Norfolk, VA and Rotterdam, the Netherlands – The NATO Innovation Hub, in close coordination with the Dutch Ministry of Defence, MIND and the NATO C2COE, were pleased to announce today Verifeye Media as the winner of the NATO Innovation Challenge (Spring 2020/1 iteration).
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 10 finalists from Canada, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States of America delivered their pitches via online means (a first), and Verifeye Media provided the winning pitch.
Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic is the topic of the Spring 2020/1 Innovation Challenge. The Innovation Challenge began on 11 March and interested innovators had until 5 May 2020 to register for participation with the winner being announced on pitch day – 17 June, 2020. The scenario of this challenge described the situation of a pandemic (Covid-19 oriented) and asked for solutions in regards with: situation awareness dashboard, fake news analysis, delivery and secure communications.
The challenge, open to entrepreneurs, designers, inventors, engineers, scientists, coders, and others, was looking for innovative solutions to support the decision-making of military leaders; deliver logistics and supplies to isolated individuals and teams; identify false information and mitigate its effects on NATO operations. The best entries in this edition of the NATO Innovation Challenge could help inform and support the development of future NATO military doctrine, standards and requirements, and the development of new capabilities.
Since 2017, The NATO Innovation Hub from Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation has organized innovation challenges twice a year. Each challenge is co-organized with a NATO Nation which host the final event: the pitch day of the finalists. The challenge is open to anyone (individuals, entrepreneurs, start-ups, industry, academia, etc.) located in NATO Nations. The Innovation Challenge aims to give NATO new, creative and efficient ways to respond to security challenges.
By organizing these important competitive innovation challenges around real-world issues, Allied Command Transformation continues to be at the forefront of NATO efforts as it relates to the importance of transformation and development as continuous and essential drivers of change.
Source: NATO ACT (https://www.act.nato.int/articles/verifeye-media-wins-nato-innovation-challenge-spring-2020-iteration)
