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Solve pressing science, technological, and policy problems and make innovation happen. Apply your expertise, stretch your creative boundaries, and win cash awards ranging from $5,000 to $1 million — all the while helping advance human progress and making the world a better place...
All Challenge postings and submissions are managed by InnoCentive.
Adam Rivers
Solver since 2012
Manish M. Pande
Solver since 2009
Lilly Fang
Solver since 2012
FEATURED CHALLENGE:
The Geoffrey Beene Foundation Alzheimer’s Initiative (GBFAI) is launching the 2013 Geoffrey Beene Global NeuroDiscovery Challenge whose goal is to identify male/female differences in the pathogenesis and presentation of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the pre-symptomatic, early symptomatic and late stages of AD. The objective of this Challenge is to generate novel hypotheses addressing the causes and consequences of such differences. The Solvers are also expected to provide a rationale supported by available data and a detailed research plan describing how to test the hypothesis. Of particular interest are hypotheses that can be validated in a secondary phase by mining existing AD databases for analysis of variables associated with biologic male/female differences in AD.
This Challenge requires only a written proposal.
The Geoffrey Beene Foundation Alzheimer’s Initiative (GBFAI) is launching the 2013 Geoffrey Beene Global NeuroDiscovery Challenge whose goal is to identify male/female differences in the pathogenesis and presentation of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the pre-symptomatic, early symptomatic and late stages of AD. The objective of this Challenge is to generate novel hypotheses addressing the causes and consequences of such differences. The Solvers are also expected to provide a rationale supported by available data and a detailed research plan describing how to test the hypothesis. Of particular interest are hypotheses that can be validated in a secondary phase by mining existing AD databases for analysis of variables associated with biologic male/female differences in AD.
This Challenge requires only a written proposal.
The Seeker desires a method for producing pseudoephedrine products in such a way that it will be extremely difficult for clandestine chemists to extract and use the pseudoephedrine in the production of the illegal drug methamphetamine. The Seeker may be interested in pursuing further collaboration with Solvers whose solutions they find promising. The Seeker may also allow Solvers additional time after the submission deadline to finalize experiments required for the full reduction-to-practice award.
This is a Reduction-to-Practice Challenge that requires a written proposal and experimental proof-of-concept data (and/or sample delivery). In the absence of a proven solution, however, the Seeker may make a partial award of up to $20,000 USD for a purely theoretical contribution. The Seeker may, at their sole discretion, attempt to reduce to practice a purely theoretical contribution. If this reduction-to-practice is successful, the Seeker will make a partial award of $40,000 to the winning Solver.
This challenge provides an opportunity for Solvers to build a web-based or mobile “app” to explore data relationships in scholarly content in a visual or intuitively engaging way. For this challenge, the Seeker will make available access to Thomson Reuters Web of Science content through Thomson Reuters Web of Knowledge API (application programming interface).
This challenge has unique terms, please read the challenge-specific agreement carefully. Submissions must include both a written proposal and a prototype implementation using the Web of Knowledge API.
SciBX: Science-Business eXchange, a joint publication from the makers of BioCentury®and nature, in collaboration with InnoCentive, is requesting broad input from the scientific community to determine key questions, and to propose experiments for addressing these questions, that could progress understanding of how macrocycles and other large therapeutic molecules can effectively intercept and use the endocytosis process to achieve robust, class-wide cell permeability. This was identified as one of the key questions at the recent SciBX Summit on Innovation in Drug Discovery & Development in the field of Macrocycles and Constrained Peptides.
This is an Ideation Challenge with a guaranteed monetary award for one submitted solution. In addition to the monetary award, as many as five finalist Solvers may be selected and invited to participate in the 2013 SciBX Innovation Summit (see the Summary below for details).
This is a Reduction-to-Practice Challenge that requires written documentation and delivery of source code implementing an algorithm that solves the problem. A real-time online scoring utility and leaderboard will be available for this Challenge beginning 13-Feb.
The Seeker for this Challenge desires proposals for chemical methods that could rapidly degrade a dilute aqueous solution of a pesticide to biologically inactive compound(s). The additional constraint on this problem is that the degradation method should proceed without causing damage to the containers (primarily made from stainless steel and polyethylene) that houses the solution. Furthermore, the method should utilize chemicals that are safe to handle and do not create any degradation products of toxicological concern.
This is an Ideation Challenge with a guaranteed award for at least one submitted solution.
How can we test the mechanical properties of a bond between 2 structures without breaking or damaging the bond or the substrate materials? This challenge is looking for non-destructive testing methods or technologies that will enable accurate prediction of the strength of an adhesive bond between heterogenous materials.
This Challenge requires only a written proposal.
The Seeker desires a method and predictive model for accelerated stability testing of oil-in-water emulsions. Specifically, they are seeking a predictive mathematical model based on the properties of the emulsion after preparation. This could result from a combination of standard measurements and/or measurements not routinely applied to the specific type of emulsions the Seeker is testing. The Seeker may be interested in pursuing further collaboration with Solvers whose solutions they find promising.
