Deadline: 16-Jun-21
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Solve is currently accepting proposals for its Health Security & Pandemics Challenge.
The Covid-19 pandemic has tragically exposed lack of global preparedness for disease outbreaks. The crisis also highlights huge health inequities and has laid bare the urgent need to reduce the risk of future health security threats and address the weaknesses in the health systems.
Further, Covid-19 is the latest in a series of infectious disease emergencies, including Cholera, Ebola, SARS, Chikungunya, HIV/AIDS, H1N1, and influenza. Climate change and increasing globalization ensure that it won’t be the last.
While many relevant solutions will rely on researchers or policymakers, there is also a clear role for tech innovators to support health security for all. The MIT Solve community is looking for technology-based solutions that protect all people—especially those most underserved and at risk because of their race, ethnicity, age, gender, or income—from the impacts of disease outbreaks. To that end, Solve seeks solutions that:
- Equip last-mile primary healthcare providers with the necessary tools and knowledge to detect disease outbreaks quickly and respond to them effectively.
- Strengthen disease surveillance, early warning predictive systems, and other data systems to detect, slow, or halt future disease outbreaks.
- Prevent the spread of misinformation and inspire individuals to protect themselves and their communities, including through information campaigns and behavioral nudges.
- Combat loneliness, stress, depression, and other mental health impacts of disease outbreaks.
Award Information
Health Security & Pandemics Challenge will receive a $10,000 grant funded by Solve.
Eligibility Criteria
- Anyone, anywhere around the world can submit a solution to Solve’s Global Challenges. You can be an individual, a team, or an organization. You can be an applicant from previous years or already part of the community. If you have a solution, they hope you’ll apply.
- Current and alumni Solver teams are allowed to apply to a new Global Challenge; however, the solution must be new and not the same solution that was previously selected by Solve.
For more information, visit https://solve.mit.edu/challenges/2021-health-security-pandemics