What is a Challenge

What is an Israel Living Lab Challenge?

A challenge allows organizations or individuals from around the globe (industry, startups, entrepreneurs, academia, governments) to address problems posed by others in an open innovation model. Participants have the opportunity to present solutions and receive prizes.

While similar to grants or calls for proposals, Israel Living Lab’s challenges have distinct characteristics. In grants and contracts, organizations receive proposals, select one, and provide payments. In a challenge, a judging committee evaluates proposed solutions in the form of pitches and selects the winner(s).

Unlike contracts that provide detailed specifications, challenges have narrower requirements. This allows participants to bring their creativity to present innovative solutions. Selected pitches do not need to implement a complete solution, but rather showcase the effectiveness of their proposal through a demonstration in a designated sandbox chosen by the challenge organizer (RFD or PoC).

See a challenge that you have the perfect solution for?
Landed on a challenge page with a problem you know how to fix?

Here's How to Apply !

01

Submit

Submit your proposal effortlessly through a user-friendly type form on the challenge page. No need for lengthy documents!

02

Wait

Israel Living Lab carefully curates and shares the more compelling proposals with the challenge organizers.

03

Pitch

The most captivating submissions are chosen to present a pitch of their solution to a panel of handpicked judges.

04

Demonstrate

Perform a sandbox demonstration and share the results of your proof of concept (POC) with the challenge organizers.

05

Reward

Get rewarded for your dedicated efforts and claim your well-deserved incentive!

New challenges are constantly being added so be sure to check regularly!

The Benefits of Participating in a Challenge Competition

So what are you waiting for?
Get involved in a challenge today!

Dr. Johnathan Abir

Startup Representative

CEO @ AD Knight – Understanding where people are for traffic safety

Entrepreneur, innovator, researcher, and engineer with proven success in the industry of multi-disciplinary system development from proof of concept to product delivery. Recognized for innovative and creative R&D work, and management. Passionate about the pursuit of knowledge, technical expertise, and emerging technologies.

Shay Rotman

Business Representative

VP, Business Development and Marketing @ Cognata

With 20 Years of experience in corporate and early stages companies, Shay combined the disciplines of product management with business development, leveraging both to achieve partnerships,
grow business and build marketing strategies

Shay hold a BA in economics and MBA in finance

Prof. Alex Pentland​

MIT MEDIA LAB​​

Prof. Pentland is the Director of the MIT Connection Science in the Media Lab. Recently declared as one of the “7 most powerful data scientists in the world“ by Forbes. Member of US National Academies, World Economic Forum councils.

Eran Shir​

CONSORTIUM CHAIRMAN​

Eran is currently Nexar’s CEO. He was the entrepreneur in residence at Aleph, VC firm focusing on big-data, crypto-currencies and market disruption. Eran was the senior director and head of the creative innovation center at Yahoo!

Itshak Turgeman​

NGO CO-FOUNDER​

Itshak Turgeman has led various educational initiatives over the last 15 years. Most recently he acted as the General Director of the Rashi Foundation, one of the largest and most dynamic private foundations in Israel. Prior to his education-related roles, Itshak had a long and acclaimed career in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He served in a wide range of positions in the R&D Unit of the Intelligence Corps, as Head of the Department of Production Technology and later as Head of the Security-Society Branch. Itshak has a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, an M.A. in Quality Assurance and Reliability, and an MBA.

Dr. Smadar Itskovich

FOUNDER & CEO

Dr. Smader Itskovich is the Founder and CEO of Israel’s first and only Smart Mobility Living Lab. Based upon MIT’s Living Lab concept and with the support of the IIA – Dr. Itskovich created an Innovation Marketplace for Smart Mobility – based on collaboration, Data Trust and real-life challenges.

Prior to this position, Dr. Itskovich established several award-winning programs in Education and created the Division for Industrial Development in Ashdod Municipality. In addition, she developed the Ashdod Smart Mobility Living Lab, which she later expanded into the Israel Smart Mobility Living Lab.

Dr. Itskovich joined the public sector following a senior management position in the high-tech field. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, PhD in Economics and Business Management and a LL.M degree.