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incentive2innovate (i2i) Conference Shares Tools for Business Innovation During Economic Downturn

Michael Timmons — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:14:43 -0700

Untitled Document

INCENTIVE2INNOVATE (i2i) CONFERENCE SHARES TOOLS FOR BUSINESS INNOVATION DURING ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

Leaders identify that our “risk averse” society stifles advancement and hurts economy

Playa Vista, Calif. (June 25, 2009) –The X PRIZE Foundation, with its partners BT Global Services, the John Templeton Foundation and the United Nations Office for Partnerships, recently hosted its first innovation conference – incentive2innovate (i2i) – for senior-level executives. The meeting was held at the United Nations in New York.

i2i gathered extraordinary thought-leaders to illustrate how collaboration and incentive prizes can be used to stimulate radical breakthroughs and bottom-line results. Speakers and attendees discussed how these powerful tools can stimulate progress, whether the goal is advancing healthcare reform, reinvigorating the energy sector, or developing a product or system that will lead our country to economic recovery.

During conference discussions, attendees, who represented a cross-sector of professions including academics, government officials and business leaders, arrived at a universal consensus that, contrary to popular perception, innovation is not dying. Attendees asserted that a plethora of ideas and breakthrough opportunities do exist, but we lack a culture that stimulates creative and innovative thinking and an incentive-driven process that allows such ideas to be recognized. Often, companies trade long-term innovative promise with short-term results. Attendees discussed how the current economic situation may drive C-level decision makers to explore new ideas in alternative, proactive ways. Participants also addressed the source of innovative ideas, identifying individuals who work closely with the product or customer as the key contributors toward advancement.

i2i speakers included some of the world’s greatest innovators such as Marthin de Beer, Senior Vice President of Emerging Technologies Group, Cisco; Reid Hoffman, Chairman and CEO, LinkedIn; Filippo Passerini, Chief Information & Global Services Officer, Procter & Gamble; and author Don Tapscott. Representatives from the i2i partnership included X PRIZE’s Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Matt Bross, CTO of BT Group; Amir Dossal, Executive Director, United Nations Office for Partnerships; and Dr. Arthur J. Schwartz, Executive Vice President, John Templeton Foundation.

Additional speakers ranged from Arianna Huffington of the Huffington Post and inventor, Dean Kamen of DEKA Research & Development to Thomas Kalil from the White House’s Office of Science & Technology Policy. Attendees came from top-tier organizations including PepsiCo, WellPoint, Siemens, Thomson Reuters, GlaxoSmithKline, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, NASA, TedMed, Boeing Space Exploration, Deutsche Bank, Progressive Insurance and Goldman Sachs.

Below are excerpts from i2i:

Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and CEO of The X PRIZE Foundation: “Fundamentally, I believe that all problems can be solved – the question is how to do it in an efficient fashion. Incentivized competition is one method to drive breakthroughs in areas that are stuck, where there are market failures. Through Open Collaboration, you can reach out to top minds, geniuses around the planet, and get them to work on the problem you are so passionate about changing. You get what you incentivize. It’s fundamental, it’s simple, but it’s so powerful.”
Matt Bross, Chief Technology Officer, BT Group: “What is actually happening to the sphere of innovation possibilities? I call it an innovation Big Bang.”
Amir Dossal, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Partnerships: “Innovative solutions, as well as partnerships between the public and private sectors are essential to reaching the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.”
Thomas Kalil, Deputy Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy: “There are a number of steps we have to achieve in order to make incentive prizes a growing part of what the government does to promote innovation in ways that go beyond traditional grants and contracts, but I’m confident that this is an area where we can make progress over the first term of the President’s administration.”
Keith Ferrazzi, CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight, Inc.: “If you think about all achievements that we’re going to have around innovation, we’re going to need to breakthrough. We need to collaborate. We need clearly to work together.” Ferrazzi continued, “We find that you can’t have innovation without social risk. And social risk only occurs if you have the basis of a relationship underneath to be able to say things out of the box.”
Don Tapscott, author of Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything and Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing the World: “The time has come for a new model of innovation, one based on collaboration and on these principles of openness, of sharing intellectual property.”
Reid Hoffman, CEO and Founder LinkedIN: “Every individual is now a small business. How do I stay competitive in a globally competitive world? How do I innovate in the practices that I do in order to be a successful professional? How do I identify my problems and challenges, identify the right things; how do I reach out and get them? A network is a very useful thing for that. There is a pattern of everyone using their networks to successfully compete as businesses, managers and small companies. You can use your network to figure out if you’re on the right path quickly. Go to people that you think are very smart that have some insight and say ‘here’s my plan, what do you think?’” Open collaboration is at the core of networks and social media. Pertaining to social media networks, Hoffman stated, “MySpace is the bar, Facebook is the backyard BBQ, and LinkedIn is the office.”

