The Scottish Government is to offer the world’s largest prize for innovation in marine renewable energy.

The £10 million Saltire Prize was announced by First Minister Alex Salmond when he addressed the National Geographic Society in Washington as part of Scotland Week. The prize is aimed at driving innovation at the frontiers of clean, green energy.

“With the Saltire Prize, we hope to inspire scientists around the world to combat our most pressing challenge in finding a way to bring more forms of renewable energy online as quickly as possible,” said Salmond.

The first two members of the international prize committee are to be Terry Garcia of the National Geographic Society and Anne Glover, Scotland’s Chief Scientific Adviser.