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Since its discovery in the 1920s, Raman spectroscopy has revolutionized process analysis with its nondestructive nature and ability to measure sample composition. More recently, technological improvements in lasers, optics, and detectors have made Raman faster and more accessible to both scientists and nonexperts for real-time process analysis. As a result, Raman is now a powerful measurement solution for research and development.

Blaise™ is a low-cost, portable, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Raman spectrometer developed by Forward Edge-AI, Inc. for real-time bacteria and virus detection, early cancer diagnostics, biosurveillance, and chemical analysis. Beyond it’s a range of uses in disease detection, Blaise™ can also be used for jet fuel quality testing, chemical contaminant detection, and various other applications in security, consumer goods, water testing, life sciences, and pharmaceuticals.

The Blaise™ XTECH Prize Competition is an international challenge designed to foster innovation in mobile application development for Blaise. This competition invites developers, scientists, technologists, startups, and universities to create transformative Android and iPhone applications that harness Blaise’s capabilities.

The competition is structured into four key phases: 1) registration and initial concept submission, 2) prototype development and vetting, 3) final app testing and showcase, and 4) awarding with commercialization support. Throughout these stages, teams will be evaluated based on innovation, functionality, usability, market potential, scalability, and impact. Participants will have opportunities to engage with industry experts, receive technical mentorship, and test their applications with the Blaise hardware. The final phase will culminate in a high-profile event where top teams will present their solutions to investors, industry leaders, and potential commercialization partners.

Winning teams will receive monetary prizes, recognition, and post-competition commercialization support, including investor networking and business development opportunities. Additionally, category-specific awards will highlight outstanding achievements in AI implementation, user experience, and societal impact. All participants must comply with ethical AI guidelines, relevant industry regulations, and the licensing agreement prohibiting reverse engineering of the Blaise hardware. By joining the Blaise XTECH Prize Competition, developers have the chance to contribute to groundbreaking advancements in portable spectroscopy, ultimately shaping the future of health and environmental monitoring.

The Blaise XTECH Prize Competition is a global initiative designed to push the boundaries of Raman use case application development for Blaise. This competition seeks to engage developers, scientists, technologists, startups, and universities in creating innovative Android and iPhone applications that integrate seamlessly with Blaise’s capabilities. By leveraging AI and spectroscopy, participants will help transform health diagnostics, personal safety, environmental monitoring and other applications through groundbreaking mobile solutions.

To succeed in the Blaise™ XTech Competition, participants must develop a mobile application that seamlessly integrates Raman spectra generation with superior data quality. Blaise™, an AI-powered portable Raman spectrometer, enables real-time detection of bacteria, viruses, cancer biomarkers, and chemical compounds across multiple industries, including healthcare, security, and environmental monitoring. A key aspect of development is defining a targeted application that effectively leverages Blaise™'s capabilities to address a specific problem, such as diagnostics, biosurveillance, or chemical analysis. Ensuring high-quality Raman spectra is critical, requiring best practices in sample preparation, instrument calibration, and data preprocessing. Advanced techniques like Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) can further enhance spectral accuracy, especially for detecting low-concentration substances.

To maximize analytical capabilities, the application should incorporate AI-driven tools for processing and interpreting Raman spectra. Machine learning models can classify and quantify substances, while data augmentation techniques improve model robustness. Additionally, an intuitive user interface should facilitate seamless data acquisition, real-time analysis, and visual presentation of results for easy interpretation. Compliance with competition guidelines, ethical AI practices, and licensing agreements is essential to ensure eligibility. By integrating these elements, developers can create an innovative, high-quality solution that effectively harnesses Blaise™'s full potential while standing out in the competition.

The competition will unfold in four key phases, beginning with registration and initial proposal submission. During this stage, teams from around the world will apply, outlining their vision for mobile applications that use the Blaise hardware and Software Developer’s Kit (SDK). Selected participants will gain exclusive access to the Blaise hardware and SDK, API documentation, and technical resources, enabling them to begin their development journey. This phase ensures that all teams have the foundational knowledge and tools necessary to create robust applications tailored to Blaise’s capabilities.

