FRST Challenge Awards Phase Two Prize Winners

“We are pleased to see the significant progress made on life-saving solutions by FRST Challenge teams,” said Sonny Kirkley, FRST project director. “With early demonstration of the solutions, we’re able to see first-hand the innovation and potential of these solutions and are eager to support the concepts development into meaningful products, with the support of the prize money, as we move forward in the FRST Challenge.”

FRST Challenge and many of the Phase Two award winners will share their solutions at the Public Safety Communications Research Division Annual Public Safety Broadband Stakeholders conference in San Diego from June 7^th through 9^th. Competing teams have brought together individuals with backgrounds in academia, technology, entrepreneurship, students, and more. Each team includes a variety of technical and design skills, as well as a First Responder mentor.

Led by the Crisis Technologies Innovation Lab in the Pervasive Technology Institute at Indiana University, and funded by an $8 million cooperative agreement from the Public Safety Communications Research Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the challenge formally launched on March 1 with Phase Two submissions submitted on May 16th.

Phase Two submissions are intended to prove that contestants are working toward a solution that fulfills the FRST Challenge evaluation requirements and meets benchmark requirements. Contestants submitted the Phase Two deliverables including a demonstration video, technical description, and product roadmap. The Prize Winners will invest their award in the development of their concepts’ proof of concept for Phase Three submission.

Phase Three submissions are due October 3 and up to 10 winners will be awarded. Office hours and support webinars will take place weekly to support teams in their continued solution development. An additional side competition to drive the development of specific technology that teams may use will take place in parallel to Phase Three. More information can be found at frstchallenge.com.

The FRST Challenge will conclude in October 2023 with advanced live field testing. Prize money will be awarded in each phase of the competition with a total of $5.6 million in prize funds awarded across five phases of the competition.

Visit frstchallenge.com to learn more about the Phase Two winners and competition, and the FRST Portal to see teams’ public abstracts and community videos.

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About the Crisis Technologies Innovation Lab

The Crisis Technologies Innovation Lab is a collaboration between the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering and University Information Technology Services, and is housed in the Pervasive Technology Institute at Indiana University. The lab’s mission is to research and develop practical, efficient, effective, and equitable technologies and solutions to improve readiness and scale response to crises and disasters.

About the Pervasive Technology Institute

The Pervasive Technology Institute at Indiana University is a collaborative organization designed to marshal IU’s computational experts and resources quickly in response to societal, research, and educational needs. In partnership with University Information Technology Services, the Pervasive Technology Institute also led the original Jetstream award. The institute was established in 1999 by a grant from the Lilly Endowment and has continued to lead productive uses and applications of research technologies for over 20 years.

About University Information Technology Services

University Information Technology Services is part of the Office of the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer for Indiana University. It provides services across all IU campuses to support the university’s mission.