Regulations

Download regulations of the competition

The SIVAL competition awards the following prizes: SIVAL GOLD Medal/ SIVAL SILVER Medal and SIVAL BRONZE Medal
As well as the GOLD, SILVER, and BRONZE trophies for the VARIETAL INNOVATION category
These regulations set out the relevant competition rules.

Article 1

Every year, the SIVAL Trade Show’s organising committee holds the SIVAL INNOVATION competition, open exclusively, and free of charge, to companies and manufacturers exhibiting at the show.
The Varietal Innovation category is open, free of charge, to companies exhibiting at the trade show but also to non-exhibiting European businesses for a separate, additional, administrative fee, as stated on the on-line competition registration form http://www.sival-innovation.fr/espace-exposants/

Organiser’s address:
SPL ALTEC – DESTINATION ANGERS – SIVAL
Route de Paris
49044 ANGERS CEDEX 01
Telephone: +33 (0)2 41 93 40 40
Contact person: Elodie HURBIN – elodie.hurbin@destination-angers.com

Article 2

This competition rewards equipment, products and services, exhibited during SIVAL, with one or more of the following qualities:
• highly innovative when compared to existing approaches
• beneficial for the sector
• offer sustainable development benefits: environmental, societal and economic benefits
• high quality of technical supporting statements, results of experiments conducted by third parties

All products and services submitted must have launched commercially after the 1st of February 2023.

A project submitted to a previous SIVAL Innovation competition can not be re-submitted a second time unless explicitly requested by the jury.

The Varietal Innovation Award rewards varieties exhibited during the SIVAL trade show that demonstrate advances in one or more of the following areas:
• innovation (originality, innovation, benefits for sector)
• impact on sustainable development (environment: inputs, disease resistance etc./ savings: impact for seed companies and growers, benefit of new variety compared with varieties already on the market etc./ social: impact on employment, impact on geographical location of business)
• seed quality, method of production and selection method used.
• Technical and scientific relevance of supporting statement.

For the category ‘Varietal innovation’, the products must be registered with the CTPS European catalogue.

The SIVAL prizes are: the SIVAL GOLD medal, the SIVAL SILVER medal, the SIVAL BRONZE medal for the 6 following categories:

– PLANT, SOIL, AND GROWING MEDIA HEALTH
– PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT
– MACHINES AND AUTOMATION
– MARKETING SOLUTIONS
– DIGITAL TOOLS, DATA PROCESSING
– COLLECTIVE APPROACH AND SERVICES

The Varietal Innovation category is rewarded in GOLD, SILVER, and BRONZE.

One SIVAL GOLD medal and/or one SIVAL SILVER medal and/or one SIVAL BRONZE medal may be awarded for each category. Should conditions in one of the categories make it difficult to have only one winner, the Jury panel may award a second SIVAL GOLD medal or several SIVAL SILVER / BRONZE medals in addition to the SIVAL GOLD medal.
The panel may also choose to award only one or more SIVAL SILVER or BRONZE medal, yet no GOLDEN SIVAL nor any prize in one category.

Article 3

Entrants can submit projects within the following categories (see article 5 of the current ruling for further clarification), given below:
There are seven categories:

• VARIETAL INNOVATION
Seeds and plants
• PLANT, SOIL, AND GROWING MEDIA HEALTH
Biocontrol, biostimulant, fertiliser, mulch, and other solutions for plant and soil health.
• PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT
• Supplies, small equipment, and production infrastructure (pre-marketing)
• MACHINES AND AUTOMATION
Motorised machine and machine optimisation equipment
• MARKETING SOLUTIONS
Marketing strategies, packaging, and other supplies and small materials
• DIGITAL TOOLS, DATA PROCESSING
Digital applications, decision support tools (DST), modelling, traceability, recognition
• COLLECTIVE APPROACH AND SERVICES
Support, facilitation, and sharing solutions from production to marketing.

