In 2008, Atlanta will host the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair -- the largest pre-college science competition in the world.

But local organizers, who have been fundraising since 2005, need $1.5 million by the end of the year to proceed. So far, they've received $200,000 in commitments for the fair, which is expected to be held May 11-16 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

The event, title-sponsored by Silicon Valley giant Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC), isn't kids' play. It's expected to bring in thousands of visitors from around the world, a direct $10.4 million impact, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development. And more important, it's a chance to showcase Atlanta as a tech-savvy city, says technology veteran and Atlanta host committee chairman Bill Dodd.

"It's a major opportunity for Atlanta to raise its awareness," said Dodd, who also is president of PurDigital Media Inc., a provider of communication services to high-density dwellings.

Dodd says the recent string of acquisitions has hurt fundraisers' efforts. In years' past, he says, it would have been easier to get a major donation from Georgia-Pacific LLC, BellSouth Corp. or Scientific Atlanta Inc. But those companies have since been bought out and are now led by CEOs in other states.

"There's no doubt acquisitions have a lot to do with it," said Dodd.

Students will compete for more than $4 million in scholarships and other prizes and will get a chance to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Delta Air Lines Inc.'s flight operations and GE Energy's renewable energy labs.

Of the 1,500 competitors, 30 are expected to hail from Georgia. And they all are encouraged to bring their research to the next level -- nearly 20 percent of the high schoolers have filed patents for their work.

Handling the fundraising is Atlanta-based Coxe, Curry & Associates. The theme of the event focuses on the pursuit of science to protect the environment.

If you have news for Technology, contact Justin Rubner at (404) 249-1078; fax, (404) 249-1058; or at jrubner@bizjournals.com.