National selection for an international contest of innovative biomimicry-based solutions, the Biomimicry Global Challenge, is extended till 1 May!

We invite innovators, engineers, designers and inventors developing biomimicry solutions (even if they themselves do not describe them as biomimicry) to apply.

The national selection for the Global Biomimicry Challenge is co-organized by the UNDP Accelerator Labs in partnership with the Biomimicry Institute in the United States and a number of Ukrainian NGOs.

What is biomimicry?

Biomimicry describes the process of learning from and mimicking strategies found in nature to solve human design challenges. In essence, nature has already found a solution to all the challenges we face.

Examples of biomimicry:

The tiny hooks on burdock, a plant, suggested the idea of ​​creating the material "Velcro," which we now widely used as a fastening for clothing, shoes, backpacks etc.

Japanese bullet trains have peculiar shape of "nose," which resembles the beak of a bird – the kingfisher. This sharp-edged shape has proven particularly effective in helping the train move at extremely high speeds. This solution also helps reduce the noise produced by the train as it exits tunnels at high speed.

Contest conditions

Applicants should submit the following documents (by 1 May 2020):

• Brief description of the idea (in Ukrainian);
• Prototype of the idea/product (photo or drawing);
• CV (in Ukrainian or English);
• Proof of knowledge of English at least at Intermediate level (B1).

All documents should ne uploaded at this link.

Contest details and study materials are available here: https://challenge.biomimicry.org

Timeline of the contest:

• Submission of the documents for the commission’s review – by 1 May 2020;
• Announcement of the winners of the Ukrainian selection round – 8 May 2020;
• Mentorship support for participants – from 8 to 29 May;
• Submitting applications for the international competition – 29 May 2020

All interested applicants are invited to join a webinar scheduled for 21 April 2020 and learn more about the principles and objectives of biomimicry! The registration link for the webinar is here.

The three selected candidates/teams will receive mentoring and support from UNDP Ukraine’s Accelerator Lab and its partners in preparing the project and submitting it to the international Biomimicry Global Challenge. Applicants selected at the international level will be able to attend the Biomimicry Institute's Launchpad in the United States with the support of the organizers, provided the pandemic situation in Ukraine and the United States has ended.

The successful candidates for the national round of the contest will also be able to scale up their innovative idea and find international partners through UNDP’s international network of 60 Accelerator Labs.

Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact acclab.ua@undp.org

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About the Challenge

The Biomimicry Global Design Challenge is an annual competition that calls on teams of students and professionals to address critical global issues and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals with nature-inspired solutions.