Community validation and field testing are the next phase of the evaluation process. These activities have taken longer than originally anticipated but we are pleased to confirm that the challenge is continuing to move forward. We are currently working with a team to fabricate prototypes of the five shortlisted solutions. These prototypes will be introduced to the target community through the months of July and August 2026, providing community members with an opportunity to interact with the solutions and share their feedback. Following the community validation process, we anticipate that we will announce the top three solutions that will advance to the next stage of the challenge - field testing - which will commence immediately after the community has identified its top three preferred solutions.
We recognize the strong interest that participants have in understanding how their ideas perform in real-world settings, and we remain committed to maintaining transparency throughout the process. Once community feedback has been consolidated, we will share the outcomes of the validation and field testing and, where appropriate, provide participating solvers with relevant insights and lessons learned from the engagement activities.
