The Lab-to-Market (L2M) subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council’s Committee on the Science and Technology Enterprise is launching a $325,000 prize competition to highlight successful examples of innovation ecosystems, particularly existing resources that support underrepresented communities or remarkable responses to the pandemic environment. The prize competition will also recognize the most impactful ideas for using prize funds to develop strong connections and support within the research and development (R&D) innovation ecosystem. 

The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Innovation and Technology will be the Prize Administrator. To compete, applicants must submit a ten-slide presentation and a 90-second video to the submission portal (opens September 30, 12:00 PM ET). The total prize purse is $325,000 to be divided in cash prizes of $10,000 or $25,000 each.