Innovation Contests and
CHALLENGES
List of online Innovation and Invention Challenges, Grand Challenges, Contests, and Competitions from around the world, all with Cash Awards and Prizes.
World's biggest and most popular list of Live Challenges
Number of Live Challenges: 99
Prize Money Available: $110,356,150
2019 Innovation Challenge
Deadline: 2019-02-18Award: £25,000
Open to: UK undergraduates*
How can the UK ensure it stays relevant and surpasses competition in a post-Brexit World? An increase in industrial robots might be the right answer. Currently lagging behind other countries, our sponsor Semta is looking for discoveries that show how industrial processes can be made more efficient with the use of robotics.
2019 Healthcare Challenge
Deadline: 2019-02-18Award: £25,000
Open to: UK undergraduates*
Tackling the well known epidemics of tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases; your challenge is to present solutions for prevention, diagnosis and treatment that will improve overall longevity and quality of life for people around the world.
2019 Electrical Challenge
Deadline: 2019-02-18Award: £25,000
Open to: UK Undergraduate students*
Rolls Royce would like your ideas for heat waste management. As the sponsor of this challenge they want your creative input on how to reduce heat waste, or how to repurpose it to improve their product performance.
2019 Automotive Technology Challenge
Deadline: 2019-02-18Award: £25,000
Open to: UK Undergraduate students*
Sports car products and processes have the potential to be used a the wider automobile market. Which ones can you present that will achieve the weight needed for sports cars, but also be advantageous for other vehicles as well?
2019 Defence Technology Challenge
Deadline: 2019-02-18Award: £25,000
Open to: UK Undergraduate students*
What does the future of battlefield communication look like? The goal of this unique challenge is to design technology for the future that will allow armed forces personnel to stay highly connected.
Coal Mine Tailings Pond
Deadline: 2019-02-19Award: $1,000,000 CAD
Open to: Incorporated Canadian Businesses*
The challenge is to develop a low cost, safe, environmentally sound, and innovative method of stabilizing the coal mine tailings behind a high-risk Dam so that the Dam can be decommissioned.
Smart Territory Digital Challenges
Deadline: 2019-02-19Award: €10,000
Open to: Everyone*
In order to meet the increasing demand for housing worldwide, this challenge acknowledges that there needs to be a shift in thinking. It is seeking new applications and solutions bringing a seismic change in the real estate industry.
World Vision Social Innovation Challenge
Deadline: 2019-02-22Award: $25,000
Open to: Innovators*
World Vision invites imaginative innovators to take part in this challenge designed to help communities in the Philippines improve their waste management. The goal is to develop a business model that can turn this waste into resources.
Mission Billion
Deadline: 2019-02-24Award: $100,000
Open to: Everyone*
The search is on for creative solutions from engaged entrepreneurs for better designed digital identification systems for citizens in developing countries, to help further protect privacy and allow them authority over their personal data.
European Commission's Horizon Prize for Social Innovation
Deadline: 2019-02-28Award: €2,000,000
Open to: EU entities*
With an estimated 88 million people expected to reach the age of 65 or older by the year 2030, this social innovation challenge asks for inspiring and replicable ideas to increase mobility options that will decrease social exclusion and support independent living.
KidneyX: Redesign Dialysis Prize
Deadline: 2019-02-28Award: $2,625,000
Open to: Everyone*
The first of a new series of prize competitions, the goal of this challenge is to help those suffering from kidney failure. Innovative solutions for the areas of prevention, diagnosis and treatment are being sought.
STARTS Prize 2019
Deadline: 2019-03-01Award: €40,000
Open to: Everyone*
The challenge is looking for novel collaborations of technology and the arts. This can be artistic work with a strong link to innovation in technology, or technological research and development that has been inspired by art or artists.
Borealis Student Innovation Award
Deadline: 2019-03-01Award: €9,000
Open to: Students Worldwide*
Offering bachelor, masters and PhD students internationally an opportunity to showcase their innovative thinking and trailblazing solutions. Including a cash prize the winner will also have an incredible networking opportunity.
AGE-WELL Emerging Entrepreneur Award in Technology and Aging
Deadline: 2019-03-08Award: $25,000 CAD
Open to: Canadian students 18+*
The aim is to challenge entrepreneurs to create and grow an innovative start-up to help the future of technology and aging research in Canada with respect to mobility, health, mental health and employment.
3D Pioneers Challenge
Deadline: 2019-03-15Award: €35,000
Open to: Design students and professionals*
Often working tirelessly in the background, 3D Printing plays an intricate role in industrial manufacturing processes. This annual global challenge asks true visionaries to push the envelope and bring 3D printing forward to become the main focus.
Circular Economy 2030
Deadline: 2019-03-17Award: $200,000
Open to: Social entrepreneurs 18+*
The challenge is to find creative, technically innovative ideas with the potential to impact the global economy, from efficient resources and energy use to sustainable infrastructure and green job creation.
