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MIT's 2018 Inclusive Innovation Challenge Launches in North America; Over $1 Million to be Awarded to Organizations Reinventing the Future of WorkCAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 15, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy (IDE) announced that it will expand the global reach of its Inclusive Innovation Challenge (IIC). Collaborating with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, the IIC will seek to identify and promote entrepreneurial organizations in North America that are using technology to improve economic opportunity for low and moderate income earners. Entrepreneurs can register today through May 29, 2018 at MITinclusiveinnovation.com. "The grand challenge of our era is to use digital technologies to create not only prosperity, but shared prosperity," says Erik Brynjolfsson, Director of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy. "We can only address this Challenge by relying on the innovative genius of entrepreneurs from the global community." The MIT IIC was launched two years ago to recognize and celebrate organizations around the world that are using technology to solve a grand challenge of our time — to create not only prosperity, but shared prosperity by reinventing the future of work in the digital era. This year, the IIC has expanded to a global tournament model, collaborating with partners in five regions -- North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The North America region is defined by Canada and the United States. Regional Judges will select 12 regional IIC winners to receive monetary prizes, recognition, and promotion at the IIC North America Celebration held in Detroit, Michigan this September. (Four Regional Champions will each win $20,000, and eight Finalists will each win $5,000.) Following this high-profile event, four North America Regional Winners will be selected to advance to the IIC Global Grand Prize Tournament & Celebration hosted at MIT in Cambridge, MA in October 2018. One million dollars in prize money will be awarded to four Global Grand Prize Winners, selected from Regional Winners from around the world. "The Inclusive Innovation Challenge lies at the heart of our foundation's mission, helping catalyze innovative solutions that improve the quality of life and future of work for the communities we serve," said Lavea Brachman, vice president of programs, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. "We are thrilled to further support the IIC by hosting the North America regional challenge event in Detroit, a city and community at the forefront of innovation and inclusive innovative solutions." In the first two years, over 1,500 inclusive innovation organizations responded to the IIC, illustrating the momentum of the growing global future of work movement. Over 230 Core Judges have reviewed applications and more than $2 million has been awarded to entrepreneurs and innovators who are demonstrating different ways to put powerful new technologies to work to improve people's economic opportunity. For-profit and nonprofit organizations of any size, age, or type and from any nation are encouraged to apply. The IIC is funded with support from Google.org; ISN®; The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation; Merck KGaA; Joseph Eastin; Via Varejo; and Gustavo Pierini. Join the Movement
The MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy (IDE) explores how people and businesses will work, interact, and prosper in an era of profound digital transformation. ide.mit.edu @MIT_IDE The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a grantmaking organization dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of Southeast Michigan and Western New York. The two areas reflect Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.'s devotion to his hometown of Detroit and greater Buffalo, home of his Buffalo Bills franchise. Prior to his passing in 2014, Mr. Wilson requested that a significant share of his estate be used to continue a life-long generosity of spirit by funding the Foundation that bears his name. The Foundation has a grantmaking capacity of $1.2 billion over a 20-year period, which expires January 8, 2035. This structure is consistent with Mr. Wilson's desire for the Foundation's impact to be immediate, substantial, measurable and overseen by those who knew him best. For more information visit www.rcwjrf.org.
SOURCE MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy 
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