Throughout intimate breakout sessions, i2i attendees brainstormed solutions to challenges in multiple areas. During one session, solutions to the healthcare crisis in America were discussed. Ideas ranged from using an information-collaboration model to decreasing the time needed to provide patients a correct diagnosis; to creating a smart data, virtual, immersive healthcare environment through the use of telepresence.

i2i shared practical methods for creating a culture of innovation in businesses through collaboration. It highlighted concrete ways to leverage limited resources to innovate through incentivized competition, and outlined proven applications that will help drive innovation for each company represented. Every executive left with real solutions that could be immediately implemented to positively affect their company’s bottom-line.

For more information on the conference or to view some video highlights, please visit www.incentive2innovate.com B-Roll video footage is also available on request.

ABOUT THE PARTNERS:

About The X PRIZE Foundation
The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured the world’s attention when the Burt Rutan-led team, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private spaceship to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for suborbital spaceflight. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation, with the support of its partner, BT Global Services, is creating prizes in Space and Ocean Exploration, Life Sciences, Energy and Environment, Education and Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as the leading model for fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org.

About BT Global Services
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

In the year ended 31 March 2009, BT Group’s revenue was £21,390 million.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt.

About The United Nations Office for Partnerships
United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP) serves as a gateway for partnership opportunities with the United Nations family. It promotes new collaborations and alliances in furtherance of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and provides support to new initiatives of the Secretary-General. UNOP provides Partnership Advisory Services and Outreach to a variety of entities, as well as managing the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships. UNFIP serves as the interface in the partnership between the UN system and the UN Foundation. UNOP also manages the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), established by the Secretary- General in July 2005, to support democratization around the world. UNOP is headed by the Executive Director Amir Dossal. For more information about the UN Millennium Development Goals, please visit www.un.org/millenniumgoals

About The John Templeton Foundation
The John Templeton Foundation serves as a philanthropic catalyst for research on what scientists and philosophers call the Big Questions. It supports innovative work at the world's top universities in such fields as theoretical physics, cosmology, evolutionary biology, cognitive science, and social science relating to love, forgiveness, creativity, purpose, and the nature and origin of religious belief. The Foundation also seeks to stimulate new thinking about wealth creation in the developing world, character education in schools and universities, and programs for cultivating the talents of gifted children. For more information, please visit www.templeton.org.

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German Team Part-Time-Scientists Enters $30 Google Lunar X PRIZE Competition

Michael Timmons — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:08:39 -0700

GERMAN TEAM PART-TIME-SCIENTISTS
ENTERS $30 MILLION GOOGLE LUNAR X PRIZE COMPETITION

Berlin, Germany (June 24, 2009) – Today, Team Part-Time-Scientists announced its official entry into the Google Lunar X PRIZE competition, marking Germany’s debut in this new race to the Moon. The team joins the $30 million contest that challenges space professionals and engineers from across the globe to build and launch a privately funded spacecraft to the Moon. The spacecraft must complete a series of exploration and transmission tasks as outlined in the competition’s official rules. Team Part-Time-Scientists, headquartered in Berlin, Germany has seven team members and is among 19 teams from 42 countries that are competing for their share of the multi-million dollar prize purse.

The Part-Time-Scientists are not only the first German team to join the competition but also one of the youngest as the vast majority of team members are in the 20’s. In addition, this is the first team made up entirely of non-space professionals. The seven members are scattered across northern Germany and welcome everyone who wants to join their efforts.

Team leader Robert Boehme: "We want to prove to the world that the labor of a few dedicated, hard working people is equivalent with that of a 100 rocket scientists. We believe the future of humans is among the stars. For that to happen, we have to get humans out of low earth orbit again. One doesn't have to be in a space agency to fly into space. Thanks to the X PRIZE Foundation, private companies have built vehicles that can travel beyond the edge of our atmosphere. Going to the Moon, even if it's just a man made robot, is the next logical step for private space exploration.”

