XPRIZE teams with Open Photonics on optical technologies for a handheld diagnostic device
Orlando, FL--Open Photonics, a technology acceleration firm, is partnering with XPRIZE (Playa Vista, CA) to identify and match innovators from the global photonics community with teams competing in the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE. Sponsored by Qualcomm Foundation, the $10 million Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE is a 3.5-year competition to stimulate the integration of precision diagnostic technologies in a wireless, handheld device.
There are 287 teams from 35 countries now pre-registered for the competition. Open Photonics will serve as an official resource for competing teams, offering access to concepts from photonic research teams interested in developing new optical diagnostic technologies that can be incorporated into mobile device platforms. These ideas will be available to registered teams as part of the competition’s online marketplace.
“It is possible that more than one-third of the key diagnostic measurements required as part of the guidelines for the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE can be made using light,” said Jason Eichenholz, CEO of Open Photonics. Mark Winter, Senior Director of the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, says, “We suspect that many extraordinary solutions for the prize may emerge because of the unique relevance of photonics in diagnosing several of the health conditions the competition looks to detect."
Related video: Interview with Jason Eichenholz about the XPRIZE partnership
Open Photonics accelerates early-stage product development, innovation, and research and development for global clients that seek photonic based solutions as part of their strategy and product roadmap. The XPRIZE partnership is the latest in a series of partnerships recently announced by Open Photonics.
XPRIZE works to solve the world’s Grand Challenges by creating and managing large-scale, high-profile, incentivized prize competitions in five Prize Groups: Learning; Exploration; Energy & Environment; Global Development; and Life Sciences. Active prizes include the $30 million Google Lunar XPRIZE, the $10 million Archon Genomics XPRIZE presented by Express Scripts, the $10 million Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, and the $2.25 million Nokia Sensing XCHALLENGE. For more information, go to www.xprize.org.
Related article: Open Photonics facilitates R&D-to-commercialization process
Conard Holton | Editor at Large
Conard Holton has 25 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief, while continuing as contributing editor at Laser Focus World. Conard became editor in chief of Laser Focus World in August 2011, a role in which he served through August 2018. He then served as Editor at Large for Laser Focus World and Co-Chair of the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar from August 2018 through January 2022. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional studies at the Colorado School of Mines and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.