Prizes Can be Used to Further Innovation

Session V was moderated by Anne-Laure Fayard from New York University and included opening presentations by James Beck, a Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health X Challenge winner, David Hertz, a Water Abundance X-Prize winner, and Marybeth Haneline from Nova Labs, Inc. After opening presentations, speakers divided into breakout groups. Breakout Group A was moderated by Jack Hughes from Lewis Bay Holdings, and the speakers included James Beck and David Hertz. Breakout Group B was moderated by Anne-Laure Fayard, and the speakers included Marybeth Haneline, Daryl Peace, and Patrick Thompson, all from Nova Labs, Inc. While the first breakout group focused on two winners of XPRIZEs, specifically focusing on their experiences throughout the prize competition, the second group focused on open competitions conducted by a Washington DC-area “makerspace” (Nova Labs, Inc.) that bring together diverse sets of individuals to develop assistive technologies. This group discussed the ways in which the non-profit assists with open collaboration for “makers.”

BREAKOUT GROUP V-A

James Beck, Sunburst Sensors LLC, discussed his team’s work on measuring carbonate systems in oceans. Sunburst won the Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPRIZE for instruments that measured carbon dioxide/pH at various depths. Sunburst Sensors’ team won both the accuracy and affordability purses. Competitors came from eight countries and included engineers, oceanographers, and professionals in the food industry and agriculture. The competition provided Sunburst an opportunity to test their instruments, cooperate with other teams, and work with other foundations to improve measurement of ocean acidity.

David Hertz led the winning team of the Water Abundance XPRIZE, which was designed to enhance access to potable water in locations lacking infrastructure following disasters. The $1.75 million prize required contestants to produce 2,000 liters of potable water from air with renewable energy at a cost of under 2 cents per liter. Mr. Hertz organized a team of collaborators that used biomass gasification as the energy source. The XPRIZE Foundation is increasingly focusing on implementation of its prizes and provided the team with funds for consulting fees for its strategic plan. The team is exploring microfinancing options to enable communities to have a local sense of ownership of these utilities. With respect to intangible assets, Mr. Hertz noted that the XPRIZE increases public awareness of technologies, builds the winner’s confidence, enhances the team’s credibility, and provides new opportunities for strategic alliances and collaborations. The competition drives a competitive spirit, and the deadline hastens innovation. In his view, the prize is a force multiplier that goes beyond the cost of administering the prize. Mr. Hertz noted that “The prize is not the goal. It is a process, and not an event,” and is a lever for positive change in addressing global challenges.

BREAKOUT GROUP V-B

Marybeth Haneline, Daryl Peace, and Patrick Thompson. Nova Labs, Inc., is a non-profit, member-supported makerspace: run by volunteers, it provides space, tools, and machinery for member “makers” in an environment of open collaboration. In addition to providing a creative space for members, Nova Labs has engaged with the broader surrounding community in a variety of ways, including skills development programs with schools and local businesses and “make-a-thons,” multi-day events in which teams of individuals with a diversity of skills and interests come together to develop innovative solutions to discrete challenges. Participants in “Make-A-Thons for Assistive Technology” compete in teams to build working prototypes of solutions to specific physical challenges. In one example, make-a-thon participants developed a new prototype for a walker with a bucket seat and retracting belt that enabled an individual to pivot and shake hands. In others, participants used sensors to enable a blind individual to ride a skateboard and developed a custom seat for a golf cart to enable an individual who cannot stand up to play golf. The participants and sponsors to date have chosen to open-source the results arising from these competitions.

CLOSING REMARKS

In closing the workshop, Dr. Lakhani noted that prizes can be an effective means to solve complex issues and stimulate innovation. The workshop provided insight into the historical use of prizes and the evolution of prizes as a tool for innovation. The full National Academies study will provide an opportunity to examine the role of prizes within the portfolio of tools available to government and industry to induce innovation.