The X PRIZE Foundation is expanding its scope so its extraordinary leverage can be applied to a range of global grand challenges where inducement prizes can help improve lives, create equity of opportunity and stimulate new, important discoveries. The Foundation currently has three active prizes: the $10 million Archon Genomics X PRIZE, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The X PRIZE Foundation is developing new prizes in Exploration (Space and Oceans), Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, Education and Global Development—sectors where bureaucratic, intellectual, or structural roadblocks constrain and stifle investment and breakthrough innovation.

Our Vision-

The X PRIZE Foundation mission is to bring about “radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity” through incentivized competition. The Foundation fosters high-profile competitions that motivate individuals, companies and organizations across all disciplines to develop innovative ideas and technologies that help solve the grand challenges that restrict humanity’s progress.

Programmes and Activities-

Archon Genomics X PRIZE
Sponsors: Dr. Stewart and Marilyn Blusson
Prize Purse: $10M
Date Launched: October 2006
End Date (est.): 2011-2012

Prize Summary
The $10 million Archon Genomics X PRIZE will be awarded to the first team to rapidly sequence 100 human genomes at a significantly lower cost than previously possible. This innovation will help usher in an age of personalized medicine.
The major objectives and drivers of the X PRIZE include:
• Increased throughput/reduced time: Sequence 100 human whole genomes within 10 days or less
• Improve accuracy: Perform sequencing with an accuracy of no more than one error in every 100,000 bases sequenced, with sequences accurately covering at least 98% of the genome
• Reduce costs: Perform at a recurring cost of no more than $10,000 per genome

WHY AN ARCHON GENOMICS X PRIZE?
• The cost of providing a whole genome sequence to an individual is prohibitive thus impacting the collection of the data sets necessary to drive toward personalized medicine. Reducing these costs and potentially making the data open source will allow more research to be conducted thus speeding the advent of personalized medicine.
• This competition will be a catalyst for less expensive technology, improved accuracy and public access allowing an individual consumer to have their genome sequenced and analyzed leading to improved diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease on a personalized basis. Benefits of such technology will also extend to ecology, environment and possibly energy production related to other life forms.
• This competition, in part through its use of the “Genome 100,” hopes to demystify the concept of whole genome sequencing and bring about the paradigm change for the public that having your genome sequenced and making the information available for scientific purposes (at a minimum in a confidential fashion) is reasonable, safe and appropriate.




Google Lunar X PRIZE
Title Sponsor: Google
Prize Purse(s): $30M
Date Launched: September 2007
End Date (est.): 2011-2014

PRIZE Summary
The $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE will be awarded to the teams that land a robotic rover on the lunar surface, explore the Moon by moving at least 500 meters, and return packages of high definition video and imagery called “Mooncasts.” Bonus purses are offered for teams that are able to travel 5 kilometers, or image artifacts of previous lunar exploration, or survive a lunar night, or detect water ice on the Moon’s surface. This unprecedented, international competition is inspiring engineers and entrepreneurs from around the world to develop low-cost methods of robotic space exploration. At this time, 18 teams have registered to compete. The Google Lunar X PRIZE is the largest international incentive prize ever offered and, will enable a new era of affordable lunar exploration, open the door to important scientific discoveries, jumpstart new industries, and inspire a new generation to pursue careers in science and engineering.
The Competition
Teams will design, build, and launch robotic explorers to the surface of the Moon—the first vehicles to visit the lunar surface since 1976. In an effort to drastically reduce the cost of such exploration and thereby foster entire new industries not yet dreamed of, the competition will spur a new capability to access the Moon and its unique resources for costs more than an order of magnitude lower than previously attained. Launch attempts may occur as early as Q3, 2010. The competition is designed to reward rapid development, with a grand prize worth $20 million if claimed by the end of 2012, and $15 million if claimed between January 1, 2013 and the competition’s expiration at the close of 2014. There is a second place prize of $5 million. In addition there are five “bonus” purses awarded for teams able to travel 5 kilometers (i.e. 10x further than baseline), or image artifacts from previous lunar exploration, or survive a lunar night, or detect water ice on the Moon’s surface or demonstrate maximum diversity of the team members.