In the second phase, teams will move into prototype development, where they will refine their applications and publish working versions in Apple’s App Store or Google PlayStore, and submit datasets for evaluation. This stage will involve rigorous technical reviews by industry experts and judges who will assess each prototype’s feasibility, technical innovation, and alignment with Blaise’s intended applications. The strongest teams will advance, receiving additional development support and mentorship to fine-tune their solutions. Collaboration with subject matter experts and professionals will be encouraged to maximize the practical impact of the applications.

The third phase will focus on comprehensive testing and real-world application of the developed solutions. Finalists will have the opportunity to integrate their apps with actual Blaise hardware to demonstrate functionality, efficiency, and user experience. This stage will involve both laboratory and field testing to evaluate how well each application performs under real-world conditions. Additionally, usability, market size, and scalability will play a crucial role in determining which solutions can reach a broader audience and have the greatest market potential.

A defining moment of the competition will be the final showcase, held at a premier global technology event. Here, top teams will present their applications to a distinguished panel of judges, industry leaders, investors, and technology enthusiasts. This showcase will provide finalists with a unique opportunity to demonstrate their work on an international stage, gaining exposure and potential commercialization opportunities. The judging panel will assess the applications based on innovation, impact, scalability, and user-friendliness.

Winning teams will be awarded monetary prizes, and post-competition support for commercialization. In addition to the Grand Prize, several category awards will recognize excellence in AI implementation, UI/UX design, and real-world impact. These incentives aim to inspire developers to think beyond the competition and consider the long-term implications of their innovations in fields such as healthcare, safety, and environmental science.

To ensure fairness and ethical integrity, all participants must adhere to strict competition rules and industry regulations. Apps must comply with ethical AI guidelines, relevant health and safety standards, and data privacy requirements. Additionally, participants must sign a licensing agreement prohibiting reverse engineering of Blaise hardware and software to protect the integrity of the technology. Transparency and compliance will be closely monitored throughout the competition.

The Blaise XTECH Prize Competition represents a unique convergence of AI, spectroscopy, and mobile technology, providing a platform for developers to showcase their ingenuity. By joining this competition, participants will contribute to the next generation of mobile health and safety applications, leveraging Blaise’s advanced capabilities to create practical, real-world solutions. With the potential to impact millions of lives globally, this competition offers an unparalleled opportunity to drive technological progress and shape the future of AI-powered diagnostics and analysis.

Through this initiative, Forward Edge-AI, Inc. aims to accelerate the adoption of portable spectroscopy in critical fields while fostering a spirit of innovation and collaboration among developers. Whether through early disease detection, environmental monitoring, personal safety, or other groundbreaking applications, the Blaise XTECH Prize Competition is poised to set new benchmarks in the fusion of AI and spectroscopy. Participants will not only compete for prizes but also play a pivotal role in defining how advanced mobile diagnostics evolve in the years to come.

The Blaise XTECH Prize Competition prioritizes health, safety, and environmental responsibility throughout all stages of the event. Given the competition’s focus on AI-driven Raman spectroscopy for disease detection, personal safety, and environmental monitoring, it is essential that all participants follow stringent safety protocols. Teams developing applications that interact with Blaise hardware must ensure their solutions adhere to applicable health and safety regulations, particularly when handling sensitive biological samples, chemical substances, or fuel testing procedures. Ethical considerations, including data privacy and compliance with industry standards, must be at the forefront of all development efforts to protect users and maintain the integrity of the competition.

To safeguard participants, end users, and testing environments, all applications must be designed with rigorous safety measures in place. Developers must ensure that their applications accurately interpret spectroscopy data minimizing false positives or misdiagnoses, particularly in health-related implementations.

Finally, all competition testing environments will be subject to strict safety protocols, ensuring the well-being of participants, judges, and industry professionals involved in the evaluation process. Testing with Blaise hardware must take place in controlled environments where biohazardous, chemical, or flammable materials, if applicable, are handled under expert supervision. Participants must follow all local and international safety regulations when conducting field trials or laboratory-based testing. Any failure to comply with safety guidelines may result in disqualification. By integrating health, safety, and environmental standards into the competition framework, the Blaise XTECH Prize Competition aims to set a precedent for responsible technological development in AI-driven spectroscopy.

