An international competition to develop compact, remote excavation systems for humanitarian demining.
70+
Countries affected by landmines
60+
Years of landmines excavation
$37Bn
estimated cost of demining in Ukraine
Minesight Innovation Challenge
Across all geographies, terrains, and vegetation, excavation of landmines is the most difficult stage of the demining process.
The slowest stage of humanitarian mine action
The most costly phase of operations
The least safe step for personnel
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Minesight Innovation Challenge
1
Clearance efficiency
Operational and land-release rates.
2
Safety
Measurable safety improvements.
3
Cost-effective
Viable lifecycle cost.
4
Remote Operation
With speed and precision.
5
Ease of use
Realistic training requirements.
6
Manufacturability
Production, maintenance, repair.
Phases
Minesight Innovation Challenge
Sequential stages with mentorship and grant funding at every step.
1
Kick-Off Event
Online briefing on the problem,
requirements, process.
2
Application Submission Period
Submit a short description of your solution, including the approach, concept, and expected impact.
Deadline: April 21, 2026 (midnight, Kyiv time)
3
Full Proposal Submission (by invitation)
Selected teams will be invited to submit a detailed proposal, including the technical solution, implementation plan, and team information.
Timeline: Late April 2026
4
Grant Funding
Up to five teams will receive funding to develop their prototypes. Each team may receive up to $100,000 for development, testing, and refinement of their solution, along with access to expert support and testing facilities.
Start: May 2026
5
Prototyping & Tests
Teams have 4–6 months to build and test their system in field.
6
Final Evaluation & Demonstration
Teams will present and test their solutions in real-world conditions at a designated test site. Performance will be evaluated based on speed, safety, and effectiveness of excavation.
The winning team will receive an additional $100,000 prize.
Timeline: Tentatively early November 2026
Is prior experience in humanitarian demining required?
No prior experience is required, and we welcome applicants from other sectors and industries who can bring new ideas to the challenge.
5
What defines success?
The primary evaluation criterion is speed — specifically, the time required to expose a buried object for identification.
6
Do I need a finished product?
No. The goal is to demonstrate a prototype at the end of the Challenge. Teams can start with concepts, early-stage ideas, prototypes, and transferable technology. All are welcome.
7
How do I apply?
The application is a three step process. First, teams are invited to submit an abstract on this website. The abstract is equivalent to a single page description of your team and idea. Second, the Challenge organizers will request a full proposal from a number of teams selected based on the abstracts. The proposal should be a 5-10 page project description. Third, a final group of teams will be selected from the full proposals, and each will be funded with a grant. More details will be provided at the time of the proposal request.
8
Is there a required format or structure for the abstract submission?
The abstract must be submitted directly through the challenge website. There is no specific format or template required. However, participants are expected to provide a concise description of approximately 500 words or less.
1
Who can apply to the Challenge?
Anyone — individuals, startups, companies, consortia, research institutions and universities from around the world.
2
Can students participate?
Yes. Student teams are encouraged to apply. It is recommended to include at least one experienced technical mentor.
3
What constitutes a "Team?"
One selection criteria is whether the team described in the proposal has the appropriate skills and experience to complete development and field the prototype described. That can be anything from an individual to a large corporation. Regardless of the team structure, it is imperative that it has the capability to complete the challenge.
4
What do selected teams receive?
The selected teams will receive a Grant that is to be applied to preparing for the final contest and demo. The teams will also have access to technical mentorship and domain expertise. Each team will receive US$ 50,000 when they are chosen, and an additional US$ 50,000 if they pass a mid-term progress check, i.e. a total of US$ 100,000.
5
Who owns the intellectual property (IP)?
Teams retain full ownership of their solutions but the final test and demonstration are public disclosures.
1
Are there funding restrictions?
The teams are not restricted solely to the grant funding. The grant funding must be applied to the challenge (e.g. making prototypes, testing, paying personnel). Teams are allowed to supplement their grant funding with other contributions of products, software, labor or in-kind sources. The Challenge will not be auditing the project.
2
What does the winning team receive?
The team that demonstrates the best performance at the final test and demonstration at the end of the challenge will receive a challenge prize of US$ 100,000.
3
Will real explosives be used?
No. Only 3 or 4 of the 10 objects used in the final test will represent actual munitions. The rest will be false positives. Of the faux munitions, NONE will be actual explosives.
4
Will teams need to travel to Ukraine?
No. Final testing is expected to take place in a field environment, with location and details to be confirmed with selected teams. One test site will be Ukraine, but there will also be a test site outside of Ukraine.
5
Will we be able to ship the prototypes?
The Challenge will work with teams to overcome unexpected challenges like this. These processes can be complex and are not always within our direct control. They will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
6
What happens after the Challenge?
Selected solutions may have opportunities for further development, pilot projects, and collaboration with operators and partners in the humanitarian mine action sector.
7
Is there an official project language?
English will be the primary language, but Ukrainian will also be used during the Challenge.
8
In which language should proposals/abstracts be submitted — English or Ukrainian?
Both options are accepted.
9
Did I understand correctly that the challenge covers the full process — from identifying the location of the munition to partially digging it up?
No. The challenge does not cover the detection or location identification phase. It is focused specifically on the stage after detection. The objective is to remotely and safely excavate soil to expose the detected object (e.g., identified by a metal detector) enough for it to be identified.
10
Does the challenge require full excavation and removal of the object? Should the system independently remove clutter?
Yes. The objective is to expose enough of the object for visual inspection by a deminer. There is no requirement to fully excavate or remove the object. The system is also not required to independently remove any clutter or debris.
11
Does excavation in this challenge refer only to exposing the object, or also to its full removal? Will solutions focused only on exposure or only on removal be considered?
The primary objective of the challenge is to enable controlled excavation sufficient to expose the object for identification by a deminer. Solutions that focus solely on achieving this objective are fully aligned with the scope of the challenge. Teams may propose additional functionalities, including object removal; however, this is not a requirement and is not a primary evaluation criterion.
12
What are the key milestones during the program?
The program includes three main milestones: initial, mid-project, and final.The first milestone is the signing of the development agreement following the final team selection. This agreement will include a statement of work and define a mid-project milestone. Upon signing the agreement, teams will receive the first tranche of funding, amounting to 50% of the total allocation. Subsequent milestones include mid-project progress evaluation and final testing of the solutions.
13
Where will the final stage of the challenge take place?
The current plan is to conduct the final stage at two locations, one of which will be in Ukraine. A second location may be designated outside of Ukraine if required to accommodate teams that are unable to travel to Ukraine. Final details regarding the locations will be communicated to the selected teams at a later stage of the challenge.
14
Is autonomy required, or is remote control sufficient?
The requirement is that the system operates without the operator having line-of-sight control. The specific approach to achieving this — whether through autonomy, remote control, or a combination of both — is left to the discretion of the teams. The chosen implementation approach and level of autonomy may be considered during the team selection process.
Project partners
Register
Register to get access
Thank you for your registration!
We have received information about your initiative...
