Wavelet performances differ from one application to another and from one database to another. In this case, one can try to find out for each application the appropriate wavelet transform which results in better performances and consumes minimal resources once implemented on an FPGA platform. Accordingly, we use a generic lifting wavelet transform with p0 and q parameters. Thus, we train the optimisation process with a multi-objective genetic algorithm for optimising wavelet transform with respect to specific applications. Optimised criteria are related to wavelet regularity and the undertaken application performances. We consider pattern recognition and image compression applications processed respectively on ORL database and a fingerprint database. Compared with DB 4 and DB 9/7, the improvement of the criterion related to the application reaches 17 % for pattern recognition application and preserves, approximately, the same values for still image compression in addition to the minimisation of the hardware cost.