The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced a new public-private partnership with the National Football League (NFL), GE and Under Armour to launch an open innovation prize in search of advanced materials with enhanced energy absorption or dissipation properties. The hope is to find new materials that will improve the performance of protective equipment not only for athletes, but also military personnel, first responders and others who face brain and bodily injury from impact events.

The Head Health Challenge III sponsors have committed $2 million in total prizes for Challenge III participants who propose and provide the best performing materials. A unique component of the competition is that participants will be invited to submit materials samples for impact testing by NIST. The Georgia Tech team was recently selected in Challenge II.

The challenge has a mission to draw the best ideas and innovation from across the materials development spectrum. While applications are expected from sports medicine and protective equipment manufacturers and researchers, organizers say they hope to get innovative materials from aerospace, automotive, nanomaterials, biomaterials, packaging and other technology sectors.

Visit http://www.headhealthchallenge.com or https://ninesights.ninesigma.com/web/head-health to learn more about Challenge III, eligibility and entry procedures. Entry requires a short abstract describing the material. The deadline for abstract submission is March 13.