XR PRIZE CHALLENGE: FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE
$100K – Competition open for concept submissions until Dec 31, 2022

December 31, 2022 is the last day to partecipate in AWE’s XR Prize!!!

The XR Prize Challenge: Fight Climate Change is a global competition harnessing AR and VR (XR) solutions to help fight climate change.

It is hosted by AWE, the producer of global in-person and online XR events, and the world’s most impactful XR community. AWE is inviting submissions from teams and individuals, and especially collaborations between XR technologists and climate change experts from around the world to compete for a $100,000 cash prize awarded to the best submission that demonstrates a creative, functional, and impactful XR-based solution to help humanity in our fight against climate change in these 4 categories: Replace, Visualize, Educate, Optimize

THE CHALLENGE

Climate change is one of the most urgent and long-term threats to life as we know it, and deserves our attention as a species, as professionals, and as technology experts. While the causes and effects of climate change are understood intellectually, they are difficult to grasp viscerally or emotionally because they seem so disconnected from our daily lives and behaviors. One of the biggest challenges in raising awareness of the impacts of climate change is that it’s hard to fight a threat you can’t see.

Additionally, while there are communities and communication platforms for those who wish to address climate change, these forums are often not as powerful as immersive solutions for educating people through direct and personal experience.

Climate change subject matter experts and entrepreneurs struggle to inspire people and policy-makers to take action. Finally, engineers and other professionals need spatially immersive tools to help improve and optimize design and execution for solutions to fight climate change.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Visualizing air pollution particles in a 2009 AR application by Columbia University.

XR, a technology that encompasses virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality is the ultimate tool to visualize information and generate empathy through spatial experiences. In recent years, XR has had a positive impact on the world thanks to its potential to mitigate climate change. Whether by reducing the need to travel, reducing manufacturing and product waste, or even reducing the need for real estate spaces, XR technology is helping numerous industries fight climate change. But the XR industry can and should do much more!

XR’s strength is to help simulate and visualize the invisible and make the problem of climate change personal to every individual. It can help people see and feel the effects on their own lives, engage with other like-minded citizens, and prompt them to take action against it. It can help professionals make the most effective decisions in their fight to develop solutions that address climate change.

Fighting climate change is not only a necessity for survival; it’s also one of the biggest economic opportunities in the next few decades.

THE XR PRIZE CHALLENGE: FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE COMPETITION: IMPORTANT MILESTONES

Concept Submission Deadline: The competition is now open for registration and submissions are open until the end of the year.

April 16, 2023 | MVP Submission Deadline: Teams with concepts that have been accepted to the competition will be invited in early January 2023 to submit an MVP (Minimum Viable Product).

May 1, 2023 | Finalists Announced: A judging panel consisting of climate and XR experts will select finalists, who will be invited to demonstrate their submissions live in Santa Clara, USA immediately prior to AWE USA 2023.

June 1, 2023 | XR Prize Winners Announced: The winners will be announced and the $100,000 prize awarded during the Auggie Awards Ceremony on June 1st at the event.

There are four categories for submissions—concepts must demonstrate XR’s role in:

  • Replacing wasteful material practices
  • Visualizing the causes & impacts of climate change
  • Educating about solutions to climate change
  • Optimizing design & execution of climate solutions

Submissions will be judged on their creativity, functionality, and impact.

XR PRIZE COACHES AND JUDGES

COMPETITION GUIDELINES AND RULES

GUIDELINES AND RULES
Information required for submission includes:

  • Descriptive information that outlines:
    1. Project Narrative
    2. How does your submission demonstrate creativity, functionality and impact
  • Images
  • Optional video
  • Optional links to to access or download your solution
  • Information on your intended approach to developing an MVP

For further information about the competition rules, please see the brief.

TECH PARTNERS OFFERING THEIR TOOLS FOR XR PRIZE CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS

XR PRIZE CHALLENGE: FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE SUBMISSION FORM

Demonstrate a convincing AR or VR solution to fight climate change and win up to $100k.


Cecilia Lascialfari
Follow me