Consider Corn Challenge II
Deadline: 2019-03-20Award: $150,000 will be split equally between 3-6 winners
Open to: Global participation*
The National Corn Growers Association invites proposals for new uses of field corn as a feedstock for producing sustainable chemicals with quantifiable market demand.
2019/20 Towards Zero Challenge
Deadline: 2019-03-23Award: $50,000 AUD
Open to: Australian business, school, university*
The challenge is looking for innovative ideas that propose a novel approach to addressing driver distraction and drowsiness by way of influencing road user behaviour to prevent accidents and improve road safety.
Prevention and Protection of Steel Structures from Extreme Levels of Corrosion
Deadline: 2019-03-27Award: INR 10,00,000
Open to: Everyone*
The level of corrosion in the seeker's plant is extremely high, and the challenge is to discover different paint or painting methods, AND a suitable grade steel that can withstand a highly corrosive atmosphere.
On Time Communication System to Monitor the Gap Formed Between Main Rail and Switch Rail
Deadline: 2019-03-27Award: INR 5,00,000
Open to: Everyone*
Computer Science and Communications experts are invited to submit their detection, alert, and alarm ideas to help prevent derailment due to gap formation between the main rail and switch rail due to human error.
Inspection and Condition Monitoring of Insulated Chiller Water Pipe Lines
Deadline: 2019-03-27Award: INR 10,00,000
Open to: Everyone*
Engineers with an interest in thermodynamics are encouraged to submit ideas on environmentally friendly, easier to access, and safer alternatives to current pipe inspection techniques.
Eliminating Remnant Coal in Wagons after Tippling at Coal Wagon Tipplers
Deadline: 2019-03-27Award: INR 950000
Open to: Everyone*
This challenge tackles two important concerns: work safety and product waste. Solvers with solutions to the current dangerous method of cleaning remnant coal in wagons are encouraged to apply!
PetFinder.my Adoption Prediction
Deadline: 2019-03-28Award: $25,000
Open to: 18+ (some restrictions)*
AI experts are needed to develop clever algorithms to predict the adoptability of pets, to be adapted into AI tools that will help animal shelters to improve their pet profiles in order to increase their chances of finding a home.
Indigenous Homes Innovation Challenge
Deadline: 2019-03-31Award: $30,000,000 CAD
Open to: Indigenous communities and organizations*
The goal is to offer inspirational designs and construction that celebrate and showcase the culture of First Nation, Inuit and Metis and enhance both rural and urban communities.
Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition
Deadline: 2019-04-01Award: $8,500
Open to: Design & engineering students*
The scope of possible applications for extruded aluminum is often missed by industry experts. This challenge invites imaginative students to create a product or system using this versatile material as a solution to a design problem.
Timber in the City
Deadline: 2019-04-03Award: $40,000
Open to: ACSA students worldwide*
For the 3rd year in a row the Timber in the City Challenge invokes creativity and imagination. Using a variety of wood technologies, students have the opportunity to incorporate affordable housing, a community centre and an early childhood centre in their Queens vacant waterfront project.
19th Annual Steel Design Student Competition
Deadline: 2019-04-03Award: $14,000
Open to: ACSA Students in US, Canada and Mexico*
Structural steel is fast becoming one of todays most widely used building materials. Curved steel is particularly ascetically appealing for architectural design. Working individually or as a team the challenge is to review possible design related issues with todays design and construction applications.
The ʻŌhi'a Challenge
Deadline: 2019-04-08Award: $70,000
Open to: Residents and Entities in the USA*
This challenge calls on you to help the treasured Ohi'a trees of Hawaii. Since 2014 these beautiful trees have been decimated by a fungal disease. Your goal is to offer a low cost solution for both early detection and containment of the fungus.
Escape Respirator Challenge
Deadline: 2019-04-11Award: $250,000
Open to: Everyone*
This challenge is seeking solutions from innovative designers who specialize in airborne hazards. The goal is to create a portable, in your pocket device to allow individuals a safe exit from an oxygen-deficient area.
MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific 2019
Deadline: 2019-04-12Award: Up to $300,000
Open to: Early to mid-stage medical device, diagnostic, or digital health companies*
MedTech Innovator is the medical technology industry’s global showcase and accelerator for innovative medical device, digital health and diagnostic companies. Our mission is to improve the lives of patients by accelerating the growth of companies that are transforming the healthcare system.
COINS Grand Challenge
Deadline: 2019-04-12Award: £11,500 in total
Open to: 18 years and Older*
Cost reduction, increases in efficiency, sustainability, quality control and compliance are the core focus of this technology challenge. Whether an entrepreneur, a student, a leader or innovator, if you have genius ways to improve these areas of the construction industry you are invited to participate.
Silt Removal from Open-cast Chromite Mine
Deadline: 2019-04-14Award: INR 10,00,000
Open to: Everyone*
Small-particle experts, or those well-versed in the mining industry and/or wastewater management are needed to develop a new or innovative mechanism to improve the efficiency of silt removal from chrome ore.
