Calling all creative thinkers—now is the time to pitch your one-of-a-kind invention to the city with a chance of winning a national competition and putting Boston on the map as a leader in innovation.
Mayor Tom Menino put a call out Tuesday for “all of Boston’s urban mechanics” to help the Hub by coming up with new and fresh concepts that could vastly improve city life for residents.
The call out is for the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayor’s Challenge—a head-to-head battle that will pit U.S. cities against each other, each submitting ideas that aim at solving problems in their respective communities.
According to the Mayor’s office, the city with the best idea and the greatest potential to spur a change in the quality of living for constituents, will receive $5 million. Four other cities taking part in the competition will be given $1 million for their inventive improvements.
“This is a terrific opportunity to propose creative solutions for our city,” Menino said in a statement. “We are all urban mechanics. If you have an inventive idea that can make our city better, I want to hear it.”
Noting the strides made from projects and services such as Hubway, Citizens Connect and Renew Boston, Menino wants more “bold ideas” just like them to consider for submission.
Here is what the Mayor is looking for to best represent the city:
- Must address a social or economic problem.
- Something that will improve the city’s customer service, level of efficiency, or accountability.
- Menino is particularly interested in ideas that can increase access to technology, expand affordable energy solutions, provide for Boston’s growing senior population.
- And idea that supports the diversity of languages spoken in the city.
Those interested in taking part in the competition can give their input here.
Inventors and innovators have until August 20, to get their submissions in.
According to the Mayor’s office, officials will review the submissions by outside individuals and city departments and select one to submit to the competition in mid-September.
Bloomberg Philanthropies will announce the winners in spring of 2013.
For more information about the Mayor’s Challenge, click here.
