XPRIZE Launches $1M Next-Gen Mask Challenge for Young Designers
The XPRIZE Pandemic Alliance has announced the Next-Gen Mask Challenge, a $1 million competition seeking innovative, comfortable, and affordable face mask prototypes. The contest targets global youth aged 15–24, organized in teams, to design masks that encourage widespread daily use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded by donors Marc Benioff and Jim Cramer, the prize aims to reduce coronavirus transmission. Proposals are due October 22, 2020, with winners announced in February 2021. The initiative calls for masks that are effective, elegant, and economical.
Key facts
- XPRIZE Pandemic Alliance launched the Next-Gen Mask Challenge
- Total prize pool is $1 million
- Funded by Marc Benioff and Jim Cramer
- Open to individuals aged 15–24 worldwide, in teams
- Deadline for proposals is October 22, 2020
- Winners to be announced in February 2021
- Goal: create innovative, comfortable, elegant, and affordable face masks
- Aims to reduce global COVID-19 transmission risk
Entities
Institutions
- XPRIZE Pandemic Alliance
- Artribune