Deadline: July 25, 2025
Applications are open for the NASA Beyond the Algorithm Challenge 2025. The NASA Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) seeks solutions to complex Earth Science problems using transformative or unconventional computing technologies such as quantum computing, quantum machine learning, neuromorphic computing, or in-memory computing.
Breakthrough computing methods show promise in overcoming processing power, efficiency, and performance limitations of conventional computing methods. Once fully harnessed, these methods could transform many areas of American life. Rapid flood analysis is one such area. Flood hazards affect personal safety and land use initiatives, directly affecting individual livelihoods, community property, and infrastructure development and resilience. By beginning to apply these new methods in an Earth observation context, NASA is driving American leadership in pushing computing technology frontiers.
The Challenge
Provide solutions or potential solutions to improve flood water analysis by using one or more unconventional computing method.
As a participant, they suggest to:
- Choose an audience for your solution.
- Define a problem statement and potential solution to best address your audience’s need for rapid flood analysis.
- Select and define a non-conventional computing method computing (such as quantum computing, quantum machine learning, neuromorphic computing, in-memory computing, or other non-conventional computing method) or hybrid approach with traditional computing that tests your solution.
- Align your quantitative and qualitative design and output to the Judging Criteria. Consider the data available to test your solution.
- Provide a 5-page White Paper and a 2-3 minute video explaining your approach.
Prizes
- $100,000 Prize: Up to three winners will receive six-figure awards
- NASA Collaboration: Work directly with Earth science leaders
- Real-World Impact: Protect communities through enhanced flood prediction
- Tech Leadership: Pioneer next-generation computing applications
- Career Development: Gain mentorship and networking opportunities
Eligibility
- Individuals must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States and be 18 years of age or older.
- Organizations must be an entity incorporated in and maintaining a primary place of business in the United States.
- Teams must be comprised of otherwise eligible individuals or organizations and led by a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident of the United States who is 18 years of age or older.
- U.S. government employees may participate so long as they are not acting within the scope of their position, rely on no facilities, access, personnel, knowledge, or other resources that are available to them as a result of their employment except for those resources made available to all other participants on an equal basis.
- U.S. government employees participating as individuals, or who submit applications on behalf of an otherwise eligible organization, will be responsible for ensuring that their participation in the Challenge is permitted by the rules and regulations relevant to their position and that they have obtained any authorization that may be required by virtue of their government position. Failure to do so may result in the disqualification of them individually or of the entity which they represent or in which they are involved.
- Foreign citizens may only participate as (i) employees of an otherwise eligible U.S. entity who reside in the U.S., (ii) full-time students at an otherwise eligible U.S. university or college who reside in the U.S., or (iii) owners of less than 50% of the interests in an otherwise eligible U.S. entity who reside in the U.S.
- Registered competitors shall be responsible for the actions of and compliance with the rules by their employees, subcontractors, officers, owners, and other affiliated persons.
Application
- In Phase One, participants will submit a short 5-page white paper and a 2 to 3-minute video of their idea. Submissions will be evaluated per challenge Judge Criteria. Approximately 3 weeks after the submission deadline, up to 10 Finalists will be selected to present their ideas to a panel of judges at a live Pitch Event in September 2025.
- In Phase Two, Finalists will upload any code solutions to GitHub or a similar code repository (if their solution includes code) and present their ideas to a panel of judges at a live Pitch Event. Up to three 3 winners will be chosen, with each winner being awarded a $100,000 prize. Note that the ownership and use of intellectual property arising from this competition remains with you.
- In Phase Three, winners will be invited to attend a “Funding 101” webinar course. Additionally, winners will be contacted 12 months after Pitch Event completion for follow up surveys on further challenge research development and implementation.
For more information, visit NASA Beyond the Algorithm Challenge.
