins on October 15, 2024.

3.2.2 Audience Award/Public Award: each participant in the voting has only one vote. Voting is limited to all NOT Promega scientists. Each scientist/participant may vote for an individual nominee after consulting the nominee's profile on the website. To do so, he/she submits the form provided on the website with his/her first name, last name and email and postal address and the laboratory he/she is affiliated with. Voters must have an academic domain e-mail address.

3.2.3. The voting will end on November 15, 2024.

3.2.4. The nominee with the highest number of votes is the winner. 

3.2.5. The names of the winner will be published on the website on December 06, 2024.


4. PRIZES

4.1.1 The competition has the following prizes: 

1st prizes: a trip to Promega Corp., Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Length of stay not to exceed four days. The stay includes round-trip airfare, a visit to Promega's research and development center in Madison with a meeting of on-site specialists, including transportation, lodging and meals. The value of the amount of the 1st prize may not exceed 4,000 Euros including VAT.

2nd prize: A voucher for Promega products with a net value of 1.500 € (or 6.500 Zloty) net.

3rd prize:  A voucher for Promega products worth 1.000 Euros (or 4.325 Zloty) net.  

4.1.2 The prizes will be delivered to the email address given by the candidates when registering for the contest within a maximum of 6 months after the announcement of the winners.


5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

5.1.1 The candidate retains all intellectual property rights to the abstract he/she proposes to Promega as part of the contest. 
5.1.2 Without prejudice to the foregoing, Promega shall remain the owner of all rights relating to the Promega Technology that is the subject of the Abstract.
5.1.3 In case of infringement of intellectual property rights by the Candidate, Promega reserves the right to exclude such Candidate from the Contest.
5.1.4 The candidate guarantees to be the author of the abstract and guarantees Promega against any third-party claims for infringement.
5.1.5 The candidate transfers to Promega his/her right to use, publish the abstract in a promotional event related to the contest and for subsequent communications about the Promega technology(s) that were the subject of the abstract, without such use being able to establish any rights other than the prize he/she won. 

6. DISCLAIMER

6.1.1 Promega reserves the right to shorten, lengthen, postpone, or cancel the Contest at any time if circumstances so require or in case of force majeure. It cannot be held liable for this fact. In case of unavailability, Promega reserves the right to replace the prize won with an equivalent prize and similar features.
6.1.2 Promega declines any responsibility in case of misuse or incident related to the use of the computer, Internet access, other technical connection or sending forms to an incorrect or incomplete address, as well as for any damage that may occur to the winners during the use or enjoyment of their prize (the winners).

7. PERSONAL DATA OF THE CANDIDATE

7.1.1 In accordance with the applicable law and the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Candidates have the right to access, rectify and delete their personal data by writing to the following address: privacyteamEU@promega.com or by filling in the opt-in form provided for this purpose on the Promega website https://www.promega.de/legal/gdpr.

7.1.2 Use of the collected data for advertising purposes
The collected data is intended for Promega and may be used for commercial advertising purposes - promotions in the media, social networks, Promega website or non-Promega media, unless the candidate objects by indicating this at the time of participation.

8. MISCELLANEOUS

8.1.1 The full contest rules are available on the website.

9. APPLICABLE LAW AND DISPUTES

9.1.1 This regulation is governed by German law.

9.1.2 Any fraud or violation by a candidate of any of the provisions of these rules may automatically lead to his/her exclusion from the contest by Promega. The latter reserves the right to take legal action against him/her if necessary. Such exclusion, for whatever reason, will result in the cancellation of the candidacy of the candidate concerned and of his/her possible winnings.