The first major milestone is Registration & Proposal Submission, where teams submit detailed project proposals outlining their intended applications. Teams selected to proceed receive access to the Blaise SDK, API, and technical resources. Following registration, Prototype Development & Vetting takes place, where teams build their initial application versions and submit working prototypes for evaluation. At this stage, expert judges assess submissions based on technical feasibility, innovation, and potential impact, selecting the most promising teams to advance to the testing phase.

During Final Testing & Public Showcase, teams demonstrate their fully developed applications in real-world scenarios using Blaise hardware. This phase includes technical validation, performance benchmarking, and usability testing, ensuring that applications meet industry standards and competition criteria. The finalists’ showcase provides a platform for teams to present their solutions to a distinguished panel of judges, industry leaders, and investors. This milestone marks a crucial point in the competition where top teams gain industry recognition and potential commercialization opportunities.

The last phase, Awards & Commercialization Support, celebrates the competition’s winners, with prizes awarded for the best overall application, AI implementation, UX/UI design, and societal impact. In addition to prize money, top teams receive ongoing mentorship, access to investor networks, and business development resources to help transition their applications into market-ready products. This phase ensures that winning innovations do not end with the competition but continue to make a lasting impact in healthcare, aviation safety, and environmental monitoring.

These milestones ensure a structured and transparent competition process, enabling teams to maximize their potential while pushing the boundaries of AI-powered Raman spectroscopy applications.

The Blaise XTECH Prize Competition offers a structured prize purse designed to reward excellence in mobile application development for Blaise’s AI-driven Raman spectrometer. The prize distribution is intended to recognize outstanding contributions in innovation, technical execution, usability, and impact. A total of $TBD will be awarded to the Grand Prize winner, who develops the most highest quality dataset alongside a groundbreaking application demonstrating exceptional integration with Blaise’s capabilities. This prize recognizes the top-performing team that successfully leverages AI and spectroscopy to create a high-impact solution with scalability and real-world application potential.

In addition to the Grand Prize, a $TBD award will be granted to the Runner-Up, whose application demonstrates strong innovation, technical proficiency, and commercial viability. This prize acknowledges a team whose solution significantly advances the field but may require additional development to achieve its full potential. The Runner-Up award ensures that multiple high-quality solutions receive recognition and support, even if they do not secure the top spot in the competition.

Further prizes include a $TBD award for Best AI Implementation, which will be given to the team that demonstrates the most sophisticated use of artificial intelligence in processing and analyzing Raman spectroscopy data.

This prize highlights the importance of AI-driven efficiency and accuracy in mobile applications that interact with Blaise technology. Additionally, a $TBD award for Best UX/UI Design will be presented to the team that develops the most user-friendly, intuitive, and accessible application interface. This award underscores the significance of seamless user interaction in ensuring widespread adoption and usability of Blaise-powered applications.

Beyond financial incentives, all prize-winning teams will receive post-competition commercialization support, including access to industry mentors, investor networks, and opportunities to further develop and market their applications. The Blaise XTECH Prize Competition aims not only to reward innovation but also to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge mobile applications in healthcare, aviation, and environmental monitoring. Through these structured prize purses, the competition fosters a dynamic ecosystem where breakthrough technologies can thrive and make a lasting impact.

The Blaise XTECH Prize Competition invites developers, AI specialists, and industry innovators from around the world to participate in creating transformative mobile applications for Blaise’s AI-driven Raman spectrometer. Team registration is the first step in the competition process, ensuring that all participants have access to the necessary resources and guidelines to develop high-impact solutions. To register, teams must complete an online application, detailing their background, technical expertise, and initial concept for their Blaise-integrated application. This application serves as the foundation for eligibility, allowing the competition organizers to assess each team's capabilities and ensure alignment with the competition’s objectives.

Upon successful registration and vetting, teams will receive exclusive access to the Blaise SDK, API documentation, and developer support resources. As part of the registration process, teams must also agree to the official competition rules and licensing agreement, which outlines intellectual property rights, ethical AI use, and compliance with industry regulations.

