Make A Market Tech Challenge

On this page:

Winners of the Make a Market Tech Challenge
Informational Webinar Resources
Challenge Description
How to Enter
Important Dates
Eligibility
Prizes
Terms and Conditions
Judging
Helpful Resources
Questions

Winners of the Make a Market Tech Challenge

Market assessments provide valuable information on the potential market of a given technology and where it fits into the bigger industry picture. EPA launched the Make a Market Tech Challenge to solicit innovative strategies for market assessments of patented and unlicensed EPA-developed technologies.

Through this Challenge, students worked with innovative, real-world technologies in a hands-on business environment by scoping the best partnering strategy while expanding their scientific and marketing skill sets. Each student team produced a market assessment including an in-depth analysis of the potential market or need for a product or technology, potential consumers, competition, economic environment, trends, and more.

From the students’ research, EPA’s Federal Technology Transfer Act (FTTA) team will use these resources and tools to find key partnerships and practical applications for each of the environmental technologies. Results from the assessments will provide innovative strategies to bring commercial partners to EPA technologies by identifying marketing targets to run effective marketing campaigns and push technologies towards commerce and real-world environmental and public health solutions.

EPA awarded a total of $15,000 in prize money. The top five selected teams (one first place prize, two second place prizes, and two third place prizes) received monetary prizes and recognition from EPA for their innovative strategies for market assessments of new technologies developed by EPA researchers.

First Place ($6,000)

Esther Soon, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Water Contamination Detection Kit

Second Place ($3,000 each)

Rasheevan Nair, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Water Contamination Detection Kit
Nathan Sojourner, Nash Benton, Kolin Dhamelia, Serena Bauer, Daniel Powers, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, Selected Technology to Market: Carbon Traps to Deactivate Halogen Containing Pollutants

Third Place ($1,500 each)

Miguel Granados, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Water Contamination Detection Kit
Sena Hordoffa, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Portable Cyanobacteria Detection Kit for Recreation and Drinking Water Supplies

Informational Webinar Resources

Informational Webinar Recording - held on September 14, 2022

Make A Market Tech Challenge Presentation Slides (pdf) (381.49 KB)

Make A Market Tech Challenge Webinar Questions and Answers (Q&As) (pdf) (141.27 KB, 09/27/2022)

Challenge Description

Background

EPA conducts critical research in its laboratories and research centers to address important environmental issues. This research helps advance the understanding of environmental science and leads to inventions that benefit human health and the environment.

The Challenge

EPA launched the Make a Market Tech Challenge to solicit innovative strategies for market assessments of new technologies developed by EPA researchers. The challenge asks teams or individual participants to choose one of five patented EPA technologies listed below and compete to develop innovative market assessments for the selected technology. The technologies in this challenge have not been externally tested or verified. All have been filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office for patenting.

The five technologies are:

Water Contamination Detection Kit

Groundwater can be contaminated from natural sources of soil and sediment deposits or from industrial sources such as burning fossil fuels and mining. Arsenic pollution poses a great environmental risk as ingestion of arsenic-contaminated groundwater can lead to serious poisoning incidents. To address this risk, EPA researchers have invented a novel way to detect troubling pollutants that are found in many superfund sites, landfills, and other polluted locations. The “Water Contamination Detection Kit,” invented by Tao Li and Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie, detects arsenic pollutants as well as additional water contaminants, such as PFAS, mercury, and carbamate pesticides through electrochemical biosensors. This invention is easy-to-use, shelf stable, disposable, and highly portable for measuring pollutant concentrations in a wide variety of sites. This detection technology will be instrumental in monitoring and eliminating contaminants from polluted water sites as well as preventing the spread of contamination to water supplies.

Technology Interview: Water Contamination Detection Kit

For more details and information, visit the Water Contamination Detection Kit Google Patent.

Portable Cyanobacteria Detection Kit for Recreation and Drinking Water Supplies

Cyanobacteria, more commonly known as blue-green algae, are frequently found in freshwater systems. Cyanobacteria can produce toxins that are poisonous to livestock, wildlife, and humans, as well as cause odor problems and oxygen depletion. EPA inventor Jingrang Lu created a technology that will help water officials monitor toxic cyanobacterial levels in recreation and drinking water sources. The “Portable Cyanobacteria Detection Kit for Recreation and Drinking Water Supplies,” may help water officials quickly and accurately determine when specific toxin-producing cyanobacteria could produce detectible cyanotoxin too rapidly for public safety. Using qPCR (a method for measuring and detecting DNA), this technology can quantify the amount of cyanotoxins, harmful toxins that can lead to gastrointestinal, neurological, and liver disorders. Using this portable, easy to use technology, water officials will be able to rapidly identify and/or even predict harmful algal blooms (HABs) and make decisions to protect our recreational and drinking water resources.

