Owens Corning, a producer of glass fiber reinforcements for composite systems, has launched a global competition to find new applications for composite materials. Announced at the JEC Composites Show in Paris, the Composite App Challenge will focus on four issues: renewable energy, infrastructure durability, fuel efficiency and protection from harm.
A $200,000 commercial development grant will be awarded for a composite application that can be introduced by the end of 2012. A total of $50,000 will be awarded for four composite application ideas that effectively address marketplace needs, appear to be technically feasible and have a perceived market opportunity.
Participants must submit their applications or ideas through the competition Web site, occompositeappchallenge.com, by July 15. Up to 20 entrants will be selected and invited in early August to provide additional information for a second round of review at the end of November. Judges will be looking at the content of the idea, the potential market opportunity, the time needed to commercialize the application, the business case, technical feasibility and the contestant's ability to commercialize the application or solution.
Eight finalists will then be selected and invited to present their ideas. Final decisions will be made on the likelihood of scalability and long-term success.
Winners will be announced in February 2011 at a trade show hosted by the American Composites Manufacturers Association in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
SOURCE: Owens Corning
