Callaghan Innovation has launched a competition in wearable technology development saying it could lead to New Zealand producing “the next big thing in wearable technology.”
Callaghan Innovation’s 2017 C-Prize competition is offering a number of incentives including a $100,000 grand prize package with $50,000 in cash to stimulate ideas and says the best will become viable businesses. Up to 10 finalist teams will each receive a $35,000 prize package that includes $10,000 in cash.
Callaghan is calling for ideas in three areas that it says will be important for New Zealand: living healthier, working safer and playing smarter.
To be considered for the prize, entrants need to create a proof-of-concept for a piece of wearable technology. They will need to create a combined hardware-software wearable solution that captures and processes user data and communicates feedback allowing the user to act to enhance their outcome.
Launching the competition, science and innovation minister, Paul Goldsmith, said it was an example of incentives being used to spur inquisitive minds to create concepts with strong commercial potential. “New Zealanders have always been historically strong in innovation and experimentation. Where we’re not so strong is in creating viable businesses out of those ideas,” he said.
“C-Prize is one tool for putting the people with the vision and technical skill to create technology breakthroughs in touch with the agency which drives commercialization of those ideas.”
VX Sport CEO, Richard Snow, who will be one of the C-Prize 2017 judges, said wearable technology offered an exciting and virtually limitless opportunity for innovators. “It can not only enhance personal communications for people within their environment, but also to create sensors and analysis that will improve health, wellness and efficiency in our daily lives.”
Callaghan says its first wearable development competition, held two years ago, created a huge buzz around drone technology, and launched the successful Dotterel venture, which has won awards.
The competition is open to anyone aged 16 and over, living in New Zealand. Entries are open until midnight, July 2, 2017 at www.cprize.nz.