The “Collective approach” category seeks to reward an innovation resulting from the collaborative efforts of several public and/or private individuals, for the benefit of the sector (information, promotion, certification, pooling etc.)

The Varietal Innovation category, sponsored by VEGEPOLYS VALLEY and Réussir Fruits & Légumes was created to reward one or more varieties among the submitted entries.

Article 4

Every SIVAL exhibitor who wants to apply for the competition, across all categories must submit their entry to the organising committee.
The submission of applications is done in 2 phases:

  • Phase 1 (required to access phase 2): submission of the application before October 2, 2024, midnight
  • Phase 2 (if phase 1 is completed): if necessary, it is possible to finalise the submission with all the elements until midnight on October 14.
    SIVAL reserves the right to interrupt, change, shorten or extended competition dates, or even cancel the competition, without being held liable for any such action.
    In this event, relevant information will be sent by email to all exhibitors.

Entries must include all relevant technical data about the equipment or service presented well as a supporting statement, setting the project out against the criteria stated in article 2.

Applications should be submitted online, via the website, www.sival-innovation.com and should be organised as follows:
• An application
• A description of the product or service
• A marketing brochure
• A supporting statement

The exhibitor can register a “Rough copy” of their project and then make as many changes as necessary before sending a final copy to the SIVAL organisation for consideration.
The exhibitor can send a printed file and/or send it by email in pdf format.
Once the file has been definitively approved by the SIVAL organisation and posted online, entrants will receive a registration confirmation by email. Only entrants that comply with this regulation will be considered for the competition.
SIVAL – SPL ALTEC – DESTINATION ANGERS would like to remind entrants of the nature and limitations of the Internet and is not responsible for any consequences arising from problems of network connections to www.sival-innovation.com, due to traffic, error, malicious interference or computer hardware or software malfunction…or any force majeure event.
SIVAL – SPL ALTEC – DESTINATION ANGERS will not be held liable for any direct or indirect damage to any part of the entry and relevant stored data, and any consequences that may arise as a result of such damage.

A project can be refused by the SIVAL committee if the equipment or service is not seemed sufficiently innovative regarding the criteria set out in article 2.
Entries that do not adhere to the format specified in the current regulations, will not be taken into consideration and shall be deemed null and void.
Any entry that does not satisfy the eligibility criteria, is incomplete or provides incorrect, or even fraudulent, information will be refused.

Article 5

Each exhibitor can submit several competition entries, up to a maximum of 2. However, you cannot enter the same project in multiple categories.

All project headings must be completed, and entries should be as concise as possible.
However, any additional documentation (photograph, test report, certification etc.) will be gratefully received.

Exhibitors entering the competition are not obliged to reveal trade secrets or know-how, unless they have patent protection.

Article 6

Before submitting their application, entrants must ensure that their intellectual and industrial property rights are well protected and that the corresponding patents have been filed.
All entrants must assert that they legitimately hold the intellectual and industrial property rights related to the projects presented in the competition and shall indemnify the organiser SIVAL – SPL ALTEC – DESTINATION ANGERS against any action, claim, demand, or opposition from a third party invoking an intellectual property right or an act of unfair and/or parasitic competition.

In this regard, entrants are informed that the validity of a patent is notably conditioned by the novelty of the invention, so that any disclosure to a third party not bound by a confidentiality obligation before its filing constitutes a prior disclosure that destroys the novelty and can invalidate the patent, it being specified that the novelty of the invention is assessed on the date of filing the patent application.
To this end, and insofar as the project must be exhibited at the entrant’s stand in accordance with Article 9 of these regulations, any entrant who does not hold a patent for their project cannot hold the organiser responsible for the invalidity of any patent application that may be filed after the SIVAL Exhibition.

