WeaRAcon Innovation Challenge: Wearable Robotics

Overview

The Wearable Robotics Association (WearRA) is inviting entries that represent the most innovative new ideas in wearable robotic technology for the Innovation Challenge as part of WearRAcon. The winner will receive international recognition and a $5,000 cash prize to support development and commercialization of the technology.

This friendly competition represents an opportunity for university labs, small companies and even individual teams to present their ideas, no matter how original or unorthodox, on the main stage of the conference.

In the past, the Innovation Challenge has been a high energy event full of surprises.  Entries and presentations have ranged from novel mechanical linkages all the way to complete exoskeletons and exosuits.  Last year’s event even included an exosuit concept for dogs, a man’s best friend.

Entries

Upload your concept paper by January 24, 2020. The review committee will select as many as ten (10) finalists. All finalists will be invited to present their product concepts at WearRAcon 20, March 30 – April 1 at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale, AZ (USA). The winning entry will be selected through live voting by conference attendees and a panel of judges representing industry, government, academia, and corporate executives. The top projects will receive awards. The one considered to be the most innovative will be announced at the conference and will receive $5,000 to accelerate the new technology.

Submission Details:
Submissions are due by January 24, 2020. The proposal must include information about intellectual property and the development outline with milestones for deliverables. Explain the potential impact on the wearable robotics community, as well as significance of this concept as an advancement for the industry.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to move the proposed plan to completion, showing how the prize can accelerate any step along the path to market.
• Applicants may reside in any country. No specific background or experience is required.
• Finalists must register and attend WearRAcon 20

Instructions for the Submission:
Please submit your proposal by Friday, January 24, 2020 | 11:59 PM (EST).

Proposal Content (NTE 4 pages)

Paper Layout:

1. Title of proposed project (maximum 50 characters)
2. Leader (name, title, affiliation, address, telephone, email address)
3. Key collaborators (names, titles, affiliations)
4. Brief summary of project goals and plans/approaches (not to exceed 350 characters)
   1. Focus specifically on what your project would bring to the wearable robotics industry
5. Brief description of what is unique about the project. If it is competitive to any existing product or service,
   please describe how your project compares to any competitor (500 characters)
6. Detailed description of how you plan to accomplish the overall plan (750 characters)
   1. Estimated steps/milestones/timeline to reach customers
   2. Go/No Go decision points
7. Brief description of intellectual property position and potential for commercialization: investment potential and likelihood of ongoing funding support to customers (500 characters)
8. Anticipated total budget and outline of what a prize of $5,000 will allow you to accomplish

Proposal Submission:

• Must not exceed 4 pages, inclusive of all information listed above, minimum 10 point font
• Convert document to a PDF and send to conference@wearablerobotics.com
• A confirmation email will be replied to upon receipt of your submission. If you have not received confirmation, please call: 602-632-0999.

Review:
Proposals will be scored based on the following criteria:

1. Potential benefit and appeal to people within the wearable robotics community
2. Likelihood of Development: Investment potential and consideration of ongoing funding support
3. Intellectual Property Strategy and Status: Freedom to operate
4.  Timeframe and probability of success
5. Overall Impression

Selected Proposals/Finalists: Finalists will be notified by February 14, 2020. As many as ten (10) finalists will be selected to present at WearRAcon 20 (Scottsdale, Arizona, March 30 – April 1, 2020). Each presenter will have five (5) minutes to present the concept, followed by five (5) minutes of questioning. Each finalist will also receive a small exhibit space for two days of the conference. The event will feature live voting among audience members and a panel of judges representative of industry, government, academia, and corporate executives. The winning project considered to be the most innovative will be announced at the conference.