ATLAS: Offshore Wind Challenge
Deadline: 2019-04-19Award: $175,000
Open to: Everyone*
This challenge seeks wind energy enthusiasts and designers to develop, and test innovative and disruptive pitch control systems for large floating offshore wind turbines affected by asymmetric and unpredictable wind and wave fields.
Rome Collective Living Challenge
Deadline: 2019-04-19Award: $6,000
Open to: Everyone*
The cost of living in Rome has become exceedingly difficult for residents. Focusing on more affordability and better inclusion, the goal of this challenge is to bring back the concept of collective living spaces in Rome's city centre.
Jumpthegap Roca International Design Contest
Deadline: 2019-04-27Award: €26,000
Open to: Architects and designers*
The 8th annual jumpthegap challenge is now open for submissions. An exciting opportunity to showcase your very best ideas for the best bathroom space of the future. What does your future bathroom look like?
Differential Privacy Synthetic Data Challenge
Deadline: 2019-05-06Award: $150,000
Open to: Mathematicians, data scientists*
This exciting marathon challenge asks mathematicians and data scientists to design and launch their own synthetic data generation algorithms and compete against other algorithms to offer proof that theirs can satisfy differential privacy.
Individuals Taking Energy Action in Manufacturing (ITEAM) Prize Competition
Deadline: 2019-05-15Award: $75,000
Open to: US citizen 18+ employed by US manufacturer*
This ideas challenge asks participants to submit their most ingenious solutions for saving energy at United States manufacturing facilities.
Million Cool Roofs Challenge
Deadline: 2019-05-20Award: $2,000,000
Open to: Entrants from developing countries*
This challenge hopes to provide affordable, sustainable, solar-reflective cool roofs to developing countries. Entrepreneurs with idea for cooling technologies are required to help improve conditions for heat-stressed communities.
Integrated Solution for Translational Innovation in Pain, Opioid Use Disorder and Overdose
Deadline: 2019-05-31Award: $500,000
Open to: US citizen or permanent resident 18+*
This challenge is looking to tackle the opioid crisis through innovative approaches. Creative solvers with ideas on how to integrate solutions from the 4 other NCATS challenges into a single platform are needed!
Biological Assays
Deadline: 2019-05-31Award: $500,000
Open to: US citizen or permanent resident 18+*
Pharmacologists are needed to design biological assays that replicate the effectiveness of existing drugs that treat addiction and that can be used in predictive risk assessments of new drugs for addiction recovery.
Electronic Synthetic Chemistry Portal
Deadline: 2019-05-31Award: $500,000
Open to: US citizen or permanent resident 18+*
This challenge is seeking Chemistry portal designers/Drug Discovery researchers who have ideas on how to utilize data for development of novel chemistries of relevance to the treatment of pain and opioid use disorder.
Integrated Chemistry Database for Translational Innovation in Pain, Opioid Use Disorder and Overdose
Deadline: 2019-05-31Award: $50,000
Open to: US citizen or permanent resident 18+*
Database Designers with an interest in pharma, big data, and chemistry are invited to submit their innovative ideas for an open-source database for pain drugs and treatments for addiction.
Global Cooling Prize
Deadline: 2019-06-01Award: $3,000,000
Open to: Cooling providers, researchers, students*
Disrupt current residential cooling practices with your most creative technology innovations! This challenge asks you to design an environmentally conscious cooling system that can replace current residential air conditioning systems.
The 3rd Open Data Challenge for Public Transportation in Tokyo
Deadline: 2019-11-15Award: ¥2,000,000
Open to: Everyone*
This contest calls for new applications, such as smartphone apps, Web services and ideas using open data of public transportation and open data from other sources. The goal is to make Tokyo easier to navigate before the 2020 Olympics.
Cultural Innovation International Prize: Internet
Deadline: 2019-12-31Award: €20,000
Open to: Everyone 18+*
This contest is to award innovative projects about the internet that propose actions in areas such as accessibility, security, privacy, ecological impact, ethics, or any other topic that empowers internet users and an improved network.
Alzheimer's Germ Quest
Deadline: 2020-12-31Award: $1,000,000
Open to: Research Scientists*
Billions have been spent on Alzheimer's research, but what if the cause was as simple as a germ? If you're a research scientist and think it's possible the cause of Alzheimer's could be a simple germ this is a great challenge for you.
Fuel from the Sun: Artificial Photosynthesis
Deadline: 2021-01-01Award: €5,000,000
Open to: Everyone*
Synthetic Fuel could be the way of the future! This contest asks you to build a functional prototype that offers just that - an artificial photosynthesis based system able to produce an alternative synthetic fuel.
Low-Cost Space Launch
Deadline: 2021-06-01Award: €10,000,000
Open to: Everyone in an EU Member State*
Using a holistic approach and going further than existing solutions, find a creative and affordable solution which can be easily implemented for launching light satellites into low earth orbit (LEO)
* Details may apply. See contest website to confirm eligibility.