Rice360 Design Competition 2027
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Quick Answer
Undergraduate teams worldwide present low-cost global health technologies at Rice University for prizes up to US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh). Opens 30 November 2026.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Rice University
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
About this competition
The Rice360 Undergraduate Global Health Technologies Design Competition is run by the Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies at Rice University in Houston. The 2027 edition is the 17th. The application form is not open yet: it opens on Monday 30 November 2026 and is due by 11:59 p.m. on Monday 15 February 2027. First place wins US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh).
What the program offers
The competition brings together national and international undergraduate teams presenting low-cost technologies for global health challenges in resource-limited settings. The 2027 cash prizes are: 1st place US$5,000, 2nd place US$3,000 and 3rd place US$2,000. Four special awards of US$1,000 each also exist: the Crystal Sea Award for innovation in materials science or digital innovation that advances health equity, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award, the Public Invention Open Source Award for the best fully open-source project, and the Public Invention Incremental Improvement Award for the most significant improvement to a project made earlier by a substantially different team. There is also a US$500 People's Choice Award decided by online voting. Apart from the top three places, semi-finalist teams can win more than one award.
Semi-finalists can opt in to coaching from global health mentors before the finale.
Who can apply
Teams are made up of undergraduate students from any major. The design must address a global health need using a technical approach, and it should take account of the constraints of delivering healthcare in resource-limited settings. Projects can come from coursework or from extracurricular activities. The page describes the competition as featuring national and international teams, and virtual participation is available, so a team of students from an Indian college is not excluded by anything stated.
This suits engineering, science and design students who already have a prototype or a clear design for a health problem. It does not suit graduate-only teams or projects with no health use.
How to apply
The application is a Qualtrics form linked from the competition page, opening on 30 November 2026. You provide five things. First, a problem definition of 50 words or fewer. Second, an innovation summary of 50 words or fewer. Third, an abstract of up to 300 words covering the design problem and need, design criteria and constraints, the proposed solution and its status, and successes, limitations and future work, with an optional single figure or table. Fourth, a project video uploaded as an unlisted YouTube video that explains the health challenge, who benefits, how the technology fits, the solution with any test results, and successes, limitations and plans; it must not include proprietary information. Fifth, a high-quality sketch or image of the innovation. Submit by 11:59 p.m. on 15 February 2027, Houston time.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Design judges evaluate applications with a published scoring guide on three things: the clarity and rigour of the problem definition, the effectiveness and potential impact of the design, and how feasibly it could improve healthcare delivery in low-resource settings. Semi-finalists then give a live oral presentation of under six minutes at the finale on 23 April 2027 on the Rice campus in Houston. Judges come from medicine, engineering and public health. People's Choice voting opens on 5 April 2027 and closes during the finale.
About Rice360
The Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies at Rice University runs fellowships, a Minor in Global Health Technologies, a graduate certificate, research and design work and partnerships such as NEST360. Its competition sponsors include family endowments, companies and the organisation Public Invention.
Things to check before you apply
The finale is on the Rice campus, but virtual participation is available for student teams, so travel is not strictly required. The page does not mention any travel support. The competition pages state no entry fee. A practical tip: keep the video free of confidential details, write the abstract so a non-specialist can follow the need and your result, and check with your university how prize money would be received and taxed.
Eligibility
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Organizers
The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship is Rice University's initiative for technology commercialisation, entrepreneurship education and the launch of technology companies. It is housed within Rice Business, the business school of Rice University in Houston, Texas,…
Learn morePrizes & Awards
What You Get
Judges award 1st place US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh), 2nd place US$3,000 and 3rd place US$2,000. Four further awards of US$1,000 each go to the best materials-science or digital design, the best attention to diversity, equity and inclusion, the best fully open-source project and the best improvement on an earlier project, with a US$500 People's Choice Award decided by online vote. All semi-finalists can get coaching from global health mentors before the finale.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Design judges score applications with a published scoring guide on the clarity of the problem, the effectiveness and impact of the design, and feasibility in low-resource settings. Semi-finalists present live for under six minutes to judges from medicine, engineering and public health at the finale on 23 April 2027.
Application Process
- 1
Application
Submit the abstract, video and image by 15 February 2027.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Indian student team enter the Rice360 competition?
Yes. The competition features national and international undergraduate teams, and virtual participation is available.
Who can be on a team?
Undergraduate students from any major. The project can come from coursework or from extracurricular work.
How much can we win?
First place wins US$5,000, about ₹4.75 lakh, second US$3,000 and third US$2,000. Four special awards are US$1,000 each and the People's Choice Award is US$500.
What is the deadline?
The form opens on 30 November 2026 and is due by 11:59 p.m. on 15 February 2027, Houston time. It is not open yet.
What do we need to submit?
You submit a problem definition and an innovation summary of 50 words or fewer each, and an abstract of up to 300 words. You also upload an unlisted YouTube project video and a project image or sketch.
Do we have to travel to Houston?
The finale is on the Rice campus on 23 April 2027, but virtual participation options are available. The page does not mention travel support.
Is it free to enter?
The page mentions no entry fee. Confirm this on the application form when it opens on 30 November 2026.
Is it a grant or equity?
It is a prize competition with cash awards. The page mentions no equity or ownership claim on your project.
Should the video include confidential details?
No. The video should not include proprietary information about the project.
When are the winners announced?
Winners are chosen at the finale on 23 April 2027. People's Choice voting opens on 5 April 2027 and closes during the finale.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