A key requirement of the agreement is the prohibition against reverse engineering the Blaise hardware, ensuring the integrity and security of the technology. Additionally, teams may be required to pay a nominal registration fee, which supports competition operations and resource distribution. This structured approach ensures that all participants are committed to the competition’s goals and have the necessary support to succeed.

Once registered, teams must meet various submission deadlines throughout the competition, including proposal submissions, prototype demonstrations, and final application testing. Teams will receive ongoing updates and technical support to help them navigate the development process and refine their applications. By completing the registration process, participants secure their place in an international challenge that not only offers financial rewards but also provides a platform for industry recognition, commercialization opportunities, and technological innovation in AI-powered Raman spectroscopy.

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The Blaise XTECH Prize Competition begins with the team registration process, which is the first step for developers, AI specialists, universities, startups, and industry innovators looking to participate. Interested individuals or organizations must first complete an online registration form, providing details on their team composition, technical expertise, and initial vision for their mobile application. This process ensures that all participants meet the competition’s eligibility criteria and align with its mission of advancing AI-powered Raman spectroscopy. Teams may consist of individuals, startups, research groups, or established companies, fostering a diverse range of perspectives and expertise.

Once a team submits its application, it will undergo a preliminary review to ensure its proposed application aligns with the competition’s objectives. This review assesses each team's background, technical capability, and feasibility of their proposed solution. Selected teams will receive a formal confirmation of acceptance into the competition, granting them access to essential development tools, including the Blaise SDK, API documentation, and testing resources. Teams will also be introduced to a dedicated developer portal, where they can find technical support, collaboration opportunities, and updates on key competition milestones.

As part of the registration process, all teams must agree to the official competition rules and licensing agreement, which outline key policies regarding intellectual property, ethical AI use, and data security. One critical requirement is the prohibition against reverse engineering the Blaise hardware, ensuring that all participants respect the integrity of the technology. Additionally, registered teams must comply with industry regulations relevant to healthcare, aviation safety, and environmental monitoring, depending on the focus of their application. This agreement ensures a fair and secure competition environment for all participants.

A $500 registration fee is required to confirm a team’s entry into the competition, which helps support the competition’s operational expenses, including access to the Blaise hardware, technical resources, mentorship, and industry networking opportunities. Some fee waivers or discounts may be available for teams from academic institutions, non-profits, or emerging startup ventures. The fee structure is designed to encourage committed participation while ensuring that registered teams receive valuable resources to aid in their development process. Teams that successfully complete the registration will be provided with detailed instructions for the next phase of the competition, including proposal submission guidelines.

The registration fees are structured to accommodate a range of participants, from independent developers to established startups and research institutions. The standard registration fee is $500 per team, granting full access to all competition tools, workshops, and official communication channels. Teams registering after the initial registration deadline may still apply under a late registration period, but they will be required to pay an increased fee of $2,000 to account for additional administrative processing. This late registration option ensures that motivated teams still have an opportunity to enter, but it incentivizes early participation to allow teams adequate time to develop their applications.

To encourage participation from a diverse group of innovators, fee waivers or discounts may be available for qualifying teams, such as those from academic institutions, non-profit organizations, or early-stage startups with limited financial resources. These teams may apply for a financial assistance program by submitting a request along with proof of eligibility during the registration process. The competition aims to remain as inclusive as possible while maintaining the necessary funding to provide high-quality technical resources and support throughout the event. Any approved fee waivers will be granted on a case-by-case basis, ensuring fairness while prioritizing teams with significant potential impact.

The final registration deadline will be set well in advance of the competition's initial submission milestone, ensuring that all teams have sufficient time to familiarize themselves with the Blaise technology and begin their development process. Once a team has successfully completed their registration and paid the applicable fee, they will receive official confirmation of acceptance and be granted access to exclusive competition materials. Meeting the registration deadlines is crucial for participation, as teams that fail to complete the process on time will not be eligible to compete. By structuring the registration fees and deadlines in this way, the Blaise XTECH Prize Competition ensures a committed and well-prepared field of competitors, driving innovation and meaningful advancements in AI-powered spectroscopy applications.

