Deadline: July 25, 2025

NASA ESTO seeks innovative approaches to solve complex Earth Science problems rapidly and accurately using transformative or unconventional computing methods such as quantum computing, quantum machine learning, neuromorphic computing, in-memory computing and others.

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, infrastructure development, and resilience.

By applying these new methods in an Earth observation context, NASA is driving American leadership in pushing computing technology frontiers.

The Challenge

• Choose an audience for your solution.
• Define a problem statement and a potential solution to best address your audience’s need for rapid flood analysis.
• Select and define a non-conventional computing method (such as quantum computing, quantum machine learning, neuromorphic computing, in-memory computing, or other non-conventional computing method) or a 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.

Benefits

• $100,000 Prize: NASA may select up to three (3) winning solutions to receive $100,000 each.
• Community Impact and Public Service: Gaining expertise in flood management enables participants to directly contribute to protecting and serving impacted communities, making a tangible difference in areas such as disaster preparedness, recovery, and resilience.
• Environmental Stewardship: Floods are a natural part of many ecosystems. By analyzing flood occurrences, participants can play a crucial role in environmental and sustainability efforts.
• Interdisciplinary Learning: Flood analysis is inherently interdisciplinary, blending elements of ecology, meteorology, geography, public policy, and engineering. This challenge offers participants a rich experience that integrates various fields of study, fostering well-rounded academic and professional development.
• Personal Growth and Leadership: Engaging in flood management and related activities can foster personal growth, leadership skills, and a sense of responsibility. It encourages participants to tackle complex problems, work collaboratively in multifaceted teams, and develop innovative solutions to pressing environmental and societal concerns.
• Networking and Collaboration: Participating in flood analytics initiatives often involves collaboration with government agencies like NASA, non-profit organizations, and private entities. This challenge provides participants with valuable networking opportunities, access to mentorship, and potential collaborations that can enhance their educational journey and career prospects.
• Cross-Applicability: By focusing on one tangible challenge, participants gain a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities posed by different unconventional computing methods, and will be able to apply their skills in new contexts.

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 under 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 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 remain 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.

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To apply, click here