Stanford Center on Longevity Design Challenge
The 2026–2027 Stanford Center on Longevity Design Challenge invites robotic design proposals that support independence and human relationships across longer lives. Its theme is “Human-Centered Robotics for Longevity.” For architects and spatial designers, the opportunity lies in connecting a device to an actual environment: a difficult threshold, an inaccessible route or an everyday activity that becomes harder to perform. This is a product and service design challenge, not a building commission.
Brief and eligibility
| Organizer and edition | Stanford Center on Longevity; the fourteenth edition. The university-based programme’s published 2026 results include PhoroVis, a low-cost eye-examination device, in first place and Neevel, a gait-screening and exercise system, in second. |
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| Design scope | Mobility and safety; caregiving and daily living; social connection; aging infrastructure and sustainable cities. Choose one primary category. No prescribed project site. |
| Who can enter | International, multidisciplinary teams of 1–5, including at least one full-time university or college student during 2026–2027. The FAQ permits non-student teammates, but only student members may present at the final. |
| Competition type | Concept submission followed by development and demonstration for shortlisted teams. No initial physical prototype is required; no construction contract is promised. |
Dates, costs and awards
| Registration and submission deadline | 2 December 2026, 07:59 UTC, converted from the organizer’s 1 December, 23:59 Pacific time. |
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| Shortlist and final | Finalists: 27 January 2027. Final competition: 6 April 2027, at Stanford; the programme describes in-person participation. |
| Entry fees and refunds | No entry fee or refund policy is specified in the public call or sample form reviewed. Confirm any account-level terms before submitting. |
| Cash awards | First US$10,000; second US$5,000; third US$2,000. Finalist teams receive US$1,000 and mentoring. All amounts are already in USD. |
| Travel and tax | Limited travel reimbursement is offered, not unrestricted expenses. The organizer states that prizes are taxable; a designated team member receives and distributes the payment. |
Submission checklist
| Submission route and language | Online entry form through the official website. The sample form is in English; it does not explicitly state an alternative-language policy. |
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| Required visual material | A 6–10-slide storyboard in PDF or PowerPoint: user need, use sequence, human relationships and the resulting change in daily life. No architectural panel size is stipulated. |
| Written fields | A 140-character summary and answers of up to 1,500 characters each covering the solution, audience, alternatives, validation, development, risks, cost, price and distribution. |
| Optional attachments | Up to one supplementary PDF (10 MB maximum) and one video (90 seconds maximum); a public website may also be supplied. Additional written documents are not a substitute for form responses. |
| Finalist stage | Demonstration through a prototype, simulation, video or detailed illustrated scenario; a one-page summary; a seven-minute pitch and five minutes of questions. |
Jury and assessment
The current call describes a panel drawn from academia, design, technology, business and relevant mission-driven organizations, but does not name the 2027 judges. The published weights are impact 40%, originality 30%, feasibility 20% and affordability 10%, with a separate multiplier for alignment with the theme. Previous-year judges should not be treated as confirmed members of this edition.
Rights and points to check
The page still contains older FAQ dates and a superseded submission platform. Use the current 2026–2027 participation section and current sample form. The latter requires a storyboard even though older FAQ text describes supplementary visuals as optional.
Intellectual property remains with the team or its university/employer, as applicable; Stanford and sponsors reserve publicity rights after submission. Entrants should resolve any protection needs before disclosure. A prize, mentorship or prototype does not establish a commercial purchase or implementation commitment.
✦ ArchUp Competition Review
The useful architectural question is not whether a robot can move through a room, but whether the room, route and human activity have been understood before introducing the robot. A strong spatial proposal would identify the barrier precisely and show why an assistive device adds value beyond changing the environment itself.
The storyboard requirement can help teams demonstrate that relationship. Affordability and real-world feasibility also make maintenance, charging, storage and safe interaction relevant design considerations. These are the committee’s assessment of the brief, not additional submission requirements.
The organizer has a documented programme and published outcomes. However, the reused FAQ material reduces procedural clarity, and the unnamed current jury prevents a full assessment of disciplinary balance. Teams should use the current form and obtain clarification on any unresolved eligibility or fee question before committing resources.
Related competitions — Editors’ selection
For another student design brief, see the ISA-iSUN Design Challenge. For the relationship between design practice and environmental responsibility, consult our coverage of the 2028 Global Award for Sustainable Architecture; it follows a different selection model.
Registration and submission close: 2 December 2026, 07:59 UTC.