Technology Interview: Portable Cyanobacteria Detection Kit for Recreation and Drinking Water Supplies

In situ Chloramine Sensor for Municipal Water Distribution Systems

Monochloramine has been used in low concentrations as a secondary disinfectant in the treatment of municipal water supplies as an alternative to adding chlorine to kill bacteria and viruses. However, monochloramine addition remains a concern in drinking water utilities as nitrification can occur in water systems containing monochloramine, reducing water quality, and promoting microbial growth. EPA’s newly developed sensor monitors monochloramine throughout water systems to determine whether the local concentration of monochloramine successfully controls the growth of biofilms, a collection of organic and inorganic material that adheres to the surface of the pipes in a water system. The “In situ Monochloramine Sensor for Monitoring Drinking Water Disinfectant Concentrations,” created by Jonathan Pressman, Woo Hyoung Lee, and David Wahman, generates data to allow municipal water systems to analyze the effectiveness of its treatment of biofilms within pipes. As more municipal water systems turn to monochloramine as a secondary disinfectant, this sensor will help them determine the proper doses to use and disinfectant residual remaining, ensuring that the health of consumers within the municipal water supply is protected and their water is clean.

Technology Interview: In situ Chloramine Sensor for Municipal Water Distribution Systems

For more details and information, visit the In situ Chloramine Sensor for Municipal Water Distribution Systems Google Patent.

Carbon Traps to Deactivate Halogen Containing Pollutants

Activities such as industrial processes and agricultural chemical use can produce man-made, toxic substances composed of organic compounds. These toxic chemicals are called persistent halogenated contaminants, and they do not degrade easily in the environment. The pollutants can enter waterways and harm people and wildlife. EPA created a technology to remediate persistent halogenated contaminants in waterbodies by stripping the halogens, making the pollutants unstable and, eventually, removing their risk. The “Carbon Traps to Deactivate Halogen Containing Pollutants” technology, invented by Souhail Al-Abed, John McKernan, and Slawomir Lomnicki can be placed in filters and traps that are then dispersed in lakes and streams or it can be used to decontaminate ecosystems for local wildlife and drinking water. Benefits of this material include an easy, hands-off method to clean water and sediments contaminated with halogenated pollutants, as well as to reduce bioaccumulation, the gradual accumulation of substances in people or animals, of those pollutants in food stocks. The technology represents an important step forward in securing water quality and food security for public health and the environment.

Technology Interview: Carbon Traps to Deactivate Halogen Containing Pollutants

For more details and information, visit the Carbon Traps to Deactivate Halogen Containing Pollutants Google Patent.

Cyanobacteria Assessment Network App (CyAN app)

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (HABs), which can appear in water bodies across the country during warm weather months, are an indicator of poor water quality and can potentially cause serious environmental concerns, including impacting human and aquatic health. When cyanobacterial HABs occur in recreational waters or source waters used for drinking, the toxins that may be released can cause respiratory or skin irritation and even illness in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. EPA researchers Blake Schaeffer, Robyn Conmy, Darryl Keith, Ross Lunetta, Mark Murphy, and Torrin Hultgren have developed a “Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN) App” to detect and forecast HABs across U.S. freshwater and coastal water systems. The mobile application uses satellite imagery to provide an easy-to-use and customizable interface to show users where HABs are occurring in water bodies. The technology can also supply critical information for users to pinpoint potential problem areas and make appropriate plans to reduce exposure to HABs. The tool will empower recreational water users and water professionals to make real time decisions on water use at the point of contact, enhancing the safe use of recreational and drinking water supplies.

Technology Interview: Cyanobacteria Assessment Network App (CyAN app)

For more details and information, visit the Cyanobacteria Assessment Network App (CyAN app) Google Patent.

How to Enter

Application Specifications

Solvers should complete the following information for one of the five technologies identified above. Submissions are limited to 10 pages or less (PDF Format).

Scoping the Market:
1. What is the potential industry for which the selected technology may be relevant?
2. What is the potential for market size, growth and opportunities for the technology?
3. Identify generally applicable market entry barriers.
4. How might a licensee further developing this technology accomplish market entry?
5. Is there a window of opportunity for the technology that is important (i.e., does the technology need to enter the market early to take advantage of an emerging market)?
6. Are there any specific government/state regulations or restrictions regarding the technology?
7. What is the cost or price of comparable technologies currently in the market?
8. What will the market look like in five years?
Targeting Use:
1. Provide an overview of potential commercial applications.
2. Identify distributors or manufacturers who would be interested in licensing the technology and providing a product or service to potential consumers or end users.
3. Provide contacts for the provided distributors or manufacturers identified in the previous question.
Understanding the Competition:
1. Who are the major competitors (direct and indirect) for the technology?
2. How does the EPA technology differ from the competitors?
3. What competitive advantage does the EPA have?
4. What competitive advantage does the competition have?
5. What possible advantage does this technology have that could be highlighted to potential licensees?

Required Paperwork

10 pages or less PDF document
Times New Roman 12-point font
1-inch margins
8.5 x 11 paper
Sectioned by each header (Market, Target, Competition)

Requirements for Submission

Pleas review the Application Details before submission.

