By 2030, for the first time in recorded history, the old will begin to outnumber the young. This demographic shift poses significant social, economic, and health challenges, but also presents an unprecedented opportunity for accelerating research, innovation, and entrepreneurism in the field of healthy longevity – thereby building more vibrant societies and economies worldwide.
Healthy longevity means maintaining physical, mental, and social health and well-being as we live longer. By extending the healthspan, people can stay active in their families and communities, remain in the workforce and contribute to the economy, and enjoy fulfilling and productive lives well into their later years.
The Healthy Longevity Global Competition will kickstart innovation to support healthy longevity through a series of monetary awards and prizes. In the tradition of international races to fly across the Atlantic or walk on the moon, the competition will rally the world’s greatest minds to achieve what may at first seem an impossible goal.
Phases
In the first phase of the competition, up to 500 awards worth $50,000 USD each will be issued globally as seed funding to advance innovative ideas.
In phase two, awards worth $185,000 to $1 million, or more, in financial or in-kind support will be issued to Catalyst Award winners who have made significant progress, preferably achieving proof of concept for their bold, innovative idea.
In the final phase, one or more Grand Prize(s) of up to $5 million USD will be awarded for achievement of a breakthrough innovation that extends the human health span.
We challenge you to extend the human healthspan.
The Healthy Longevity Global Competition is open to innovators from any background and is available in over 50 countries and territories worldwide through a network of Global Collaborator organizations. Applicants may submit ideas related to basic science, medical treatments, commercial products, technologies, social sciences, architectural and community design, or any other field – as long as they are bold, new, and innovative ideas to extend health and function as people age.
Background
The Healthy Longevity Global Competition was founded by the U.S. National Academy of Medicine (NAM). The competition launched in parallel with an international commission assessing available evidence and recommending strategies for global societies to maintain the health and productivity of aging populations.
Commitment to Share Knowledge
The Healthy Longevity Global Competition aims to stimulate an entire field by not only rewarding innovative ideas but also sharing those ideas with the world. Summaries of all winning ideas are available on and continue to be added to this website. Each fall, beginning in 2021, Catalyst Award winners gather at annual public Global Innovator Summits, where they can share their work with policy makers, researchers, potential investors, and fellow innovators from around the world.
