Invention as Public Service at MIT Inspire, Support, and Scale Student Innovation Presentation to Alumni Club Leaders January 10, 2011

An annual invention and entrepreneurship competition that connects and awards MIT student-led teams of public service innovators. Provides implementation grants for one year to pilot novel solutions to barriers to well-being. What is the MIT Global Challenge?

Goal 1 Support MIT’s entrepreneurial ecology by providing the support needed to get nascent technologies – products, services, and processes – out of labs and into communities.

Goal 2 Foster student learning under real-world conditions by supporting their efforts to work in partnership with communities around the world.

Goal 3 Involve the worldwide MIT community in activities that increase the prospects for student success, deliver results to communities alumni care about, and respond to alumni interests.

Three inspirations. The first 25,800 companies 3.3 million employed annually $2 trillion global revenues

We asked, imagine if we applied MIT’s technical and entrepreneurial talent to today’s humanitarian challenges.

The second $260,000 in awards 64 teams 26 countries $3.4m in follow-on funding

We asked, what would happen if cracked this process open to the world-wide MIT community – what impact could we make, together?

The third In 2008 the MIT150 planning committee sought ideas for ways to mark Institute’s 150 years with characteristics including: Focus on doing Distinctively MIT Participatory Communicated to the world

The MIT Public Service Center enthusiastically responded with a proposal to involve the world-wide MIT community in invention as public service.

Why now? Reason 1 Increased interest in social entrepreneurship and “design for development” across campus.

Reason 2 MIT150 provides an opportunity to focus on the Institute’s legacy of service.

Reason 3 Right confluence of timing, technology, and capacity.

How it works Competition lifecycle 1-3 Discovery, Design Students learn about design challenges, teams propose solutions and receive feedback on their ideas. 4-5 Decide, Deploy Judges nominate winners; they are announced at the awards ceremony and have a year to implement their projects.

Supported by campus and web-based activities Information sessions Mixers and socials Proposal review sessions Poster and judging Awards ceremony

Agriculture, Processing Education, Training Emergency, Disaster Relief Energy, Environment Employment, Entrepreneurship Housing, Transportation Health, Accessibility Mobiles, ICTs Water, Sanitation

Examples of Student Teams

PerfectSight Developed an innovative, mobile system for diagnosing refractive eye conditions for under $1 using cell phones. Year awarded: 2010Location: India

Komera Developed a tandem production unit for the assembly of female sanitation pads by women’s cooperatives in developing countries where bananas are common. Year awarded: 2010Location: Rwanda

Egg Energy Developed innovative lighting and energy leasing franchise that aims to eliminate costly, unhealthy, and dangerous kerosene lanterns used around the world. Year awarded: 2009Location: Tanzania

AssuredLabor/Empe oListo! Developed a mobile platform to rapidly connect employers with workers who may lack reliable connection to the internet. Year awarded: 2008Location: Nicaragua

Braille Labeler A lightweight, portable electronic labeling device that greatly enhances the identification of household items for the visually impaired. Year awarded: 2009Location: US

Where we’re headed (2011) Launch to the World January 7 Final Proposals due April 5 Online Voting begins April 6 Poster & Judging Session is April 25 Award Ceremony is May 2 Teams Hit the Field in June

Where we’re headed (2012 and beyond) Open the competition to alumni challenges and teams (2012?) Open the competition to non-MIT youth teams, with Lemelson-MIT Program (2013?) “Federate” the platform for other schools and universities ( )

Key alumni opportunities Mentor teams Be a part of the community vote Join our online panel Poster & Judging Session is April 25 Award Ceremony is May 2 Teams Hit the Field in June

Celebrate with us!

Thank you Lars Hasselblad Torres Kate Mytty On the web On