Space Challenge Playbook

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Revision as of 19:08, 29 August 2019 by Epaatdahlstrom (talk | contribs) (Problem Definition and Scoping: Extensive content added for this section)
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***Work in Progress***

Introduction

Leveraging Incentive Prizes

Incentive prizes have been used throughout history for catalyzing industries and innovation. From the Longitude Prize that ushered accurate maritime navigation globally to the Orteig Prize that jump started the aerospace industry, prize competitions give birth to ideas, entrepreneurs and businesses. In addition, it is a platform that can also be used to educate, train and influence the general public towards understanding the many opportunities and benefits a space industry can provide to a country. It is also a platform to prototype different ways of incubating, mentoring and supporting space entrepreneurs and startups as they work towards leveraging space technologies to solve local problems while creating potential economic growth.

It is in this vein that SpaceBase has decided to run space competitions to create a nascent space ecosystem in New Zealand. It is an experiment that can be ported to other nations and regions who are interested in building their own space industry. Using competitions, SpaceBase has been able to deliver a single project while working towards all its higher level goals of education, entrepreneurship and community building essential to ecosystem building.

Purpose

It is important to get alignment on the challenge high level goals for each key partner. This is normally conducted through a series of brain storming, goals setting meetings to reach consensus among stakeholders before attempting to define the challenge problem statement.

High Level Goals

Challenge is used as a tool to catalyze a space ecosystem in a country or region.

Framing Challenge Benefits and Goals

  • Catalyzing ideas, projects, startups and businesses
  • Solving an inherent local problem
  • Platform for education and outreach
  • Build technology capabilities within the country or region
  • Showcase existing talent and capabilities
  • Catalyze collaboration and partnerships, and build relationships
  • Creates spin-offs from existing industries

Challenge Work Streams, Roles and Responsibilities

Project Plan

Major Timelines

  • Defining the Problem Statement
  • Launch
  • Incubator Application Deadline
  • Incubator Down Select
  • Incubator Teams Announcement
  • Virtual Incubator Period
  • Application Deadline
  • Finalist Down Select
  • Finalists Announcement
  • Demo Day
  • Pitchfest and Awards Ceremony
  • Post Challenge Incubation

Budget Plan


Major Elements

Problem Definition and Scoping

Technology Leveraged

Problem Statement Elements

A well defined problem statement should have the following elements:

  • Clear definition of the problem being addressed (e.g. agriculture pollution detection)
  • Clear definition of expected solution (e.g. product, service)
  • In the case of a space/aerospace, specifically state which technology should be leveraged (e.g. space and UA technologies)

In addition:

  • Should focus on a specific industry or theme to narrow down the scope (e.g. agriculture industry)
  • Be clear in quantifying how the problem is being addressed and measureabel outcomes (e.g. measure, detect x)
  • Be clear on whether problem statement has the potential for commercialization vs. an academic exercise or research
  • Consider the benefits on a short and long term scale

Consider:

  • Solving a Problem vs. Idea Generation
  • Localized Issue vs. Global Implementation
  • Immediate Implementation vs. Incubation

Challenge Scoping

Note that a narrow problem area will drive highly specialized entries but fewer applications. Too broad and the submissions will be difficult to compare and may not offer useful solutions to the problem.

Defining the Challenge: Ideation of Problem Space

UN SDGs

Consider using the UN Sustainability Development Goals as an initial guideline for focusing on a problem area that has global impact and scale. A successful Challenge is also dependent on how relevant the problem area is to the local or national community it is being executed. The level of interest for both applicants and partners for the Challenge is largely dependent on the significance of the problem.

Determining the Industry Space

Determining the problem space is also largely dependent on its relevance to an existing industry. Consider the potential extent of support and interest when choosing the industry to focus on in the local region.

Here are examples of problem areas identified for the NZ Aerospace Challenge utilizing space and UA technologies:

New Zealand Industry and Policy Issues
  • Population Distribution
  • Water Supply/Distribution
  • Water Quality
  • Water differentiation (fresh/salt)
  • Drought Patterns
  • Road Development/Mapping
  • Forestry Mapping (logging, deforestation, fire risks)
  • Agriculture – livestock
  • Agriculture – crops
Disaster Preparation and Response
  • Seismic/earthquake monitoring
  • Tsunami/weather warnings
  • Disaster Response
  • Emergency localized communications (e.g. high altitude unmanned aerial vehicles)
Advanced Technologies
  • Internet of things (IoT)
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning - big data applications
Environment and Ecology
  • Bird Migrations
  • Fish Migrations
  • Invasive Species
  • Ocean health/coastal health
  • NZ flora and fauna - taxonomy and

  classification

Urban Air Mobility


Research and Interviews from the Industry Ecosystem

Once a specific industry focus is determined among key partners and stakeholders. The next step is to conduct an industry research on the current and most important challenges the industry is facing and understand the current solutions and state of the art technologies being implemented to date.

To assist in this exercise create:

  • a list of potential industry experts to interview
  • conduct one-on-one interviews with industry specialists and stakeholders to come up with the most popular themes
  • research similar or existing competitions elsewhere to compare and contrast what works


Identifying several theme problem focus areas

Choose several theme areas and draft 2-3 potential problem statements that focus on the theme areas. For the NZ challenges, we have given the key partners the option of choosing their top themes. In addition, we went back to the area experts and industry stakeholders to further validate the relevance of the top selected problem statements

Finalizing the Problem Statement

Sample Problem statements from past challenges:

"Develop a product or service that detects, monitors or measures water or soil pollution using the very latest satellite and unmanned aircraft (UA) technology data."

