C-Prize champions wearable technology

**embargoed until 6pm, 3 April**

C-Prize champions wearable technology

April 3, 2017

The next big thing in wearable technology could come from New Zealand’s premier challenge prize, launched by Callaghan Innovation in Auckland this evening.

The government’s business innovation agency has launched the 2017 C-Prize, offering challenge prizes to develop great ideas in wearable technology.

Callaghan Innovation CE Vic Crone says the C-Prize incentives, which include a $100,000 grand prize package will stimulate some great ideas, and the very best will become viable businesses.

“We know it takes a lot of courage to make the leap into innovation, and an opportunity like C-Prize can be just the nudge that people with ideas and ambition need to create a tangible concept.”

C-Prize 2017 calls for innovation in three important areas for New Zealand: living healthier, working safer and playing smarter.

Entrants need to create a hardware-software wearable solution that captures and processes user data and communicates feedback allowing the user to act to enhance their outcome.

Entries close July 2, 2017.

VX Sport CEO, Richard Snow, who will be one of the C-Prize 2017 judges, says wearable technology offers an exciting and virtually limitless opportunity for innovators.

“It can not only enhance personal communications for people within their environment, but also to create sensors and analysis that will improve health, wellness and efficiency in our daily lives.”

The first C-Prize, held two years ago, created a huge buzz around drone-tech, and launched the successful Dotterel venture, which has won awards and attracted investment for its noise-reduction technology was showcased as a C-Prize finalist in 2015.

C-Prize 2017: the basics

Who can enter?

Anyone aged 16 and over, living in New Zealand. Entries are open until midnight, July 2, 2017.

How do you enter?

Go to www.cprize.nz for all the eligibility criteria, rules and entry details.

What’s up for grabs?

One C-Prize grand-prize winner will be awarded a NZ$100,000 prize package that includes:

* NZ$50,000 cash

* An expenses-paid North American market insights trip (for up to four team members) which includes attendance at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Trade Show in Las Vegas, January 2018

* Wide market exposure supported by Callaghan Innovation and NZTE

* Directional support to progress commercialisation opportunities

* A Projet 1200 Micro SLA (3D) printer from Fuji Xerox (RRP $8,500)

* A 12-month tenancy for (for up to four people) at the Human Performance Innovation Centre in Auckland

Up to 10 finalist teams will each be awarded a NZ$35,000 prize package that includes:

* NZ$10,000 cash to develop the proposed wearable technology solution into a prototype

* Access to stage one of the Callaghan Innovation IP programme

* Access to New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) programmes support

* Access to two C-Prize programme workshops, delivered by Callaghan Innovation and the C-Prize network of experts, to support the development of the wearable technology prototype and user benefit opportunity.

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