Why are we doing this?

Mobility is a fundamental part of being independent and free to participate in society. Yet, globally, society is not fully inclusive to millions of people with paralysis.

While there is no single experience, people with lower-limb paralysis face barriers to their mobility, and therefore their independence, because of inaccessible environments and inadequate technology.

Mobility devices can be life changing, but the pace of innovation is frustratingly slow. Disincentives such as small and fragmented markets, regulatory burdens, and difficulties getting new technology paid for by healthcare systems and insurers are all impeding progress.

What are we doing?

The Challenge Prize Centre is working with the Toyota Mobility Foundation to design and deliver the Mobility Unlimited Challenge. The Challenge will seek to support innovative assistive mobility devices that incorporate intelligent systems. Our aim is that these devices will support radical improvements in the mobility and independence of people with lower-limb paralysis.

The Challenge is open to innovators from around the world. To be eligible, innovators will have to commit to co-creating their devices with end users, people with lower-limb paralysis.

What’s next?

Following our launch in November 2017, we’re giving potential entrants nine months to submit their entries and we’ll be announcing the finalists in November 2018. Each finalist will receive $500,000 to develop their prototypes.

To help break down financial barriers to entry, we’ll also be running Discovery Awards during the entry period. Ten potential entrants will each receive $50,000 to develop and submit their entries.

Finally, in 2020, we’ll announce the winner of our $1,000,000 prize.