McGill partners with XPRIZE to inspire breakthroughs in solving global challenges

The University will celebrate this new collaboration Feb. 3 with a symposium that is to include a sneak peek at future XPRIZE competitions

A digital globe of the Earth

McGill has partnered with XPRIZE Foundation, an organization that designs and sponsors multimillion-dollar global competitions to drive innovation and solve real-world problems.

McGill’s partnership means its faculty and students will receive preferred access to XPRIZE’s events and alumni, as well as to fellowships, internships and grant programs to support academic research and student engagement.

In turn, McGill is encouraged to participate in XPRIZE competitions and host XPRIZE events. On Feb. 3, there will be a full-day McGill x XPRIZE symposium at McGill’s downtown campus that will celebrate the new partnership, as well as offer a sneak peek at future XPRIZE competitions.

“Joining XPRIZE means being part of a really effective organization that’s creating change across many different disciplines,” said Evan Henry, Associate Director of the McGill Sustainability Systems Initiative (MSSI). “I’m really excited to get our community involved.”

 

Five competitions are underway

XPRIZE’s partners already include over 400 universities around the globe, including MIT, Stanford and the National University of Singapore.

Five XPRIZE competitions are currently underway. They focus on quantum computing, carbon removal, healthy aging, water desalination and wildfires. The prizes’ purses range from $5 million to $119 million. In total, competitions for more than $500 million in prizes have been launched by XPRIZE.

Universities need not be XPRIZE partners for their faculty members and students to participate in competitions.

 

‘Reach for the moon, land in the stars’

Headshot of a man.
Evan Henry

As an XPRIZE partner, McGill aims to enhance students’ educational experience, foster practical skills and amplify academic research, Henry said, noting that XPRIZE is a perfect fit for the forthcoming New Vic Project, which has been designed to tackle global sustainability challenges.

“Students can apply what they’re learning in the classroom or in the lab towards some of the world’s most pressing issues, and faculty have the opportunity to further the impact of their research beyond academic circles,” said Henry. “It bridges the gap between theory and real-world applications.”

Henry speaks from experience. Shortly after completing his graduate studies at McGill, he co-founded Nectar Technologies, which makes technology for commercial beekeeping. The firm competed for the IBM Watson AI XPRIZE and made it to the semi-finals.

“It really elevated my startup and provided a big stamp of approval,” he recalled. “Teams that come close to winning often go on to success: receiving funding, creating patents. There’s kind of a ‘reach for the moon, land in the stars’ effect. It was a great experience.”

 

‘Aligns with our mission’

Anja Geitmann McGill’s, Vice-President (Global Engagement), said the collaboration with XPRIZE will benefit the University in many ways.

“McGill University is proud to join XPRIZE, a partnership that perfectly aligns with our mission to engage globally and drive meaningful change,” said Geitmann. “As a former Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible potential of our students and researchers to tackle complex global challenges. This collaboration with XPRIZE provides an extraordinary platform to amplify their impact, foster international connections and turn bold ideas into transformative solutions.”

For its part, XPRIZE hailed McGill’s participation:

“We are thrilled to welcome McGill University as an XPRIZE partner,” said Elaine Hungenberg, Senior Vice President, Partnerships & Impact, XPRIZE Foundation. “McGill’s outstanding reputation for cutting-edge research and its commitment to addressing global challenges make it an invaluable partner. By joining forces, we aim to inspire the next generation of innovators and empower students and researchers at McGill to push the boundaries of possibility, creating impactful solutions for a sustainable and equitable future.”

The McGill Sustainability Systems Initiative (MSSI) supports sustainability research at McGill. Visit the MSSI website for more information.