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American-Made Challenges

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E-SCRAP Prize

Designed to stimulate innovative approaches that reduce the costs and environmental impact of critical material recovery from e-scrap.

This challenge is closed

stage:
Judging Closed
prize:
$3,950,000

This challenge is closed

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Timeline
Updates13
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Summary

Prize Overview

The Electronics Scrap Recycling Advancement Prize (E-SCRAP) is a $3.95M challenge sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO). The prize aims to stimulate innovative approaches that reduce the costs and environmental impact of critical material recovery from electronic scrap (e-scrap).

E-scrap—which includes mobile phones, home appliances, medical or office equipment, and anything else powered by electricity—represents the fastest growing waste stream globally, with e-scrap generation expected to double between 2014 and 2030. Only 17.4% of e-scrap was collected and recycled globally in 2019, discarding 83% of e-waste and $57B in raw material value. However, e-scrap recovery faces numerous roadblocks, including a fragmented recycling value chain, a complex and dynamic feedstock, and a rapidly evolving end-use market. In response, E-SCRAP is challenging American entrepreneurs to revolutionize critical material recovery and reshape the future of sustainable manufacturing.

E-SCRAP is not just a competition; it’s a catalyst for change. By addressing challenges in the e-scrap recycling value chain, competitor teams can each win up to $800,000 in cash prizes and $150,000 in national laboratory analysis support over the course of the three-phase competition.

The prize is open to competitors looking to:

  • Build partnerships across the recycling value chain to optimize and integrate critical material separation and recovery technologies.
  • Develop and demonstrate innovations along the recycling value chain to enhance the recovery of critical materials from e-scrap.
  • Select at least one challenge (technical, supply chain, or related logistics hurdle) that needs further development and establish high impact opportunities (co-recovery, feedstock flexibility, information share, material benchmarking…) that will increase the domestic supply of critical materials from e-scrap.
  • Create or enhance supply chains to increase material circularity (e.g., accelerating connectivity between collection, sorting, pre-treatment, processing, refining, validation, and material qualification)

 


Prize Structure

The three phases of E-SCRAP prioritize the circularity of materials and reduction of e-scrap, identifying solutions that expand beyond a single-use life for electronics and encouraging reuse of product materials. The cash prizes and assistance awarded in Phases 1 and 2 are intended to support teams as they advance in the competition.

Phase 1 – Incubate

Competitors will propose solutions that substantially increase the amount of recovered critical materials from e-scrap used in U.S. manufacturing. Up to 10 winners will receive $50,000 in cash and $30,000 in national laboratory analysis support.

  • Submissions Open: March 6, 2024
  • Informational Webinar: March 27, 2024 2 p.m. ET (Register Here) and June 18, 2024 12 p.m. ET (Register Here)
  • Submissions Close: Sept. 4, 2024, 5 p.m. ET
  • Winner Announcement: December 2024*

Phase 2 – Prototype

Competitors will prototype their innovation and begin collecting and/or generating data that can be used to optimize technoeconomic strategy and life cycle impacts between partners along the recycling value chain. Winners will receive $150,000 in cash and $120,000 in national laboratory analysis support.

Phase 3 – Demonstrate

Competitors will begin implementing their innovations and propose their plans to scale their solution. Phase 3 winners will receive $600,000 in cash.


Guidelines

Please review the official rules for the complete application process and instructions for competing.

If you want to receive updates on the prize or have any questions, please subscribe by using the follow feature on the HeroX platform or message us directly at .

Timeline
Updates13

Challenge Updates

Prize Submissions Due TOMORROW!

Sept. 3, 2024, 8:42 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Moderator

This is your final reminder that the submission deadline for the Electronics Scrap Recycling Advancement Prize (E-SCRAP) is tomorrow, Wednesday, September 4, at 5 p.m. ET. We encourage you to send in your final submission as soon as possible to avoid any last-minute technical difficulties. 

We look forward to reviewing your submissions! 


E-SCRAP Competition Closes in One Week

Aug. 28, 2024, 9:20 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Moderator

Hey, competitors! The submission deadline for the Electronics Scrap Recycling Advancement Prize (E-SCRAP) is in one week on Wednesday, September 4, at 5 p.m. ET. 

Access the Phase 1 Narrative Template and read the Official Prize Rules in the Resources tab. 

Here’s what a full submission looks like:

  • 90-second video (to be made public)
  • Cover page 
  • Narrative that answers four questions about the innovation, value chain insight and opportunity, accomplishments and team, and plan (not to exceed 2,500 words) 
  • Summary PowerPoint slide (to be made public) 
  • Analysis support work slide 
  • Letters of support (optional) 

Don’t miss this chance to win $50,000 for your innovative idea!


Power Connectors are Still Available for Support

Aug. 22, 2024, 7:39 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Moderator

Looking for support on your E-SCRAP submission? Contact prize partners ADL Ventures or this week for guidance and review of your submission ahead of the Sept. 4 deadline! 

As partners of the prize, ADL Ventures and yet2 are providing support including submission feedback and guidance to all participants in the prize. If you anticipate wanting support, we highly suggest reaching out to schedule a meeting with them as soon as possible

Get in touch with Nupur Joshi at ADL Ventures or Hongyi Zhang at yet2 today to schedule one-on-one time with their team! 

Lastly, don’t forget to take a look at the two recorded informational webinars and other resources provided under the Resources tab. 

 


E-SCRAP Submission Deadline is Just Around the Corner

Aug. 7, 2024, 7:27 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Moderator

The Electronics Scrap Recycling Advancement Prize (E-SCRAP) deadline is one month away on Wednesday, September 4. Competitors from across the country are invited to submit their innovative approaches to reduce the costs and environmental impact of critical material recovery from electronic scrap (e-scrap) for a chance to win $50,000. 

Before you submit your prize application, we recommend you:

If you have any additional questions, contact us directly at .


Last Chance to Register for the Partnerships Event

Aug. 5, 2024, 8:08 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Moderator

Don’t miss out on the E-SCRAP Partnerships event happening tomorrow, August 6, at 1 p.m. ET! Join Power Connectors, ADL Ventures, yet2, the prize administration team, and other interested applicants to connect before submitting your Phase 1 application to E-SCRAP. During tomorrow’s event, you can forge partnerships that are crucial for enhancing recycling and recovery of critical materials from electronic scrap (e-scrap) across the United States. 

Register for the event. See you tomorrow!

And, don’t forget: E-SCRAP Phase 1 submissions are due in one month on September 4 at 5 p.m. ET!


Forum54
Teams394
Entries
Resources
FAQ