XPRIZE, a leading platform for innovation and impact through incentive competitions, celebrated its 25th anniversary this year and announced the five winning concepts of its most recent competition at Visioneering 2019. The foundation gathers together annually to design and evaluate future competitions that to date has yielded 17 competitions offering more than $150M in prize funds since its inception 25 years ago.
This year, five XPRIZE concepts won in the categories of food and agriculture, human health and longevity, waste and circular economy, and housing and infrastructure. The top winner was the Charter Communities in the housing and infrastructure category, led by producer and songwriter, Pharrell Williams, who grew up in the public housing system that the Community now hopes to transform.
Approximately 500 world leaders, innovators, philanthropists, and artists attended Visioneering to discuss global environmental issues and problem-solve concepts to solve challenges. The other winning ideas included a regenerative agriculture system, an environmental toxin detector, an eco-friendly plastic for food packaging, and a system to grow new trees quickly and efficiently.
“Visioneering is where our community of benefactors gather with scientific experts and determine where breakthroughs are needed,” said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, XPRIZE Founder and Executive Chairman. “This year we decided to focus on the environment because of the urgency needed for innovation and action. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, I’m proud of the fact that we have evolved from an initial focus on space, to a broad vision of driving breakthroughs in fields ranging from food, water and energy, to education, health and the environment. Visioneering continues to be the place to gather the brightest minds and create, support, and inspire world-changing ideas.”
