Sprint Challenge Brief:

Sustainable, biocompatible materials for personal protective equipment

  Submissions Closed

BACKGROUND

In support of multiple global industrial partners, TechConnect Ventures is calling for Entries describing sustainable, biocompatible materials for use in personal protective equipment (PPE).  The increased use of PPE (specifically disposable masks, gloves, and face shields) since the onset of the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic in 2020 has renewed calls for effective alternatives that do not rely on fossil-fuel derived materials such as polyester, polyethylene, or other polymers.

The goal of this Sprint is to identify innovations – including materials, processing methods or novel manufacturing techniques – that can accelerate the adoption of PPE products that address the growing demand for sustainability in the consumer, commercial, and regulatory sectors without compromise of performance. Submissions and novel concepts from individuals and organizations at all levels are invited, including the academia, research, commercial and government sectors.

Requirements

Solvers submitting an Entry should are encouraged to highlight key innovation areas in their Submission, with particular focus on (if applicable) materials that maintain protection and performance:

  • Recyclability or reusability of end-product
  • Recyclability or reusability of raw materials
  • Compostability/biodegradability under at-home conditions
  • Biopolymers for disposable PPE
  • Other bio-sourced materials for fibers such as linen, bamboo, hemp
  • Green advanced manufacturing methods (e.g. 3-D printing)
  • PPE solutions sourced from recycled materials are of interest

 

Business Opportunity for Solvers

All complete and eligible Entries will be included in an exclusive Innovation Opportunity Report that will be presented to our consortium of innovation-seeking clients and partners. Solvers with well-matched capabilities may be contacted directly by clients to discuss potential partnership opportunities. Top-rated Entries may also be invited to register or participate in an upcoming TechConnect Ventures event or pitch program.

EVALUATION

TechConnect Ventures and the members of its COVID-19 coalition will review all submissions within 4-6 weeks of the Submission Deadline. Based on the nature of the innovation and strength of the response relative to all submissions received, top innovators may be selected for further discussions, pitches or proposals which may lead to contractual or commercial engagements for the research, development or commercialization of the most promising technologies.

QUESTIONS?

Contact info@techconnectventures.com and reference the Sprint Topic.

Participation Rules & Guidelines

  1. You must complete the provided Submission webform on the Sprint Submission page.
  2. You are encouraged to submit a short presentation or pitch deck. A template is available on the Submission page.
  3. 3. DO NOT INCLUDE ANY INFORMATION MARKED CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, SENSITIVE OR CLASSIFIED. SUBMISSIONS MARKED AS SUCH WILL NOT BE SHARED WITH CLIENTS.

Solvers are encouraged to review the Rules and Guidelines provided on the Sprint page for details about participation, including submission criteria, eligibility information, and more.

Download Challenge Brief

QUESTIONS? Contact Executive Director, Nick Kacsandi at info@techconnectventures.com