NSF Prize Challenge for Innovative Learning Technologies for K-12 Students – Due March 2023
Posted February 8, 2023
Discipline(s): Science and Education
The U.S. National Science Foundation has launched a $6 million prize challenge to develop innovative learning technologies for K-12 students made possible through a partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Schmidt Futures, and the Walton Family Foundation. The three-phase, one-year challenge will encourage interdisciplinary teams from the science and engineering research and startup or small-business communities to advance innovative concepts.
Participating teams will have the chance to receive over $70,000 in development and commercialization support through the Discovery, Semi-final and Final rounds, and up to $250,000 in prizes. These teams will be supported through training, coaching, resources, and funding to develop a marketable educational technology prototype that can equitably impact learning. They will simultaneously build capacities in entrepreneurship, research-based design, learner variability, inclusion, and equity in the education marketplace
The VITAL Prize Challenge will focus on providing interdisciplinary teams the funding and training to build K-12 learning technology innovations at speed and scale. Teams will be supported through training, coaching, resources, and funding to develop a marketable educational technology prototype that can equitably impact learning.
The challenge will be composed of four progressive steps:
- Concept Paper: A concept paper is submitted by any interested team;
- Discovery Round: An invitational opportunity for approximately 100 teams, chosen from those submitting Concept Papers, to participate in customer discovery activities;
- Semi-Final Round: Approximately 55 teams are partnered with an educational mentor (e.g., K-12 teacher) for prototype design, feasibility testing, and initial development activities; and
- Final Round: Approximately 35 teams will conduct prototype development and validation, culminating with a Pitch Session.
Teams applying to the VITAL Prize Challenge will submit concept papers to one of three K-12 technology translation tracks, depending on the anticipated application, end user, and area of impact: Rapid and Continuous Learning Assessment; Mathematical Literacy to Promote a Future STEM Workforce; or Other Innovations in Translational Learning Technologies. More details can be found in the VITAL Dear Colleague Letter or on the VITAL Prize Challenge webpage.
The VITAL Prize Challenge portal will begin accepting concept papers in winter 2023. To receive an email notification about when and how to submit a concept paper, sign up for NSF's email newsletter for VITAL. Sign Up for the VITAL Newsletter
