Our priorities
We structure our work in four ares: cities and societies, climate, health, and technology frontiers
We focus our expertise where the need is greatest.
These are areas of work where we think innovation has a critical role to play in solving problems and unlocking progress. In each of these, we have built our expertise and a track record of delivering breakthrough innovations, helping innovators thrive and unlocking systemic change. As a social enterprise, we work with governments, not for governments. We exist to attract and support the greatest innovative minds to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. Wherever they may be.
Tris Dyson, Executive Director
“Challenge prizes don’t just reward success – they incentivise breakthrough thinking. By focusing on the problem rather than the track record, we level the playing field so the best ideas can come from anywhere.”
Meet our priority leads
Caroline Purslow
Caroline leads the health team at Challenge Works, overseeing the design and delivery of our health portfolio of prizes.
Claire Rhodes
Claire is managing director and the head of climate response, focussed on overseeing the design and delivery of our climate-focused challenge prizes,
Ian Sillett
Ian is our director of frontier technologies. He works on challenge prizes that apply cutting-edge technologies, new sources of data, regulation or policy to solve challenges in any sector.
Kathy Nothstine
Kathy Nothstine is the director of our cities and societies work, where she focuses on place-based innovation and empowering cities to shape their destiny.What are the Challenge Works priorities?
Climate response
The climate crisis is the biggest threat facing humanity. Our challenge prizes spark innovators to find solutions to the myriad of climate problems facing our planet.
Health
We should all have the right to live long, fulfilled and flourishing lives. Our challenge prizes spark innovations that enable people to prevent, diagnose and treat disease as well as mitigate chronic conditions.
Cities and societies
Our challenge prizes spark innovation in the places and institutions we live and work in, helping people access the services they need and live well in thriving, healthy communities. We believe that innovation can help cities thrive and society become more resilient.
Technology frontiers
Our challenge prizes spark innovations that harness frontier science and technology, directing it towards socially useful goals. Advanced technology has huge power to shape the future.
Our guide to challenge prizes
Discover how carefully constructed challenge prizes attract and motivate the right talent to tackle any problem.