Google is on the hunt for new talent

Under the internet search giant's Code Jam competition, entrants will have to crack "some of the toughest computer coding challenges around".

Contestants will first compete online for 500 places in the first round and then 200 spots in the second round.

A total of 50 finalists will then be flown to Dublin for the final deciders.

Talent spotting

Google said it hoped the competition would enable it to find and attract top engineering talent to its growing number of European research and development centres.

"Code Jam is one of the many ways we try and support engineering, programming and computer science communities around the world," said Google's UK engineering site director.

"This new European competition is one way for us to engage with smart people who enjoy solving problems.

"It's a fun way of finding, rewarding, and potentially recruiting some of those people to Google."

Registration for the Code Jam competition is open for the first three weeks of May.

Details of how to enter are available at Google's Code Jam website.