The Scottish Government has now received 100 registrations of interest to compete for the Saltire Prize from scientists and businesses across 23 countries and five continents, First Minister Alex Salmond said.

The First Minister was speaking from Beijing where he met Professor Lu Yongxiang, President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and one of the eleven esteemed Saltire Prize challenge committee members.

The Scottish Governments £10m Saltire Prize is one of the biggest international Government innovation prizes in history. It represents Scotland's energy challenge to the world - a challenge to the brightest and best minds worldwide to unleash their talents and push the frontiers of innovation in green marine energy.

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Following his meeting with Professor Lu on Friday, the First Minister said: "Already, 100 parties from 23 countries have registered their interest in our competition to tackle one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century.

"Overseen by a committee of leading experts such as the world-renowned Professor Lu, the Saltire Prize will support technological breakthroughs that will help unlock the enormous potential of marine renewable energy and prepare education and skills development to meet the green job demands of the future."

The Saltire Prize will be awarded to the team that can demonstrate in Scottish waters a commercially viable wave or tidal energy technology that achieves a minimum electrical output of 100GWh over a continuous 2 year period using only the power of the sea and is judged to be the best overall technology after consideration of cost, environmental sustainability and safety

Scotland has huge renewable energy potential - 60 GW. Scotland's offshore renewable energy source has the potential to provide three quarters of this. Scotland has the potential to produce 25 per cent of Europe's tidal and wind energy.

(GK/KMcA)