"Our challenge is to use new or current technologies or data, in space or on the ice, (a) find the best methods to identify hazards and map a path across the ice, and (b) design or prototype new sensor systems and algorithms to help vehicles navigate across the ice in Antarctica"

To finalize the problem statement, make sure that all key partners sign off to the final version. Make sure to always use the same version in all external facing information about the Challenge.

Challenge Mechanics

Some major considerations when putting together the Challenge mechanics

Design
  • Design for using space technologies
  • Design for extended development and work (6 months)
  • Design for follow-on support from local specialists
  • Design for level of requirements (proof of concept)
Process
Top level considerations
  • Challenge Timeframe – Make sure it leverages timing for maximum participation. E.g. Leverage academic scheduling to maximize applicants or make use of existing related programs that might incorporate the challenge within their regular academic programs.
  • Collaboration Process – Maximize national participation and ownership to incentivize regional participation and promotion for finding local talent and building capacity within regions.
  • Matching goals with Challenge Execution – The mechanics of the Challenge should match outcomes;  e.g. 3 month challenge vs. start-up weekend
  • Follow-on Support – needs to be build-in to the Challenge for birthing lasting projects and startups.
  • End-User Participation – Stakeholders that stand to benefit from Challenge solutions would be best incorporated during problem definition, prototyping of solutions for validation, and implementation to solve a problem.

Main elements

  • Proposal Application Period (2 months)
  • Incubator Programme (5 months)
  • Finalist Down Selection and Preparation (1 month)
  • Demo and Pitch Presentations (2 days)


Rubric

The judging criteria shoulde reflect the goals of the Challenge. Below is a sample of the judging criteria used for both the NZ Space and Aerospace Challenges

(10 points each)

  • Use of Space Technology - Leverage space technology to solve problem
  • Technical Feasibility and Rigor - Based on scientific principles and methods
  • Innovative Solution - Novel and new idea
  • Market Viability - Clear business case or plan for execution
  • Scalability - Plan for mass adoption
  • Ease of Implementation - Easily adoptable and implementable  
  • Environmental Impact - Benefit to society at scale

(5 points)

Team composition for execution

(20 points)

Prototype or demonstrable solution

Add points for: (2 pts each)

  • Evidence of impact within x years
  • Collaboration with multiple stakeholders
  • Creative integration (from other technologies, etc.)


Lessons Learned

  • NZ Space and Aerospace Challenges
  • Other Challenges


Partnership and Collaborations

  • Anchor Partners

Funding and Sponsorship

Prize Structure

  • Funding Plan Campaign
  1. Sponsorship Letter and Info
  2. Partnership LOIs
  • Sponsorship Categories and Benefits

Comms and Marketing

Communications Plan

  1. Website
  2. Challenge Info and Requirements
  3. FAQs
  4. Sponsor and Partner Logos
  5. News
  • Collaboration Platform
  • Videos
  • Interviews
  • Newsletter
  • Press Releases and Media Advisory

Recruitment

Sponsors and Partners

  1. Industry Stakeholders
  2. Local, Regional and National Government
  3. Economic Development Authorities

Applicants

  1. Challenge RoadShow
    • Briefings
    • Outreach Opportunities
  2. Targeted Campaigns
    • Academia
    • Incubators and Accelerators
    • Aerospace/Space Communities

Judges

  1. Criteria and Expertise
    • Technology Specialist
    • Business Commercialization
    • Industry Experts
    • User/Government Stakeholders
  1. Recruitment letter template

Incubator

  1. Delivery Partners
  2. Mentors
  3. Industry Specialists

Application Process

  • Requirements
  • Terms and Conditions Document
  • Timeline
  • Application Phases
  1. Phase 1: Incubation Team Selection
  2. Phase 2: Finalist Down Selection
  3. Phase 3: Final Demonstration and Pitch Presentation
  • Application Platform Setup
  • Creating Application Forms
  • Application Contacts
  • Acceptance and Announcements
  • Finalist Info Packs

Judging and Evaluations

  • Judging Information Packet
  • Evaluation Platform Setup and Access
  • Evaluation Timelines
  • Alignment Sessions

Incubator

  • Program Timeline and Schedule
  • Incubator Info Pack
  • PR & Announcements
  • Team Needs
  • Webinar Setups
  • Collaboration Platform Setup
  • Background Resources
  • Check-ins

Post Challenge Support

  • Co-working space
  • Startup Mentorship

Events Planning and Execution

  • Launch
  1. Date
  2. Venue
  3. Catering
  4. Sponsors
  5. MC and Speakers
  6. Public Relations and Comms
  • Demo and Finals
  1. Date
  2. Venue
  3. Catering
  4. Sponsors
  5. MC and Speakers
  6. Public Relations and Comms
  7. Expo

Sub Elements

Contacts and Databases

Collateral (Pics, Logos, Videos, Docs)

Tools

  • Zoom Rooms (Meeting and Webinar)
  • Doodle
  • Google Drive
  • Slack

Platforms

  • SlideRoom (Recruitment Forms)
  • SpaceBase Platform (Incubator Collaboration Platform)

Road Map, Milestones and Timeline

Sample Impact

NZ Space Challenge Outcomes

NZ Aerospace Challenge Outcomes