Stay informed on MovieLabs Technology Open Challenge.
Send a blank
email to challenge@movielabs.com to
join the mailing list.
Introducing the MovieLabs Technology Open Challenge!
The MovieLabs Technology Open Challenge is an effort to find creative
solutions to technical obstacles by challenging researchers and
technologists to offer ideas and win grants for promising new technologies.
What
are the current MovieLabs Technology Open Challenges?
How does it work?
The basic idea is simple. MovieLabs has identified technology challenges and will offer grants to technologists who propose the most promising solutions. The challenges will focus on technology obstacles facing the film and video industry, and the grants will range from $25,000 for early ideas to as much as $100,000 for fully developed prototypes or products ready for commercialization.
Who can participate?
The MovieLabs Technology Open Challenge is open to individuals,
corporations, and university, government, or private laboratory
researchers. It is intended primarily as a way to foster the development
of new ideas and technologies, not as a tool for funding business
plans.
How do you participate?
The steps to participate are: (1) familiarize
yourself with the MovieLabs Technology Open Challenge program
by reviewing information on this site, (2) read the details of
each posted challenge, including the goals, technical criteria,
and any other information specific to the challenge, (3) develop
your submission in a form that meets the technical criteria, (4)
review our Submission Guidelines and send a write-up of your submission
to MovieLabs according to those guidelines.
Selection process and
criteria
MovieLabs will review submissions and award grants only
if submissions (1) meet the technical criteria for each challenge
and (2) in our judgment offer the film industry a promising and
viable new solution to the identified technical obstacle. We
may contact you to request further information or ask clarifying
questions about your submission. As a general rule, only one
grant will be awarded for the most promising solution to each
challenge. However, if more than one promising submission is
received, MovieLabs may choose to award multiple grants at its
discretion.
Eligibility for grants
Winning submissions will be eligible for
grants based on MovieLabs' assessment
of the development phase and overall promise of the submission.
If the submission is a clever idea not yet developed into a prototype
or product, the grant may be a small incentive award in the amount
of $25,000. If the submission is a more fully developed prototype
or a product ready for commercialization, the grant may be a
larger sum ranging as high as $100,000. The exact amount of each
grant will be determined by MovieLabs alone on a case-by-case
basis according to our judgment of the status and promise of
the winning submission. The purpose of each grant will be to
enable further development of the idea or technology.
If I submit
my idea, do I give MovieLabs any rights to the technology?
No. Nothing
about your submission will constitute a grant to MovieLabs of any
intellectual property rights owned by you. Please see the Submission
Guidelines.
When should I apply?
Please apply as early as you can. Do not wait
for the deadline unless absolutely necessary. We plan to offer
grants based on the merits of each proposal independently, and
grants may be awarded on a rolling basis before the final deadline.
Will
MovieLabs sign an NDA to receive the submission?
No. MovieLabs
will not sign an NDA for any submission. If your idea is promising
and we are interested in deeper discussion around the submission,
we may sign an NDA if necessary to enable those deeper discussions.
Please see the Submission Guidelines.
Will I jeopardize my patent
rights if I submit an idea?
Disclosure rules can be complex, so
we recommend that you ask your attorney for specific information
on this issue if you have concerns.
If I build a great prototype
or product, will MovieLabs commit to buying products from me?
MovieLabs
is a non-profit research organization, not a commercial operation.
Other than potential grant funding, you should not expect any other
compensation from MovieLabs for your participation in this program.
If
I have other questions, how do I learn more?
Please send questions
to challenge@movielabs.com.
We will attempt to respond, but we are not staffed to answer all
inquiries. If you are a member of the press and have questions,
please send an email to press@movielabs.com.