This is a Reduction-to-Practice Challenge that requires a written proposal and potentially experimental proof-of-concept data. The Seeker recognizes that experimental proof-of-concept data may be difficult to obtain, so they may make a partial award of up to $15,000 USD for a purely theoretical contribution. The Seeker may, at their sole discretion, attempt to reduce to practice a purely theoretical contribution. If this reduction-to-practice is successful, the Seeker will make a partial award of a total of $30,000 to the winning Solver.
This challenge seeks methods or technologies to isolate cells from a complex mixture and then concentrate those cells in a small liquid volume, in less than 4 hours total.
This Challenge requires only a written proposal.
Lumina Foundation, the Seeker for this Challenge, desires fully coded examples of a front-end user interface for deployment by community colleges. The key requirement is that the interface should be organized and presented in a way that focuses on meeting the information needs of students, particularly those who are exploring a range of avenues of study.
This is a Reduction-to-Practice Challenge that requires a written proposal as well as delivery of a functional code for a website. In addition to the Challenge award, the Seeker is very interested in further collaboration with the awarded Solver(s).
The Seeker desires an analytical method or methods to determine the concentrations of monovalent and divalent copper in high temperature, aqueous, process streams near NaCl/CuClx saturation.
This Challenge requires only a written proposal.
A method is needed to synthesize Si(O1-zXz)y (X = B, C, N, S, Cl; where 0.2 < z < 0.5; 0.5 < y < 1.5) meeting specific requirements.
This is a Reduction-to-Practice Challenge that requires a written proposal and experimental proof-of-concept data (and/or sample delivery).
During conflicts or other political, environmental, or governmental crises around the world, the most vulnerable populations are often cut off from critical information and left with limited ability to communicate within their own communities or with the outside world.
This Challenge seeks a robust and/or secure mechanism, tool, or process for two-way communication during crises that either augments existing communications infrastructure, or enables communication in areas where such infrastructure does not currently exist.
This is an Ideation Challenge with a guaranteed award for at least one submitted solution.
Lon proteases are a widely distributed family of serine proteases. LONP1 is a human protease that the Seeker hypothesizes may be a target relevant to cancer therapy.
Your insights are required regarding how LONP1 may be useful as a target for cancer therapies, or as to how the utility of LONP1may be assessed.
This is an Ideation Challenge with a guaranteed award for at least one submitted solution.
Humanitarian aid drops missions are performed in various locations, populated and unpopulated zones. The current system used, Tri-wall Aerial Delivery System (TRIADS), performs the needed mission, but presents the opportunity for unintended consequences with the residuals from TRIADS; of most concern is the support plate ( called a skid-board) that is used to restrain/support the boxes during transport. The Air Force is looking for an economical way to replace this skid-board so that when it exits the aircraft it will reduce the opportunity for harm of anyone that is located in the drop area. We are not interested in parachute attached to the board as this will add complexity and expense to this system.
This is an Ideation Challenge with a guaranteed award for at least one submitted solution.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” – a common saying that is particularly true when it comes to peoples’ long-term health. The Seeker for this Challenge, UnitedHealthcare, seeks to promote healthier lifestyles and/or new approaches for managing widespread chronic conditions by taking advantage of two exciting dynamics in today’s marketplace – innovative consumer technologies and consumer-centric health solutions. Accordingly, they are seeking prototypes of novel combinations or modifications (“mods”) of existing, off-the-shelf consumer technology (including computer software and smartphone applications) that could be used to improve peoples’ health and quality of life.
This is a Reduction-to-Practice Challenge that requires a written proposal and experimental proof-of-concept data (and/or prototype delivery). In the absence of a proven solution, however, the Seeker may make a partial award of up to $20,000 USD for a purely theoretical contribution. In addition to the Challenge award, the Seeker may be interested in further collaboration with winning Solver(s) to further advance this project.
A method or treatment is required to allow complete dispersion of PTFE nanopowder particles in a hydrophilic solvent.
This Challenge requires only a written proposal.
This challenge seeks community engagement models that empower Aboriginal youth in experiential leadership opportunities to live, learn and succeed in a traditional and contemporary world. Proposals that include specific ideas, activities, or programs that engage Elders and youth in both traditional and modern settings are especially sought.
This is an Ideation challenge with a guaranteed award for at least one submitted solution.
The Seeker is looking for an algorithm or method to calculate intrinsic birefringence of certain types of molecules based on their molecular structure and first principles. This method would be used to calculate properties of molecules before they are synthesized.
This Challenge requires only a written proposal.
Given images of latent fingerprints, identify the closest matching fingerprint in a reference collection of fingerprints. The best algorithms will correctly and robustly identify latent fingerprints across a wide range of image quality.
This is a Reduction-to-Practice Challenge that requires a written proposal and delivery of source code implementing the algorithm. A real-time online scoring utility and leaderboard will be available for this Challenge.
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Deadline: Aug 31 2013
Reward: $100,000 USD
The Geoffrey Beene Foundation Alzheimer’s Initiative (GBFAI) is launching the 2013 Geoffrey Beene Global NeuroDiscovery Challenge whose
Deadline: Jul 15 2013
Reward: $5,000 USD
SciBX: Science-Business eXchange, a joint publication from the makers
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