WSU accepting business proposals for COVID-19 Innovation Challenge

Washington State University’s Center for Innovation is looking people with creative ideas to solve a current or future problem related to COVID-19.

The Center for Innovation, in partnership with live sciences incubator sp3nw, WSU’s Stevens County Extension office and Coeur d’Alene-based GIZMO, launched a COVID-19 Innovation Challenge, which is open to community members with potential solutions for coronavirus-related issues, such as inhibiting the spread of infection, overcoming supply-chain disruptions and supporting daily living tasks, among other things.

The deadline to enter the COVID-19 Innovation Challenge is Oct. 23. Participants can enter at: http://form.jotform.com/202675210709149.

Three finalists will be invited to submit full proposals with an executive summary and pitch video for further consideration on Nov. 2. Finalists will also be selected to participate in a pitch event Nov. 18 via Zoom.

Contest winners – who will be notified by Nov. 20 – will receive $25,000 for product and prototype development as well as mentorship in market validation, field testing, intellectual property protections, funding connections and manufacturing.