The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is now accepting applications from aspiring social entrepreneurs worldwide for the first round of its Idea Lab incubator, a new programme that extends the reach of the ASME Innovation Showcase (ISHOW) hardware accelerator platform.
Founded in 1880, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organisation that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society.
Idea Lab is open to individuals and teams who have identified a pressing social and/or environmental challenge they think could be addressed through a hardware-led innovation. Applicants can submit either an engineering problem statement or a conceptual hardware solution that, once developed and scaled, will have a positive impact on vulnerable populations.
An initial cohort of Idea Lab candidates will be engaged in the programme for six to 18 months, depending on their stage of development, technical knowledge, and required mentorship. They will receive a range of benefits, including guidance through the design process, expert mentorship and assessment, access to design services, design and engineering software and tools, and funding to cover prototyping expenses.
The deadline for applications is June 6.
