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Your GIC Project
Many people with disabilities and their families face one or more challenges in variety of different areas. Your GIC project must attempt to solve one of these challenges, helping a person with a disability achieve their goal.
You will need to assemble your team, partner with a person with a disability, family member or caregiver (we call them “Need Knowers”), investigate their challenge, and develop a prototype that best addresses their needs.
Project Tracks
During registration, you must choose a track which best fits your project. You will compete against other teams in the same track.
Sports & Outdoors
Solutions or assistive devices that will help make recreational and leisure sports more accessible for people with disabilities or help an athlete or team take part in competitions.
Emergency and Rehabilitation
Solutions or devices that provide assistance to people with disabilities in crisis situations such as natural disasters, war, displacement, injury, and recovery.
Music & Arts
Solutions or assistive devices that will help people with disabilities play a musical instrument or take part in any artistic activity such as painting, dance, and other forms of art.
Daily Living (general category)
Solutions that address the needs of a person with a disability in their daily lives in areas such as mobility, accessibility, household chores, personal hygiene, the workplace, and more.
Project Miestones
Teams must document their GIC projects using the TOM Project Editor. These project milestones follow TOM's stages of product development – starting at finding a challenge, developing a concept, creating a working model, and finally submitting a prototype.
Your final prototype must be submitted by May 1 to be eligible for a prize. You must submit a pitch video with your prototype. This submission will be reviewed by our panel of judges.
March 11
April 8
May 1
Milestone #1
Challenge and Concept
Milestone #2
Working Model
Required Final Submission
Prototype
Documenting your project
All GIC projects must be documented on the TOM Global website using the TOM Project Editor. Documenting your project will produce a product file and product webpage which will be used for the judging process, as well as making your solution a part of the TOM portfolio of solutions.
After registering for the GIC, each participant should open a profile on the TOM Global website and visit the participant resources page to learn how to develop and document their project.
Judging Criteria
The judges will review your submissions and score them according to the following criteria:
Innovation
Quality of Solution
Accessibility
Affordability
Documentation
Impact
The teams with the highest scores will be announced in a virtual event May 19, 2024.
Past Winning Projects
Check out all of the past Global Innovation Challenge winners below!
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2024 TOM Global Innovation Challenge
Grand Prize - Sports & Outdoors
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The Ascent - Climbing Sleeve for Retsek
A cost-effective, secure, and durable sleeve that allows Dr. Retsek to comfortably and safely climb indoors. The sleeve is made out of a compression material that is form-fitting and protective.
Grand Prize - Music & Arts
Painting Tool Grip
A grip that allows the user to paint with every tool easily and comfortably. It's made from a flexible 3D-printed material which can be modified to the user's hand dimensions.
Grand Prize - Emergency & Rehabilitation
AiBEL - Advanced Upper Limb Amputee Training Vest
A vest designed to help upper limb amputees maintain and enhance physical capabilities as they rehabilitate and transition to using a prosthesis.
Grand Prize - Daily Living
Vora - Inclusive Feminine Hygiene
A 3D-printed adaptive device that allows individuals with various hand and wrist conditions to maintain their independence and autonomy with feminine hygiene.
2023 TOM Global Innovation Challenge
Bounce - Independent play for non-mobile children
A frame which allows older non-mobile children to play independently and take part in an enjoyable, highly rewarding, physical activity.
Tools for Getting Dressed and Undressed
A set of pipe frames and 3D-printed joints that allows a user with CP to dress and undress independently and with ease.
Independent Feeding Device - Manual syringe pump for feeding tubes
A manual syringe pump with a specialized handle that allows Jameson to independently activate a feeding tube to feed himself.
ORGAN - Strap for recreational and competitive Handcycle
A custom fit strap connecting the palm of the athlete to the handlebar pedals of a handcycle.
2022 Abraham Accords Open Innovation Challenge
FLipPad - Assistive Electronic Touchpad
A low-cost, electronic touchpad which allows a person with limited hand mobility to control electronic devices.
Geek - Prosthesis for Digital Screens
A light, digital-office prosthesis that allows arm amputees to use touch screens, trackpads, and smartphones.
Mech-Canopy -
Wheelchair Rain Project
An adaptive 3D-printed clamping mechanism that securely holds an umbrella and attaches to a wheelchair
2021 TOM Global Innovation Challenge
Drawing Dreams - Arm Support Device
A low-cost support mechanism that allows children with Cerebral palsy to eat, draw, and play independently
One-2-Go - Portable Adaptive Toilet Seat
A supportive portable seat which allows people with Cerebral Palsy to use the bathroom independently anywhere.
Talker Mount - Talker Folding Mechanism
An electronic mechanism that allows a talker to be folded under a wheelchair table for safer mobility