Now in its third year, the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge offers $300,000 in prizes to students and recent college or university alumni who are using digital technology to impact society and the environment. With a goal of impacting over a billion people by 2025, Cisco views the Internet of Things (IoT) and other digital technologies as excellent vehicles for entrepreneurs and inventors to spread their ideas globally and faster than ever before. Cisco plans to help award winners make positive change anywhere in the world.
Cisco shows special interest in solutions that address critical human needs like healthcare, the environment, education, accessibility, financial inclusion, and water or food security. Every solution is critically examined both by Cisco’s technology experts and its high-profile judges, and the challenge provides validation by peers and the industry for the solutions.
The contest is accepting applications until January 11th, 2019. The winner receives $100,000 USD as the grand prize, while the first runner up receives $75,000, the next three receive $25,000, and a final four receive $10,000 in prize money. An additional $10,000 is reserved for the People’s Choice prize, awarded to the finalist entry with the most votes.
Interested individuals can enter solo, as part of a team, or as a business entity. Teams must be students currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution or recipients of a degree after March 1st, 2017. Business entities must have at least 25% of the business owned by individuals who meet the above qualifications. No matter the team, every solution must incorporate IoT or digital technology in the solution, and it must have a positive economic, environmental, or social impact.