WHY A GOOGLE LUNAR X PRIZE?
• Because the Moon is our neighbor in a two body system. It is a vast and largely untapped resource. It affords us the opportunity to about the formation of our solar system—and to study our fragile Earth
• Because inexpensive and regular access to the Moon is a critical step along our path towards exploring our Universe
• Because investments made in space technologies will continue to pay dividends with practical applications here on Earth
• Because 50% of the world’s population was not alive to be inspired by the excitement of the Apollo era and would benefit from the vision and excitement of the competition
• Because the Google Lunar X PRIZE is the first step of Moon 2.0; the return to the Moon for an ongoing presence to benefit humanity

EDUCATION
Education and inspiration are the key underlying goals driving the Google Lunar X PRIZE. Throughout the competition, the X PRIZE Foundation and its partners are conducting educational programs designed to teach students about space exploration and to inspire them towards careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Online tools such as customized add-ons to Google Earth are already helping to engage curious minds of all ages and dedicated student competitions have involved some of the world’s leading universities. In the near future, additional programs and related robotic and rocketry competitions will be introduced both in schools and in after-school and community programs around the globe.

Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE
Title Sponsor: Progressive Insurance
Prize Purse: $10M
Date Launched: March 2008
End Date: September 2010
Status: Active

PRIZE SUMMARY
The goal of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, safe and super fuel-efficient vehicles. $10 million in prizes will be awarded to the teams that win a rigorous long distance stage competition for clean, production-capable and super fuel-efficient vehicles that exceed 100 miles per gallon equivalent fuel economy (MPGe) that consumers would buy.
• Since launching the competition with our title sponsor Progressive Insurance in April 2008, we’ve gone from 111 teams with 136 vehicles, to a remaining 10 teams with 14 vehicles (As of June 29, 2010)
o Along the way, the competition has featured dozens of real and viable technologies that have a significant chance of making it to market.

THE COMPETITION
This competition will place a major focus on affordability, safety, and the environment. The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is about real cars, meeting real standards that consumers want to buy, not science projects or concept cars.
1. Vehicle Design: Teams from around the world are working to design and build production-capable, super fuel- efficient and clean vehicles. Vehicles must be proven to meet rigorous standards, including:
• High fuel economy (100 MPGe) with low emissions (200 g/mi CO2e wells-to-wheels greenhouse gas emissions and low tailpipe emissions)
• Production-capable and designed to reach the market in volumes of at least 10,000 units per year
• Safe and affordable with minimum capacities, performance, and features
2. Vehicle Qualification: A thorough qualification process will assess safety, cost, features and business plans.
• Mainstream class = Traditional 4 seat; 4 wheel vehicles
• Alternative class = Outlet for innovative ideas that push forward today's concept of "what a car is"; typically this class consists of 3-wheel, 2-seat vehicles
3. Vehicle Testing: Vehicles will be tested for efficiency, performance and durability under real-world conditions: (1) technology and fuel neutral; (2) city, hill, distance, and speed segments; (3) vehicles with best overall time in the competition events that meet the minimum requirements will split the purse

WHY A PROGRESSIVE AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE?
• Because today's oil consumption is unsustainable, endangering our health and socio-economic stability of the world (40% of world oil output fuels the automotive industry)
• Because automotive emissions significantly contribute to global warming and climate change (U.S. cars and light trucks are responsible for 45% of the CO2 emitted by automobiles globally)
• Because increases in engine efficiency have been "spent" on increased vehicle power, acceleration, and weight, rather than on increased fuel-economy and we believe there is great opportunity for technological change

EDUCATION
Through a $3.5 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is developing a national education program to engage students and the public in learning about advanced vehicle technologies, energy efficiency, climate change, alternative fuels and the science, technology, engineering and math behind efficient vehicle development. A key component of the education program is www.FuelOurFutureNow.com, an online knowledge center developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and Discovery Education, offering stimulating science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) lessons and resources for students, teachers and families as the unique and engaging Progressive Automotive X PRIZE competition unfolds.