By entering the competition, entrants agree to honour the following:
• to ensure the truthfulness and veracity of the information provided
• to declare if they do not have sole ownership of intellectual property rights and, if applicable,
• to ensure that when the intellectual property rights are held by a third party, entrants must ensure they have first obtained the explicit authorisation of said third party as well as any certification necessary to use and exploit the product/service, before submitting their competition entry.

During the evaluation phase of the entrants’ files, the jury commits to maintaining the confidentiality of the information provided.
At the end of this phase and after deliberation, information about the project may be freely communicated.

Article 7

Selection process for prize-winners:

  • 1st phase :
    Each project will be submitted to an expert, chosen for his expertise, and specialising in the relevant field, who will formulate an opinion about: the degree of innovation, the advantages and benefits of the solution. This opinion will act as an additional source of information for the judging panel.
  • 2nd phase :

During the second half of November 2024, a preliminary Jury, consisting of technology institutes, scientific establishments from the Plant Cluster, professional, economic and prevention and management organisations will set out their initial findings. A number of projects will then be shortlisted, and officially “nominated” by the panel. The nominees will be announced at the end of November 2024 and names released to the public and media.

  • 3rd phase :
    The nominated projects will then be submitted to the final Judging Panel, made up of journalists, producers, technicians, and a few members of SIVAL’s Organising Committee. The Final Judging Panel will meet during the first two weeks of December 2024 and decide on the allocation of SIVAL GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE awards.

Article 8

The Judging Panels have sole authority. Decisions made by the Pre-selection Panel and Final Judging Panel are not subject to appeal. The deliberations of the Judging Panels are confidential.
All decisions are discretionary, and the judging panel is under no obligation to justify their decisions.
Entrants must understand and accept that their decisions are not subject to appeal.

The Pre-Selection and Final Judging Panels have the right to establish the legitimacy of documents and supporting statements provided by competition entrants.
In addition, the final Judging Panel may choose not to make an award in one or other category if they believe that none of the competing products or services merit such an award.
Outstanding businesses will receive a trophy which will be awarded during the SIVAL 2025 trade show.

Article 9

Any product or service that is entered for this competition or award must be displayed at the exhibitors stand during SIVAL.
The results will be made public after the meeting of the final judging panel. A formal awards ceremony will take place during the trade show. The names of winners will be released to the press.

Article 10

The prize-winning exhibitors and their employees can publicize their award at their stand and on other occasions after their event, clearly stating the specific elements that were recognised. Official SIVAL award stickers will be sent in PDF form to the prize winners for display.

By entering the competition or winning an award, entrants authorise the organisers to use their names/titles in association with their brand(s)/product(s) and the SIVAL INNOVATION competition, without any restriction on time or place, and without entitling the entrant to any rights other than the prize awarded.

Competition entrants undertake to comply with the following obligations:

• to grant SIVAL – SPL ALTEC – DESTINATION ANGERS permission, in advance, to publish its name, company name, the name of its legal representatives, professional address and photographs as part of the publicity linked to the SIVA competition and trade show;
• to accord SIVAL – SPL ALTEC – DESTINATION ANGERS the express and unconditional right to take photographs and any other type of captured image of its business, key players and products during the competition, and to use them for the purposes of publicity related to the competition and the SIVAL trade show, for the duration of the competition, without entitling the entrant to any rights other than the prize awarded.
• to accord SIVAL – SPL ALTEC – DESTINATION ANGERS the express and unconditional right to use, exploit, publish, reproduce, disseminate, redistribute, in whole or in part, using any type of medium (brochures, websites, articles, posters, videos, small multi-media objects etc. or any other technique, as yet unknown), and in any place whatsoever, any sound or visual recording made by the entrant, without entitling the entrant to any rights other than the prize awarded.
• to accord SIVAL – SPL ALTEC – DESTINATION ANGERS the express and unconditional right to use the result of its competition entry, name, image, voice or any other aspect pertaining to the person or application in question, whether reproducible or not, by currently available or future means, at the sole discretion of SIVAL-Angers Exhibition Centre.
• to grant SIVAL – SPL ALTEC – DESTINATION ANGERS permission to transfer all or some of the rights set out in the previous paragraphs to a third party or to grant a licence to use these rights to a third party, for the purposes of promoting the trade show, SIVAL – SPL ALTEC – DESTINATION ANGERS, its business activities, the Angers conurbation and/or the Pays de la Loire region, amongst others.
• to undertake to give due consideration to proposals for any PR-related activity initiated by SIVAL – SPL ALTEC – DESTINATION ANGERS partners.
• to undertake to attend, or be duly represented at, the competition awards ceremony.

