£50k funding on offer for designs to help disabled people

The Inclusive Technology Prize has been launched by Nesta, working with the Office for Disability Issues, Innovate UK, Business Innovation and Skills and solicitors Irwin Mitchell.

Nesta says it is looking for “ideas for products, technologies and systems that enable disabled people, their families, friends and carers equal access to life’s opportunities”. It says this could be “something very simple, like a small gadget that can aid use of household appliances or something more game-changing, like a new way to book or access public transport across the UK.”

Idea submitted must involve co-creation with disabled people, says Nesta.

Entrants to the competition will be whittled down to 25 semi-finalists, who will each receive mentoring and support. A final ten will then be selected to develop prototypes for impact testing. The final winner of the £50,000 contract will be announced in March 2016.

The deadline for applications is 16 January 2015. For more information and to apply, visit www.inclusivetechprize.org.