To submit your entry for this challenge, you must complete the following steps:

Send your submission via email to makeamarktechchallenge@epa.gov by Saturday, December 31, 11:59 p.m. ET.
1. Email Subject Line: Make A Market Tech Challenge Submission – Individual Name or Team Name
Attach the PDF document
Include in the attached submission the technical point of contact (name, position, title, affiliation, contact phone number, contact email address). This is the individual who will manage communications and coordination between the Submitter(s) and EPA.
Include in the body message a listing of team members.

NOTE: Emails must be kept to under 9 megabytes to ensure your submission is not blocked by EPA servers.

Important Dates

Launch Date: Monday, July 18, 2022
Informational Webinar: Wednesday, September 14, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
Application Submissions Due: Saturday, December 31, 2022, 11:59 p.m. ET
Anticipated Award Announcement: Fall 2023

Eligibility

Under this challenge, EPA will award prizes to undergraduate (Bachelor’s program) and graduate students (Masters or PhD program) 18 years or older enrolled in U.S. accredited colleges and universities. Eligible participants can include college and university enrolled federal employees, military personnel, and government contractors applying as an individual or team. Non-U.S. individuals are eligible to participate and receive recognition for submitted applications but are not eligible to receive cash prizes.

EPA recognizes that it is important to engage all available minds to address the environmental challenges the Nation faces. At the same time, EPA seeks to expand the environmental conversation by including members of communities who may not have previously participated in such dialogues. For this reason, EPA strongly encourages all eligible applicants identified above, including undergraduate/graduate students from minority serving institutions (MSIs), to apply under this opportunity.

For more information about eligibility, please refer to the Make a Market Tech Application Form (PDF)

NOTE: EPA recognizes that it is important to engage all available minds to address the environmental challenges the Nation faces. At the same time, EPA seeks to expand the environmental conversation by including members of communities which may have not previously participated in such dialogues to participate in EPA programs. For this reason, EPA strongly encourages all eligible applicants identified above, including undergraduate/graduate students from minority serving institutions (MSIs), to apply under this opportunity.

Prizes

The top five selected winners will receive monetary prizes in the amounts noted below, and all the winners will receive recognition from EPA.

Prize Distribution Winners

(1) First Place Prize of $6,000
(2) Second Place Prizes of $3,000
(2) Third Place Prizes of $1,500

EPA can allocate higher individual award amounts, as deemed appropriate. The Challenge award will be contingent upon results of critical analysis and evaluation by EPA and the judging panel. Meeting the minimum technical requirements does not guarantee that the proposed market assessment will receive an award.

Terms and Conditions

Solvers will not receive compensation for resources or time invested in addressing the challenge. Only the winners of the Challenge will receive a cash award.
EPA retains the right to disclose performance criteria, and other evaluation criteria summarized in the market assessment to provide a transparent reporting of how the winning solution was selected.
EPA retains the right to publish, present, and/or otherwise publicize results of the challenge competition that does not involve the disclosure of intellectual property of the team members. Teams will be able to review publications, presentation, or other publicity in order to protect against unwanted disclosure of intellectual property.
Teams reserve the right to remove themselves from the competition at any time, up to final submission of solution for evaluation, by notifying the EPA in writing. The technical point of contact must make the request in writing on behalf of his/her team.
Registration for the challenge does not confer any obligation by the team to deliver results.
Teams that do not submit their solution by the submission deadline will be removed from the competition and subject to the same terms as if they had forfeited in writing. The submission deadline may be extended at the discretion of the EPA, but any extension will apply to all registered Teams.

Non-Endorsement
EPA and EPA officials do not endorse any product, service, or enterprise that may appear in submission materials. Furthermore, by recognizing winning submissions, EPA is not endorsing any products, services, or enterprises that may appear in those submissions.

Judging

Judging Panel

Submissions will be judged by a panel of EPA and non-EPA judges with expertise in technology transfer. The judges will evaluate, score, and rank submissions based on the completeness of answers provided to the questions listed in “Application Specifications” above, and on the overall completeness of the submission.

Helpful Resources

Questions?

Any questions? Please contact us at makeamarktechchallenge@epa.gov .

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can my school or organization have more than one team?

Yes.

Can an individual be on one or more team?

Yes.

Is there a recommended team size?

No. Applicants may apply as an individual or as a group of students.

Will I have the opportunity to ask EPA additional questions regarding the Environmental Market Assessment Challenge?

Yes. We will be conducting an informational webinar Wednesday, September 14 from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET.

Are government contractors eligible?

Yes. Government contractors are eligible if applicants meet the eligibility requirements. For more information, please contact us at makeamarktechchallenge@epa.gov

Are federal employees or military personnel eligible?

Yes. Federal employees and military personnel are eligible to apply if applicant meets the eligibility requirements. Federal employees and military personnel will need approval from ethics advisors to apply. Ethics advisor approvals will need to be documented and submitted with the application. For more information, please contact us at makeamarktechchallenge@epa.gov

Further Questions? Please contact us at makeamarktechchallenge@epa.gov