Massachusetts Institute of Technology



How to Enter the IDEAS Global Challenge


The deadline to enter the 2013 MIT IDEAS Global Challenge has passed. You may enter the 2014 MIT IDEAS Global Challenge by creating a team here:
http://globalchallenge.mit.edu/teams/add

(Note: You must be a full-time MIT student to create a team. Not a student? Define a problem and invite students to work with you on a team here: http://globalchallenge.mit.edu/problems)

The MIT IDEAS Global Challenge is open to everyone. To be eligible, teams must:

  • Your team must be led by full-­time MIT students; teams are encouraged to collaborate with people around the world to realize their idea.
  • Be able to demonstrate that an MIT student made a significant contribution to the innovation
  • Must work with a community partner to identify the problem and develop the solution

To enter:

  1. Submit at least one Scope Statement (required) and one Development Grant request (optional).
    Details for 2014 will be posted here in Fall 2013
    Deadlines to submit scope statements and development grants have already passed. We will NOT accept any new submissions for the 2013 competition.
    ** Teams are welcome to submit more than once for additional feedback or grant opportunities.
    ** Note, We recognize teams are at different stages of development; your Scope Statement should not be a full Proposal but do give us a sense of the context of your work, the idea you're proposing, questions you're looking to answer, and help you may need.
  2. Submit a Proposal by Friday, April 5, 2013 at 11:59PM, EDT.
    Teams whose projects meet the standards of innovation, feasibility, impact and community connection will be invited to submit a Proposal. * The IDEAS Global Challenge team will confirm your eligibility by email. *
  3. Particpate in the judging process and the Community Choice Vote.
    The judging process will involve an in-person event in late April 2013. Stay tuned for confirmation. From Friday, April 19 - Monday, April 29, teams the Community Choice Vote will be open to people around the world to place their vote on your project.

What you can win:

  • Up to $10,000 in awards per team, as selected by our panel of judges.
  • Up to $1500 for a Community Choice Vote, as decided by the online community.
  • Awards are granted for a 15-month period. All unused funds revert to the Public Service Center. There are some basic guidelines on what awards cannot cover - such as employment, dangerous materials or weapons, consulting and similar products and services. If questions, ask globalchallenge@mit.edu.

Questions? Email globalchallenge@mit.edu

For complete rules and restrictions, download

For an overview of initial and final proposal guidelines and development grant process, please refer to the sidebar for more information.

- - - - - - -

JUDGING PROCESS, COMMUNITY CHOICE VOTE and AWARDS

The judging process involves an online portion and in-person portion at MIT. We'll confirm with more details closer to April.

- - - - - -

COMMUNITY CHOICE VOTE

The Community Choice Vote is a chance to win $1500 award. People from around the world vote on the teams they'd like to see move forward. Any teams that have an online public profile will automatically be entered. **You must have a public profile set by April 5 to be entered.**

- - - - - -

AWARDS CELEBRATION AND WINNERS' RETREAT

The Awards Celebration will happen in early May. Stay tuned for a confirmed date and location.

If you win an award, you will be expected to attend a two-day WINNERS' RETREAT - This year's winners will attend a two-day WINNERS' RETREAT On May 29 and 30, 2013.