More than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, we still haven’t mastered the face mask. The current options result in fogging of eyeglasses, difficulty communicating, physical discomfort, and the dreaded maskne.
“In addition, many masks that are currently available tout unconfirmed protective capabilities that lack scientific evidence to support such claims,” according to the US Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). “Overall, there is a need to develop better designs, materials, and technologies that are more acceptable to wearers and that ensure quantified measures of performance,” the group said in a Mask Innovation Challenge news release.
In collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the government is offering up to $500,000 for people to “build tomorrow’s mask.”
The multi-phase challenge aims to improve the comfort, utility, and protective capabilities of day-to-day face coverings. Proposals must be simple, mass producible, and low cost, while also providing protection from respiratory disease pathogens. “This competition is designed to support the development of mask designs that meet defined performance standards while also overcoming barriers to use,” BARDA said.
Phase one features two “innovation tracks.” The first focuses on improving existing mask designs, while the second invites fresh ideas using different technology and materials. Submissions should include schematics, which may be tested in the future. From up to 40 regional winners, no more than 10 finalists will receive $10,000 to build their prototype.
The second “proof of concept” stage asks that participants respond to a hypothetical scenario with a brand-spanking-new mask, not based on anything we’ve seen before. Frontrunners are invited to put forward their prototype for professional testing; up to five winners will split a total prize pot of $400,000. Blueprint entries will be accepted online until 5pm ET on April 21. Contributors are limited to one submission per person; additional proposals may not be reviewed.
