Longitude Prize on Dementia
Transforming assistive technology to preserve independence and dignity
What was the Longitude Prize on Dementia?
The £4.4 million Longitude Prize on Dementia was a landmark global initiative driving the creation of personalised, AI-powered technologies co-created with people living with early-stage dementia to help them maintain independence at home.
Funded by Alzheimer’s Society and Innovate UK, and delivered by Challenge Works, the challenge incentivised innovators to develop tools that adapt to a user’s changing needs as their condition progresses, enabling them to stay active, safe, and live fulfilled lives.
The breakthrough that met the challenge
CrossSense ia a personalised AI-powered assistant, developed for smart glasses, that identifies everyday objects and guides people living with early-stage dementia through daily activities, with the ultimate aim of supporting them to live safely in their own homes for longer. By asking gentle prompts, CrossSense’s AI companion – called Wispy – understands and learns a person’s unique way of doing things, with the AI adapting to each user’s needs as their dementia progresses.
Our partners
The Longitude Prize on Dementia was funded by Alzheimer’s Society and Innovate UK, and delivered by Challenge Works .
The Challenge: Extending independent living in the home
Dementia is a leading global health crisis, with 1 in 3 people born today expected to develop the condition. As symptoms progress, everyday tasks – from recognizing household objects to following multi-step routines – become increasingly difficult. This leads to a loss of autonomy, heavy strain on unpaid carers, and premature entry into long-term residential care.
The Solution: Rather than relying on passive monitoring or reactive care, the prize challenged global teams to build proactive, adaptive technologies that learn user habits, bridge cognitive gaps, and guide individuals through daily activities; designed hand-in-hand with people living with the disease.
Learn more about the prize
Launched in September 2022, the prize provided a milestone-based funding funnel that distributed over £3 million in seed grants, technical assistance, and trial access to de-risk early-stage hardware and software. The winning solution, CrossSense Smart Glasses, are a pair of lightweight smart glasses equipped with an intuitive AI companion.


