Frequently asked questions
Who can apply?
Clinicians, residents, allied eye-care professionals, engineers, data scientists, designers, students, and researchers. What matters is that your team addresses a genuine problem in eye care.
How large can a team be?
Between two and six people, including the lead applicant. You register first, then invite teammates by email from your dashboard. They receive a link to set a password and can co-edit the same application with you.
Do I need a team before I register?
No. Register on your own and add teammates later. You only need at least two members by the time you submit.
Is there a fee to participate?
No. Participation is free.
What exactly do I submit?
A project title, Background and Prior Knowledge, a Proposed Solution, and the Expected Value, each between 50 and 200 words, and one pitch deck as a PDF or PowerPoint file up to 10MB. Live word counters guide you as you write.
Can I save and come back later?
Yes. Your application saves automatically as you type, and any teammate can continue working on it. Nothing is final until you submit.
Can I edit after submitting?
Submitted applications are locked so judging stays fair. If something needs correcting, contact an organizer and they can reopen it for you to revise and resubmit.
Is judging anonymous?
Yes. Blind review is enabled, so evaluators assess the work without seeing team identities. Evaluators also declare any conflict of interest.
Will I be told my status?
Yes. Every status change is emailed to you and shown on your dashboard, which tracks your progress from Draft through Submitted, Under Review, Shortlisted, Finalist, and Winner.
Does the work need to be original?
Yes. All work must be original or appropriately licensed. Plagiarism results in disqualification.
What language should we submit in?
English.
How is my application judged?
Multiple evaluators score it independently against a published weighted rubric covering innovation, clinical and eye-care impact, feasibility, team capability, and presentation.