The three-year competition is composed of four rounds. To compete, teams must first register on researcher.ae and then create a team for ReThink Brine challenge. Once registered, teams must submit the summary proposal required for the first Round and before the first deadline.

Once the shortlisted teams move to Round 2, the team must submit a detailed proposal 5 months after the first deadline detailing their approach. Therefore, we encourage teams to begin designing their approach and thinking about their technology at the earliest opportunity.

Detailed proposals will be evaluated by our panel of experts and a maximum of 5 teams will then progress to Round 3. Each of the 5 teams will receive a milestone prize of AED 25K to develop their prototype.

The teams will then have 5 months to develop their prototype which will be evaluated by a judging panel and up to 3 teams will proceed to round 4. Each of the 3 teams will receive a milestone prize of AED 250K to develop the final product and deliver the proof of concept while competing for the grand prize of AED 2.5 million.

Further details can be found below and more details will be provided after Round 2.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE

Sandooq Al Watan and EAD believe that challenges can be solved by anyone. Scientists, engineers, academics, entrepreneurs and innovators with new ideas from all over the world are invited to form a team and register to compete. To participate, a team may need to recruit additional experts, and can add new members at any time throughout the competition. Teams can include:

• Universities and research institutions
• Individual researchers and scientists in collaboration with universities

(Note: International applicants can participate in collaboration with UAE based university or research institutions)

Each team should carry out at least 40% of the work (including 40% of the research and development work) in connection with the contestant in the UAE using students, employees and researchers of any UAE university or other UAE research institute with significant participation of Emirati nationals.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

• Each team will be the exclusive owner of all intellectual property created as part of the contest, whether the team is successful in completing the contest or not.
• All applications to compete in the contest must include details of any intellectual property that a team plans to use as part of its development, research, and confirmation that such intellectual property is free from restrictions.
• The teams must ensure that any intellectual property developed in the Contest is its own original work and does not infringe any third-party rights.

COMPETITION OVERSIGHT

Centurium Prize will recruit judges with expertise in the relevant fields related to the competition and will seek to ensure that the expertise of the Judging Panel is diverse enough to fairly evaluate the various technologies and approaches that the teams may develop during the competition. The duties and responsibilities of the Judging Panel will include and will not be limited to evaluating teams’ compliance with the competitor agreement, competition guidelines, the rules and regulations for the purposes of the competition, awarding of points and selection of teams and entries that will proceed to each subsequent round of the competition.

PRIZE

• Total Prize Purse: AED 3.4 Million
• Grand Prize: one winning team will receive AED 2.5 million after successfully completing the challenge
• Milestone Prize 1: up to 5 teams will be selected and each winning team will receive AED 25K
• Milestone Prize 2: up to 3 teams will be selected and each winning team will receive AED 250K

During the period of the competition, Sandooq Al Watan can make updates and changes on the above information and the set of documents below, and keep them updated from time to time. Any update or changes will be duly notified to all the participating teams.

COMPETITION GUIDELINES

The Competition Guideline document contains comprehensive and detailed information on the ReThink Brine Challenge. 

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DESALINATION AND BRINE FACTS AND FIGURES

This document contains information on water desalination and brine discharge in the Arabian peninsula and the effects it has on the environment. 

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COMPETITOR AGREEMENT

Legally binding contract that includes details that will govern the competition and which all shortlisted teams must sign to compete. The contract will be shared with shortlisted teams in Round 2.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

A document summarizing the terms and conditions governing this competition.

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SPONSORSHIP / DONOR NOTIFICATION FORM

Teams must disclose to the Centurium Prize any sponsorship funding received by the team.

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