Ray C. Anderson Foundation and Biomimicry Institute Announce Biomimicry Global Design Challenge and $100,000 Ray of Hope Prize
November 13, 2014 /3BL Media/ - For years, the Biomimicry Institute and founder Janine Benyus have asked, “How can nature-inspired design solve the world’s most pressing problems?” The Biomimicry Institute and partner Ray C. Anderson Foundation have now upped the ante by asking, “How can we accelerate the commercial viability of biomimetic solutions to our greatest challenges?” In response, the two nonprofits jointly announced their commitements at the Clinton Global Initiative CGI Conference a few weeks ago in New York City. The Biomimicry Global Design Challenge and the creation of a $100,000 Ray C. Anderson “Ray of Hope” Prize have been created to bring commercially viable solutions from the design lab to the market.
“Seeding and accelerating nature-inspired solutions to global challenges is the aim of our new partnership,” said John Lanier, director of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, announcing that the first two years of the challenge will focus on solutions to global food security.
Interface Founder Ray Anderson, who served as co-chair of the Presidential Council on Sustainable Development from 1997-1999 under President Clinton, was famously inspired by biomimicry. His carpet company was one of the first to invite biologist Janine Benyus to the design table, resulting in the company’s number one selling carpet tile product, Entropy. Designed to mimic a forest floor, Entropy revolutionized carpet tile manufacturing and installation, resulting in little to no waste.
The Biomimicry Global Design Challenge aims to accelerate market-ready, scalable solutions with a unique approach: “In Year One, we will seed biomimetic design concepts with awards of up to $10,000 to approximately five entrants,” explained Beth Rattner, executive director of the Biomimicry Institute. “Awardees will be invited to return to demonstrate prototype solutions and compete for the $100,000 "Ray of Hope" prize to scale the solution and bring it to market. At the same time, another five design concepts will be seeded, and the cycle will begin anew.”
About the Biomimicry Institute
The Biomimicry Institute is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that empowers people to seek nature-inspired solutions for a healthy planet.
About Ray C. Anderson Foundation
The Ray C. Anderson Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that seeks to promote a sustainable society by supporting and funding educational and project-based initiatives that advance knowledge and innovation in sustainability.