All participants in the Blaise XTECH Prize Competition must sign the Competitor Agreement, which establishes the official rules, responsibilities, and compliance requirements for competing teams. This legally binding document outlines key provisions, including intellectual property rights, data security, ethical AI use, and industry regulatory compliance. By signing the agreement, teams acknowledge that they retain ownership of their original work while granting Forward Edge-AI, Inc. a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use submitted applications and data for promotional and commercial purposes. Additionally, the agreement strictly prohibits reverse engineering of the Blaise hardware and mandates adherence to relevant health, safety, and aviation industry regulations.

The competition begins with Round 1: Qualifying Technical Submission, where teams submit their initial concepts, outlining their application’s purpose, technological approach, and potential impact. This stage includes a one page pitch slide and team credentials to ensure that participants have the necessary expertise and a viable development plan including data collection and generation. Judges will evaluate submissions based on innovation, feasibility, and alignment with Blaise’s capabilities, selecting the most promising teams to advance to the prototype phase. This round ensures that only serious contenders with well-thought-out ideas move forward.

Next, in Round 2: Prototype Development & Evaluation, selected teams develop working prototypes of their applications, integrating Blaise’s SDK, API, and real-time spectroscopy data analysis. Teams will be provided with mentorship and technical support via Microsoft Teams to refine their applications, ensuring optimal performance and usability. Judges will evaluate these prototypes based on their functionality, data quality, AI integration, accuracy, and scalability. At the end of this round, only a subset of teams will be selected to continue and publish their apps onto the Apple App Store or Google PlayStore. A repository will be provided for submitting datasets to teams that make it to Round 2. Based on their ability to demonstrate a working, innovative, and impactful application, teams will transition to Round 3.

In Round 3: Final Testing & Live Demonstration, the remaining teams will undergo rigorous testing to validate their applications’ performance in real-world scenarios. This includes field testing, usability trials, and accuracy benchmarking using actual Blaise hardware. Teams must demonstrate that their application can effectively process and analyze spectroscopic data in a reliable, user-friendly, and scalable manner. The competition culminates in a live public showcase, where finalists present their solutions to judges, industry leaders, investors, and potential commercialization partners. The judges will make their final assessments based on technical excellence, impact potential, and market readiness.

The competition concludes with Round 4: Awarding & Commercialization Support, where winners are announced, and prizes are distributed. The Grand Prize, along with category-specific awards for AI implementation, UX/UI design, and societal impact, will be awarded to the most outstanding teams. In addition to financial incentives, winning teams will receive post-competition mentorship, investor networking opportunities, and commercialization support to help bring their applications to market. This final round ensures that top innovations do not end with the competition but continue to drive real-world advancements in AI-powered Raman spectroscopy.

The Blaise XTECH Prize Competition is structured to evaluate submissions based on a comprehensive and objective judging framework, ensuring that the most innovative, functional, and impactful applications advance through each phase. The judging criteria focus on key areas essential for developing high-quality AI-powered Raman spectroscopy applications for disease detection, aviation fuel analysis, and other critical applications. Each submission will be scored and ranked based on the following criteria:

The degree to which the application introduces new or groundbreaking functionality in AI-powered spectroscopy. Originality and uniqueness of the solution compared to existing technologies. Effective use of machine learning, spectroscopy analysis, and AI-driven decision-making to enhance Blaise’s capabilities.

Accuracy and quality of spectroscopic data interpretation within the application. Stability, reliability, and efficiency of the application’s data processing and AI algorithms. Scalability of the solution, ensuring it can handle large-scale deployment without performance degradation.

Intuitive user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, making the application accessible to diverse users. Seamless integration of Blaise’s SDK and API to provide a smooth and functional user journey. Error-handling mechanisms to ensure robust performance in real-world conditions.

Practical applicability of the solution in healthcare, public safety, and environmental monitoring. Potential for real-world adoption and long-term usability in industry-specific settings. Measurable impact on efficiency, cost reduction, and accuracy improvements in spectroscopic analysis.

Adherence to industry regulations and data privacy laws in healthcare and aviation. Compliance with ethical AI practices, ensuring fairness and transparency in decision-making. Strict adherence to the competition’s prohibition against reverse engineering of Blaise hardware.

Market size, business feasibility and commercial scalability of the application. Potential for investment or industry partnerships, ensuring long-term sustainability. Strategies for monetization, deployment, and user adoption beyond the competition.

