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| $ 500,000 to design next-generation masks |
BARDA has announced a competition to develop the next generation of masks. Winners will receive a prize of up to $ 500,000.
More than a year into the outbreak, various masks have appeared. However, if you thought there could be a better mask, more people might want to wear it, here is your chance.
The Next Generation Masks Challenge was created in collaboration with the National Institute for Safety and Health at Work (NIOSH) to address common ailments such as lens fogging, skin irritation, contact obstruction and penetration of corona virus particles from the side.
The competition is divided into two stages: the first focuses on design and is divided into two stages. The first stage takes into account the redesign of existing masks and the second stage takes into account new technologies and new materials.
The submission should contain the master scheme for creating the proposed mask, which can also be tested in the future.
The first stage includes 10 winners. Each winner will get $ 10,000 to create mockup masks.
In the second proof-of-concept stage, participants are required to respond to the hypothetical scenario by designing a new mask (not based on existing masks).
Phase 2 participants submitted their physical masks to NIOSH for testing. This stage included 5 winners who participated in a prize of $ 400,000.
The challenges of the next generation of masks can offer practical solutions because the problems are numerous and the mask manufacturers are still not able to consistently meet the demand.
At the moment, the N95 and KN95 masks are difficult to come by. These are two recommended masks that have better filtering effect compared to different cloth masks.
There is also a problem with masks: According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), about 60% of KN95 masks in the United States do not filter Coronavirus particles as effectively as stated on the labels.
The Biden government has plans to impose more bases for the pandemic and alleviate some of these problems. However, there is no guarantee that more people will be wearing award-winning masks.