Halt the Hitchhiker: Invasive Species Challenge
Pays inventors and startups cash prizes through a three-phase competition for solutions that stop invasive mussels from spreading through recreational watercraft ballast tanks, with the top Phase 3 prize reaching up to $125,000.
The challenge runs in three phases, managed by yet2 on the Bureau of Reclamation's behalf. Phase 1 concept papers were scored on four weighted criteria: technical merit and feasibility, practical viability and scalability, and concept maturity and readiness each worth 30%, with innovation and differentiation worth the final 10%; solutions that kill and physically remove the target species scored h…
The Bureau of Reclamation wants novel, non-hazardous ways to detect, exclude, kill or inactivate aquatic invasive species such as quagga, zebra and golden mussels inside watercraft ballast compartments, without damaging the boat or creating safety risks. Solutions can target new-fleet integration, existing-fleet retrofits, or inspection-station installations.
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