Clarity and effectiveness of the final presentation at CES 2026. Quality of the live demonstration, showing real-world functionality and impact. Ability to convincingly communicate the application’s value proposition and competitive advantage.

Each submission will be scored based on these weighted criteria, with judges providing detailed feedback at every stage. The highest-scoring teams will advance through the competition rounds, culminating in a live demonstration and final selection of winners at CES 2026. The Blaise XTECH Prize Competition aims to recognize not only technological excellence but also real-world applicability, market readiness, and positive global impact in AI-powered Raman spectroscopy solutions.

The Qualifying Round serves as the initial stage of the Blaise XTECH Prize Competition, where teams submit their preliminary proposals and demonstrate their potential to develop innovative mobile applications integrating Blaise’s AI-powered Raman spectrometer. This round is designed to assess feasibility, technical expertise, and alignment with the competition’s objectives, ensuring that only the most promising teams advance to the next phase. Participants must submit a one page pitch, credentials, and initial development plan to qualify for the competition.

Teams must provide a comprehensive submission package that includes:

All qualifying submissions will be judged based on the following criteria:

After submission, all applications will be reviewed by an expert judging panel consisting of AI specialists, spectroscopy researchers, and industry professionals. The highest-scoring teams will be selected to advance to the Prototype Development & Vetting Round, where they will begin working on functional versions of their applications. Teams that do not meet the qualification criteria will receive detailed feedback and may be invited to reapply in future competitions.

The Qualifying Round is a critical phase that ensures that only the most capable, innovative, and committed teams proceed further in the competition. By establishing a strong foundation in this round, participants set themselves up for success in subsequent phases, leading to full-scale app development and live demonstrations at an event to be announced.

The Semifinals System Technical Verification serves as the second round of the Blaise XTECH Prize Competition, where selected teams from the Qualifying Round advance to develop functional prototypes and demonstrate their technical capabilities. This phase ensures that each participating team can successfully integrate the Blaise SDK, API, and AI-powered Raman spectroscopy into a working mobile application. The goal of this round is to validate the core functionalities, data quality, technical feasibility, and performance of each application before moving on to the Final Testing & Live Demonstration stage.

To qualify for this round, teams must publish a fully functional prototype along with supporting technical documentation. Required components include:

Each submission will be reviewed based on technical quality, reliability, and effectiveness in real-world scenarios. The judging panel will evaluate prototypes using the following criteria:

At the conclusion of this round, the top-performing teams will be selected to advance to the Final Testing & Live Demonstration Round, where they will refine their applications and prepare for full-scale deployment and presentation at a live event. Teams that fail to meet the technical verification standards may receive detailed feedback but will not proceed further in the competition.

The Semifinals System Technical Verification round is a critical checkpoint, ensuring that applications are technically sound, scalable, and fully integrated with Blaise’s AI-powered Raman spectroscopy. Only the most innovative and high-performing teams will move forward, bringing them one step closer to commercialization, industry recognition, and prize awards in the Blaise XTECH Prize Competition.

The Finals Testing round of the Blaise XTECH Prize Competition is the last and most critical stage before winners are selected. In this phase, the top-performing teams from the Semifinals System Technical Verification will have the opportunity to conduct full-scale, real-world testing of their applications using Blaise’s AI-powered Raman spectrometer. This stage is designed to evaluate the applications under real-world conditions, ensuring they meet technical excellence, user experience, and market readiness criteria. Finalists will also present their solutions at an international consumer trade show such as CES 2027, providing exposure to industry leaders, investors, and commercialization partners.

Finalist teams must submit a fully functional, market-ready application that integrates Blaise’s SDK, API, and AI-driven Raman spectroscopy capabilities. Required components include:

Finalists will be judged based on the following key areas:

Finalists will undergo a rigorous testing and demonstration process, including:

At the conclusion of Finals Testing, the judging panel will deliberate and select the Grand Prize Winner along with additional category awards for:

Winners will receive monetary prizes, industry recognition, and commercialization support, including access to investor networks and potential partnership opportunities.

