do you have any ideas that can help change the world for the better? the WIRED COMMON GROUND CHALLENGE, supported by the institute of industrial science (IIS) at the university of tokyo and PwC Consulting, is an awards contest that can help you to help the planet. this contest has been launched to support and promote technology projects and creators with the aim of solving all manners of social issues on scales ranging from the human to the global.

 

to enter the 2022 WIRED COMMON GROUND CHALLENGE, apply here. entries are open until march 6, 2022.

WIRED COMMON GROUND CHALLENGE awaits your application to improve society
the 2022 WIRED COMMON GROUND CHALLENGE is issuing an open invitation to entrants the world over with ideas and technologies for improving society.

 

 

the 2022 WIRED common ground challenge

 

launched by the tech culture publication WIRED japan, the WIRED COMMON GROUND CHALLENGE (WCGC) is aimed at realizing the ideas and technologies of researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, architects, designers, creators, and people working in various other fields by helping to propel them forward onto the implementation stage. in addition, ISS will provide technical advice and PwC Consulting will offer business mentoring to prize-winning entrants.

 

in an attempt to address social issues, the 2022 WCGC seeks entries guided by two themes: well-being and resilience. there are two distinct challenges, namely how can we realize a world of well-being where different beings can care for each other, and how should a new infrastructure be built that balances safety and freedom in the face of unpredictable environmental changes?

 

 

CRITERIA and jury

 

the WCGC’s criteria invites entrants from around the world to solve deep-rooted problems facing society while ensuring not only that the issues to be tackled are of great importance but also that the technology to be employed is appropriate for the task. the solutions should stem from an international perspective and be capable of being scaled up and implemented worldwide. in addition, the entries should display a creative intensity matches the objectives of the contest.

 

a jury panel will assess the entrants based on the above criteria. the panel will consist of prominent individuals who are experts in their respective fields of technology, ranging from research specialists to university professors who teach in countries around the world for example anthony dunne, a leader in speculative design, kate darling, a researcher in roboethics at the MIT media lab and takeo kanade, a computer scientist and inventor in the field of robotic vision, and will also include representatives of WIRED’s consulting partners and WIRED japan editor-in-chief michiaki matsushima.

 

 

publicity, business support and cash prizes

 

the grand prix winner will receive a cash award of 3,000,000 JPY (approx. $26,000 USD), business support from various expert companies, a global tech tour including a visit to tokyo, and an interview article published prominently in WIRED.

 

similarly, the winner of the semi-grand prix will receive a cash award of 1,000,000 JPY (approx. $8,600 USD), business support from various expert companies, a global tech tour including a visit to tokyo, and an interview article published prominently in WIRED.

 

there are also two additional prizes: PWC consulting award and the interspace collaborative research center award.

 

 

entry is open to adult individuals or groups who believe they have a solution worthy of consideration of the award. entries can be submitted at any time between january 12 to march 6, 2022. the final judgement meeting and awards ceremony will take place in may 2022.

 

you can enter the challenge now – here.

 

 

competition info:

 

competition: the WIRED COMMON GROUND CHALLENGE

entry period: january 12 – march 6, 2022

organizer: WIRED japan

co-sponsor: institute of industrial science (ISS), university of tokyo

supporting sponsor: PwC Consulting LLC