Are international submissions welcome for the MSD Prevention Safety Innovation Challenge?
Yes. If the respondent meets the eligibility requirements, international responses are welcome. Note that there will be required travel to the U.S. for those who advance in the challenge, and submitters should be prepared for those costs.
Who are some of the pledged companies that are interested in piloting technologies to prevent MSDs?
Of the more than 250 companies that have committed themselves to reducing musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace, most are medium to large companies. Roughly one quarter of the companies are in the manufacturing sector. Construction firms and transportation companies each account for almost 8% of the companies while just over 7% are in the health care field. A full list of organizations in the MSD Pledge community can be found here.
How will the grants be awarded, and what is the maximum amount possible for a grant with a pledged company?
The goal of the pilot grant program is to develop solutions for preventing MSDs and MSD risks by matching organizations from the MSD Pledge community with innovative technology providers to trial emerging technologies in real-life applications. Each year, semifinalists from the MSD Prevention Safety Innovation Challenge are eligible to be partnered with an MSD Pledge member through the pilot grant program. MSD Pledge members are encouraged to choose a solutions provider that best fits their MSD prevention goals and submit an application for funding. The funds are used for organizations to trial the innovative technology provided by the MSD Prevention Safety Innovation Challenge semifinalists. In years past, $100,000 is available in pilot grant funds, with projects not to individually exceed $20,000.
Can a company solicit a grant with more than one pledged company?
Yes. However, each grant will be evaluated individually, and requesting multiple grants will not influence the likelihood of a grant being offered.
Is there any cost to respond to the challenge or to attend the NSC Safety Congress & Expo in Denver?
There is no cost to propose a technology for the challenge.
Semifinalists attending the NSC Safety Congress & Expo will need to provide $1,500 to cover the cost of their booth and for registration for two people to attend. Additionally, travel costs associated with attending the event, such as hotel and/or airfare, will not be covered by NSC.
What is the minimum maturity for technology proposed in this challenge?
All technologies proposed in this MSD Prevention Safety Innovation Challenge should be ready for pilot testing by the time they attend and present at the NSC Safety Congress & Expo. Additionally, proposed technologies should also be supported by prior use in the field or by rigorous scientific testing and data.
If my company has previously participated in the MSD Prevention Safety Innovation Challenge with NSC, are we eligible for participation this year?
Strong preference will be given to solutions providers who have not previously participated in the MSD Prevention Safety Innovation Challenge.
What is included in the $1,500 Expo package?
The mandatory Expo package includes two passes to the NSC Safety Congress & Expo, 10×10 booth space, table, chairs, Wi-Fi, marketing and a monitor. Additional marketing materials are not allowed at the booth. For additional booth marketing, semifinalists can visit the Congress & Expo website to purchase an additional Expo booth.