The Finals Testing round is the ultimate opportunity for teams to showcase their innovations, proving that their applications are not only technically advanced but also practical, scalable, and ready for real-world impact. The Blaise XTECH Prize Competition will reward solutions that push the boundaries of AI-powered Raman spectroscopy, creating transformative applications for healthcare, aviation, and environmental monitoring.

After months of innovation, rigorous testing, and intense competition, the Blaise XTECH Prize Competition has reached its final stage, and we are proud to announce the winners of this groundbreaking challenge. The competition has brought together some of the brightest minds in AI-powered Raman spectroscopy, mobile application development, and scientific computing, resulting in transformative solutions that have the potential to revolutionize healthcare, aviation, and environmental monitoring. Each team has demonstrated remarkable ingenuity, technical expertise, and dedication to leveraging Blaise’s cutting-edge capabilities for real-world impact.

Awarded for developing the most innovative, scalable, and high-impact application integrating Blaise’s AI-driven spectroscopy technology. This team’s application has demonstrated unmatched accuracy, usability, and real-world applicability, setting a new standard in mobile spectroscopy-based diagnostics and analytics.

The Best Data Award in the Blaise™ XTech Competition recognizes the team that demonstrates the highest standard of data quality, accuracy, and usability in Raman spectra generation and analysis. To achieve this distinction, participants must implement rigorous methodologies for sample preparation, instrument calibration, and data preprocessing, ensuring consistency and reliability in spectral measurements.

Recognized for their technically superior and innovative application that effectively integrates Blaise’s AI and spectroscopy capabilities. Their solution offers high reliability and a user-friendly interface, making significant contributions to spectroscopy-based diagnostics and industrial quality control.

This award goes to the team that demonstrated the most advanced AI integration in their application, enhancing spectroscopy data processing, accuracy, and automation. Their solution showcases how machine learning and AI-driven analytics can significantly improve real-time Raman spectroscopy interpretation.

Recognized for designing the most intuitive, accessible, and visually appealing user experience. This team’s application ensures that users, regardless of technical expertise, can seamlessly interact with complex spectroscopy data through a well-crafted and engaging interface.

Awarded to the team whose solution has the greatest potential to drive positive change in public health, environmental safety, or industrial efficiency. Their application has been identified as a game-changer in providing accessible and scalable spectroscopy solutions for underserved industries and communities.

In addition to the cash prizes, all winning teams will receive post-competition commercialization support, including:

A select group of scientific and industry experts serves as the Advisory Board, guiding the competition’s rules, evaluation criteria, and strategic direction. These professionals, drawn from fields such as AI, spectroscopy, healthcare, aviation, and environmental science, provide insights into the latest technological trends and help ensure that the competition aligns with real-world industry needs. The Advisory Board also supports the judging panel by providing technical guidance and ensuring the competition maintains scientific integrity and fairness.

The Judging Panel consists of renowned AI researchers, spectroscopy experts, mobile technology leaders, and venture capitalists, responsible for evaluating team submissions at each stage of the competition. The judges assess technical feasibility, innovation, user experience, scalability, and industry impact to determine which teams advance through the rounds. They also provide detailed feedback to teams, helping them refine their applications and improve their chances of success.

The Blaise XTECH Prize Competition is supported by industry-leading partners, sponsors, and technology providers, who play a crucial role in fostering innovation. These organizations provide:

By collaborating with key stakeholders, the competition ensures that top-performing teams have a clear path to bringing their applications to market.

Beyond winning the competition, teams have the opportunity to engage with a global investment and commercialization network designed to support long-term growth. Startups and research teams developing high-impact applications may receive:

Winning and finalist teams automatically become part of the Blaise XTECH Prize Alumni Network, a global community of innovators committed to advancing AI-powered Raman spectroscopy. The alumni network offers:

The Blaise XTECH Prize Competition Ecosystem is designed to go beyond a traditional competition—it is a launchpad for groundbreaking technologies, real-world solutions, and global impact. By bringing together visionary teams, expert judges, influential advisors, and dedicated partners, the competition paves the way for AI-powered Raman spectroscopy applications that can transform industries and improve lives worldwide.

The Blaise XTECH Prize Competition is your opportunity to innovate, compete, and make an impact in the future of AI-powered Raman spectroscopy. Join us and be part of this global innovation challenge!