Stanford Longevity Design Challenge 2027

The Stanford Center on Longevity Design Challenge is an annual global competition for student designers, now in its fourteenth year. The 2026–27 theme is Human-Centered Robotics for Longevity. First prize is US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh), and entries are due by 11:59 PM Pacific time on 1 December 2026, which is 1:29 PM IST on 2 December 2026.

This is a student competition. At least one team member must be a full-time student enrolled in 2026–27 at an accredited university or college, anywhere in the world. Founders who are not students can only join a team that includes a university student, and only students may present at the finals.

What the program offers

Five to eight finalists are announced on 27 January 2027. Each finalist team receives US$1,000 (about ₹95,000) and a paired mentor with industry or research experience, and gets limited reimbursement of travel costs. Between January and April 2027 the finalists develop their ideas, then present at the finals at Stanford University on 6 April 2027. The grand prizes are US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh) for first place, US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh) for second and US$2,000 (about ₹1.9 lakh) for third.

These are competition prizes, not investments, and the source describes no equity being taken. Each finalist team picks one member to receive the money and share it with the team, and payment is by wire transfer.

Who can apply

Teams of one to five people can enter, and individuals may enter alone. You may submit more than one design. At least one member must be a full-time student at an accredited university or college during the 2026–27 academic year. Team members can come from different universities and countries. No particular field or background is required.

For India, this suits students at colleges, design schools and engineering institutes. Indian teams have placed in several past editions, including third place in 2026 and second place in 2025. It does not suit a company with no student on the team, or anyone looking for funding to scale a commercial product.

How to apply

Register and submit on the challenge's awards platform between 15 September and 1 December 2026, as an individual or a team. Phase I is about the idea and concept, so no prototype is required. Give a written explanation of your design, with pictures or video if useful. Optional extras include early user testing, interviews, a video of up to 90 seconds, slides or mock-ups, and citations. Your design must fit one of four categories: Mobility and Physical Safety, Caregiving and Daily Living, Social Connection and Human Interaction, or Aging Infrastructure. The theme calls for simple, affordable, socially supportive robotic tools that strengthen human relationships rather than replace them. Low-tech and high-tech ideas are both welcome, and you can use any robotic platform. A practical tip: affordability and impact for people with limited resources count for more than advanced technology, so lead with who benefits.

How applications are judged and what happens next

Judges review entries from December 2026 to January 2027. They score impact (40%), feasibility (30%), originality (20%) and affordability (10%), and a separate score for fit to the theme is applied as a multiplier on the total. Finalists then submit a one-page design summary and show the idea through a prototype, simulation, video or Wizard of Oz demonstration, or a detailed design concept with diagrams and a user scenario. At the finals each team gives a seven-minute pitch and answers questions for five minutes.

About the Stanford Center on Longevity

The Stanford Center on Longevity runs the challenge as its annual event, with the goals of creating practical well-being solutions across the lifespan, building student knowledge about long lives and giving promising designers a path to drive change. The competition has been won by teams from many countries, including Nigeria, Spain, Brazil and the USA.

Things to check before you apply

• Only students may present at the finals, and finalists are expected to attend in person at Stanford. Travel reimbursement is limited, so budget for the rest, including a visa if you need one.
• Prize money is subject to US taxes and reported on Form 1099, and it needs bank details and a tax identification number if applicable. Check the Indian tax position with an adviser.
• The source gives 5 to 8 finalists in one place and 6 to 8 in another, so the exact number may vary.
• The source does not state an entry fee. Check the awards platform.