About the Longitude Prize on Dementia

The Longitude Prize on Dementia is calling on innovators

We are calling on innovators around the world to develop digital solutions that support people with dementia to remain independent for as long as possible.

What is a challenge prize?

Challenge Prizes are a tried and tested method for supporting innovation. They offer a reward to those who can first or most effectively meet a defined challenge. They act as an incentive for meeting a specific challenge, rather than being a reward for past achievements. Prizes are also a means of throwing open a challenge beyond the ‘usual suspects,’ thus facilitating the engagement and participation of anyone who can solve the challenge.

The challenge statement

The Longitude Prize on Dementia will be awarded to the creator of a breakthrough technology that learns from a person living with dementia, adapting and compensating for their condition as it progresses, and enabling them to continue living independently for longer.

The winning solution will be a digital device or service designed for use by people living with dementia as the primary users. It must be able to demonstrate a transformational improvement in the lives of users, helping them to retain independence in one or more of the areas that contributes to their wellbeing and quality of life, including: essential activities of daily living, communication and social interactions; and other activities that enable them to lead a fulfilling life doing things they enjoy.

Using advances in science and technology, such as AI and applications of big data, the winning innovation will be tailored to individual users and adapt to their changing needs over a sustained period of time. These technologies must be empowering for the user, overcoming existing ethics, design and technology challenges to develop a solution that is easy and enjoyable to use for people living with dementia as they transition through some of the pivotal transition points along the journey through the early to mid-stages of dementia.

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Initial Entry: 26 September 2022 to 26 January 2023
Any interested applicants could submit their application form from 26 September 2022. Initial entries closed on the 26 January 2023 at 2359 GMT. Late entries were not accepted. Entries will be evaluated by independent assessors and judges against the criteria, after which 24 Discovery Awardees will be selected to move forward in the Prize.
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Discovery Awards: June 2023 to May 2024
The 24 Discovery Award winners will receive grants of £80,000 to support the development of their idea. Discovery Awardees will also participate in 12 months of further capacity building support to help consolidate plans for developing solutions. At the end of this phase, the 24 Discovery Award winners will be expected to have developed their solution to a prototype level. Awardees will be required to submit a detailed submission for evaluation by the judges against the criteria. Five Finalists will be selected to move forward in the Prize.
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Finalist Awards: August 2024 to November 2025
The 5 Finalist Awardees will be given £300,000 each to support their solutions. Innovators will test their solutions with end-users in this phase. Finalists will participate in 15 months of further capacity building support to help consolidate plans for developing solutions. Awardees will be required to submit a detailed submission for evaluation by the judges against the criteria. 1 winner will be selected.
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Winner Announcement: February 2026
One winner will be selected to receive a grant of £1,000,000.
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  • 2023
  • 2024
  • 2026

What we offer to innovator applicants

Financial Support

Monetary awards will be given at several times in the programme for shortlisted teams.

Non-Financial Support

Grantees at both the Discovery Award and Finalist stages will have access to tailored capacity development support and a package of tools to help develop their solutions.

This will include working with a suite of subject matter experts. Learn more about the partners involved in the prize.

Product Evaluation with End-Users

Supported by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), finalists will participate in an independent study to evaluate the effects of their technologies on the lives of people affected by dementia. 

The evaluation will look at the processes of co-design and innovation.

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