IDEaS COViD-19 Challenge Launch

Dear Colleagues,

As part of the larger pan-government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program is participating in a multi-departmental initiative seeking innovative solutions to help in the fight.

In order to assist in this effort, IDEaS has launched its first set of COVID-19 related challenges. In support of members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the public safety community, these challenges were designed to strengthen Canada's ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to future pandemics, as well as other emergencies such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks.

The challenges below are focused on improving disease tracking and likely exposure to COVID-19 using data analytics as well as making sure those on the front lines have a safe operating environment through a combination of better decontamination technology and improved personal protective equipment.

The following challenges are now available:

Rapid response: Real-time insights for pandemic decision-making

Scrubbing your scrubs: Finding ways to re-use Covid-19 protective gear

Super sanitize: Cleaning sensitive equipment and workspaces

I am reaching out to you to seek your assistance to spread the word about these and other upcoming challenges. The faster and wider the message travels, the stronger the response can be. Innovators will have until June 23, 2020 to submit their proposals to the IDEaS program.