The theme for 2023 is “Optimizing Health Span: Living Well at Every Age“.
A total of more than $17,000 in cash prizes will be awarded, and finalists will receive paid travel to Stanford, where they will present their designs to renowned industry, academic, and government leaders.
The near-doubling of human life spans throughout much of the world during the 20th century is one of the greatest achievements in human history. A key challenge now is to ensure that the quality of those added years keeps pace with dramatic increases in the length of life. We must develop new ways to align life spans with health spans, defined as the period people remain healthy, mobile, and mentally sharp, unimpeded by chronic pain, illness, or disability. The focus of the 10th annual Stanford Center on Longevity Design Challenge is to create solutions that optimize health spans and promote longevity.
Student designers are invited to create solutions that contribute towards the optimization of health span at any age. Especially welcomed are designs that increase the health spans of people in disadvantaged circumstances, which may include poverty, food, housing, or climate insecurity.
Examples of designs include (but are not limited to) solutions that:
- Increase physical activity
- Improve diet
- Improve sleep
- Reduce chronic disease
- Improve mental health
- Enhance social connection
Benefits
Finalists will receive:
- $1,000 USD to help with prototyping and finals preparation.
- Mentorship from an experienced industry professional.
- Paid travel (limited) to the Finals at Stanford University in April 2023, conditions permitting.
Winners will receive*:
- 1st place: $10,000 USD
- 2nd place: $5,000 USD
- 3rd place: $2,000 USD
*All prizes are subject to 30% US federal tax withholding and 7% state withholding (if payment exceeds $1,500).
Application Process
- Create a design for a product, service, or program that addresses the challenge topic, “Optimizing Health Span: Living Well at Every Age.”
- Submit your design (for free) any time before 8 December 2022.
- 6-8 Finalist teams will be announced on 25 January 2023.
- The Final competition will be held at Stanford University in April 2023 (conditions permitting; exact date TBD).
Eligibility
- Each team must consist of at least one full-time student from any accredited institution of higher education anywhere in the world (can be undergraduate or graduate)
- Teams may have a total of up to 5 members, and may include non-students. Students may also compete alone, as a team of 1.
- Only students are allowed to present at the Finals.
No Entry Fee!
It’s free to enter.