Apply Now for the $1,000,000 Global Innovation Challenge Before the April 30 Deadline!

The Global Innovation Challenge 2025 offers a one-million-dollar prize for groundbreaking mobility assistance technologies. However, the April 30 application deadline is just around the corner! The competition is open to organizations working on mobility solutions for independent living for individuals with lower limb paralysis. This can include robotic exoskeletons, functional electrical stimulation (FES), and/or epidural electrical stimulation (EES).

In addition to the recognition and the sizable prize pool, this is an opportunity for equipment to be tested against what assistive devices for tasks of everyday living would be expected to perform. The competition grounds include an entire see-through apartment and staff to record and evaluate the performance of each solution. Prototypes often remain in research centers for too long before real-world testing. This is a typical shortcoming in industry and academia, and this challenge directly helps alleviate this problem.

Application Timeline:

• Application Guidelines Released: February 17, 2025
• Entry Period: February 17 – April 30, 2025
• Notification of Application Screening Results: By May 31, 2025
• Judging Period: June – November 2025
• Demonstration Event: November 30, 2025

Note that interested teams must submit their entry sheets during the entry period to be considered for participation.

2025 Edition Competition Tasks:

Participants will be challenged with seven tasks designed to simulate daily activities, and each task is designed to assess the functionality and effectiveness of the developed technologies in real-life scenarios.:

1. Toilet: Move to and use the toilet (Time limit: 8 minutes)
2. Preparation: Wash face in the bathroom (Time limit: 6 minutes)
3. Meal: Place a prepared meal on the table and sit down to eat (Time limit: 9 minutes)
4. Laundry: Wash laundry, take it from the line, fold clothes, and put them into the wardrobe (Time limit: 10 minutes)
5. Package Receiving: Receive a delivered package, unwrap it, and place the contents in the refrigerator (Time limit: 8 minutes)
6. Cleaning: Clean the house with a vacuum cleaner and take the trash bags out (Time limit: 11 minutes)
7. Bathing: Take a bath and change clothes (Time limit: 16 minutes)

Prize Details:

In this contest, the pilot (commonly referred to as the “user” on ExR), is a person with paralysis in both legs, equips a robot and performs seven daily tasks. If the pilot successfully completes all tasks, the team will be awarded a maximum of $1,000,000 cash prize. The organiser will cover travel expenses or venue preparation costs for teams that pass the document screening process. Teams that complete the tasks will be invited to a demonstration in Japan. For more details, please refer to the application guidelines on the competition’s website.

Venue Information:

The contest will be held at the GIC Tsukuba Innovation Center, located at 877 Nakasugama, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-4242, Japan. However, teams can also submit a request to compete remotely. A maximum of $10,000 will be provided to cover remote venue preparation expenses. Please refer to the official Global Innovation Challenge website for more detailed information and updates.

About the Global Innovation Challenge:

The Global Innovation Challenge 2025 is an international competition aimed at fostering the development of advanced tools and technologies to assist individuals with lower limb paralysis or disabilities. This initiative aims to empower wheelchair-bound individuals to walk independently, utilizing their remaining functions without caregiver assistance. TKF Co., Ltd. and the City of Tsukuba are sponsoring the Global Innovation Challenge 2025.

Previous Editions of the Competition:

• The Global Innovation Challenge 2024 Living Assistance Robot Contest was held in Tsukuba City, Japan, on June 29 and 30, 2024. Two teams, Team WPAL (Japan) and FREE Bionics Japan (Taiwan), entered the contest. Team WPAL participated in tasks 1 through 4, and FREE Bionics Japan participated in tasks 1 through 6… read more
• The 2021 Global Innovation Challenge Executive Committee held an award ceremony for four exoskeleton teams that assisted individuals with accomplishing tasks of everyday living. The total prize pool amounted to approximately $600,000… read more