Article 11

Entrants are obliged to provide some personal information when submitting their application.

This information submitted to SIVAL – SPL ALTEC – DESTINATION ANGERS / SIVAL INNOVATION Competition may be disclosed to third parties within the context of the competition and used for various purposes connected with: processing of applications, competition follow-up, event publicity, responding to requests made by any competent authority etc.

In accordance with the Data Protection Act of 6th January 1978, all competition entrants have the right to access, amend, correct, or erase any data that many concern them.

To exercise this right, you need to write to the Exhibition Organizing Committee at the address given in Article 1.

Article 12

Participation in this competition, implies full acceptance of these rules and any decisions, relating to any aspect of the competition, all of which will be final and binding. Any fraudulent act, or more generally any violation of all or any part of the current regulations, will result in disqualification and permanent exclusion from the competition.

Article 13

Competition Prizes:

Gold and Silver Medal Winners – Across all categories

1 trophy

1 €300 (excl. VAT) discounts on stand fees for the next SIVAL edition

1 communication pack worth €2,500 (excl. VAT) including:

  • Your product highlighted on the competition homepage from mid December 2024 until the launch of the competition for the next edition in June.
  • At least 3 posts on our social network pages (Facebook and LinkedIn)
  • Your prize highlighted on the web directory of exhibitors
  • Winning companies highlighted on the map.
  • Press articles
  • Innovative projects promoted at partner events (if applicable)
  • Specific signs on your stand (“Lauréat Concours SIVAL Innovation” badge)

 

Bronze Medal Winners – Across all categories

1 trophy

1 communication pack worth €2,500 (excl. VAT) including:

  • Your product highlighted on the competition homepage from mid December 2024 until the launch of the competition for the next edition in June.
  • At least 3 posts on our social network pages (Facebook and LinkedIn)
  • Your prize highlighted on the web directory of exhibitors.
  • Winning companies highlighted on the map.
  • Press articles
  • Innovative projects promoted at partner events (if applicable)
  • Specific signs on your stand (“Lauréat Concours SIVAL Innovation” badge)

 

 

Nominated Participants

1 communication pack worth €2,500 (excl. VAT) including:

  • Your product highlighted on the competition homepage from the end of November 2024 until winners are announced in mid-December, then highlighted on internal pages and on a specific page until the launch of the competition for the next edition in June.
  • At least 2 posts on our social network pages (Facebook and LinkedIn)
  • Your prize highlighted on the web directory of exhibitors
  • Nominated companies highlighted on the show map
  • Specific signs on your stand (“Nominé Concours SIVAL Innovation” badge on your stand sign)
  • Press articles and list of nominated participants in the final competition press release (sent out mid-December)

Article 14

Pursuant to the provisions of the 78-17 Law of January 6, 1978 and the 2016/679 EU Regulation, April 27, 2016, each candidate has the right to access, rectify or erase any personal data, the right to restrict or object to their processing, and the right to data portability.

To exercise this right, simply write to the show’s organisers at the address mentioned in Article 1.

Article 15

The current regulations have been filed by:
Maître Alain Maingot, Judicial Officer
25 Boulevard Victor Beaussier
49000 Angers – FRANCE

Article 16

The current regulations are subject to French law.

All requests for information or registration packs, as well as submission of files, must be made via the website www.sival-innovation.com