— Challenge will fund teams to build a working prototype and present at the 2021 NAB Show
— Participants must submit their proposal by 5 p.m. ET on August 28

Washington, D.C. — PILOT,  NAB‘s technology innovation initiative, is now accepting submissions for the fifth annual PILOT Innovation Challenge through 5 p.m. ET on August 28. The program will provide financial support to the winners to develop a working prototype for PILOT that allows broadcasters to expand and enhance remote television and radio operations.

The 2020 PILOT Innovation Challenge prompt is: Develop a working prototype to improve real-time decentralized collaboration while managing live and recorded audio/video from multiple sources for media production in a limited bandwidth environment. Broadcasters should be able to implement the prototype as a supporting element within their current environment.

The Innovation Challenge is one in a series of PILOT initiatives that each support a facet of the full innovation cycle, including the ideation, validation, incubation, and acceleration of media and technology-focused ideas.

“This year’s challenge looks to answer a timely question that has surfaced in the broadcast industry,” said PILOT Executive Director John Clark. “We are eager to see how technologists, many of whom are facing similar challenges, innovate to enhance remote production and overcome hurdles caused by physical distance, varying bandwidth speeds and remote operations.”

The 2020 Innovation Challenge winners will produce a working, extensible and implementable prototype that addresses limitations caused by remote television and radio operations and supports broadcasters’ current production environments.

Individuals, teams, companies, academic institutions and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply subject to the Challenge’s official rules of participation. Up to five finalists will be selected by a panel of industry experts and will be notified by the end of September. Winners will be announced in October as part of NAB Show NY Digital Experience. Participants can review the judging criteria on the PILOT website.

Up to $150,000 in funding will be allocated to up to two winners. Winners will also receive relevant mentorship, ongoing feedback during development and a trip to the annual NAB Show, held April 10-14, 2021 in Las Vegas to demonstrate their prototype.

The deadline to apply is August 28 at 5 p.m. ET.