Boehme continues, “I take great pride in the fact that we really are private individuals who are trying to accomplish this goal. Among the Part-Time-Scientists team, we have two physicists, two IT Professionals, two Software Developers and one Hardware Specialist. I certainly hope more people will join us over time. The knowledge for lunar exploration has been around for more than 30 years. How hard can it be? In addition to sending a rover to the Moon, we also know that each team will need to communicate with their respective rovers. Right now, there are only a few ways to accomplish that task, each method requiring the involvement of a government space agency. Once our own rover is ready to begin its journey to the Moon, we aim to have our own means of earth/Moon communication in place, not only for us, but for everyone else to use in future missions. "

The Part-Time-Scientists are a non-profit organization that is financed by donations, their own capital and sponsors including leading companies like Texas Instruments (electronics and semi conductors)and O'Reilly Media (computer book publisher).

"We're extremely excited to welcome our first Germany-based team into the Google Lunar X PRIZE,” said Will Pomerantz, Senior Director, Space Prizes, The X PRIZE Foundation. “Robert and the Part-Time-Scientists team bring an incredible amount of energy and excitement to the competition, the same kind of youth and passion that was seen among the engineers, scientists, and technicians who made up the
-more-
Apollo program. By building their foundation upon the core principles that have lead to world-wide success stories like Linux, the team will be pursuing a management and organization style that was unheard of in the space industry until quite recently, but has the potential to generate excellent results."

For more information about team The Part-Time-Scientists, please visit www.part-time-scientists.com. High resolution photographs, video and other team materials are available upon request.

ABOUT THE GOOGLE LUNAR X PRIZE
The $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE is an unprecedented international competition that challenges and inspires engineers and entrepreneurs from around the world to develop low-cost methods of robotic space exploration. The $30 million prize purse is segmented into a $20 million Grand Prize, a $5 million Second Prize and $5 million in bonus prizes. To win the Grand Prize, a team must successfully soft land a privately funded spacecraft on the Moon, rove on the lunar surface for a minimum of 500 meters, and transmit a specific set of video, images and data back to the Earth. The Grand Prize is $20 million until December 31st 2012; thereafter it will drop to $15 million until December 31st 2014 at which point the competition will be terminated unless extended by Google and the X PRIZE Foundation. For more information about the Google Lunar X PRIZE, please visit www.googlelunarxprize.org.

ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION
The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured the world’s attention when the Burt Rutan-led team, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private spaceship to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for suborbital spaceflight. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation, with the support of its partner, BT Global Services, is creating prizes in Space and Ocean Exploration, Life Sciences, Energy and Environment, Education and Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as the leading model for fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org.

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Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE Announces Hire of Senior Director Eric Cahill

Michael Timmons — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:22:32 -0700

Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE Announces
Hire of Senior Director Eric Cahill

Cahill brings a wealth of experience in the automotive and energy sectors to the
multimillion dollar competition for super fuel efficient vehicles

Playa Vista, Calif. – June 1, 2009 – The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, a multimillion dollar competition to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles, today announced the hire of Eric Cahill as senior director. Cahill will report to Cristin Lindsay, vice president of Prize Operations.

In this role, Cahill will provide leadership and managerial direction to the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE team and will interface with X PRIZE sponsors, donors, partners, consultants, vendors, contractors and participants. He will be based at the X PRIZE Foundation headquarters in Playa Vista, Calif.

“Eric has dedicated his career to the commercialization of cleaner alternatives in the automotive and energy sectors,” said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, president and CEO of The X PRIZE Foundation. “His experience in project management in the cleantech and automotive industries adds immense value to this Prize and to those participating in the competition.”

"The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is a groundbreaking opportunity for designers and developers of all levels to compete on a neutral and equitable field,” said Cahill. “I am thrilled to be able to work with talented teams across the nation and the world, from high school students to established car companies, creating clean, super-efficient vehicles that are ready to meet the demands of the market today.”

Cahill, a U.S. Navy veteran and practiced project manager, spent the early portion of his career at Boeing’s program management office and later at a Tier One automotive supplier where he led the team that developed the electric drive train technology for the forthcoming Fisker Karma luxury plug-in hybrid. Prior to joining The X PRIZE Foundation, Cahill served as COO and founding member of Internet start-up AboutTime.com and most recently as principal at Adaptiv Strategic Technology Advisors where he consulted on alternative energy, project management, and renewable technologies & policies.

ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE
The goal of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more consumer choices. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded to the teams that win a stage competition for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 Miles per gallon or energy equivalent (MPGe). The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will place a major focus on efficiency, safety, affordability, and the environment. It is about developing real, production-capable cars that consumers will want to buy, not science projects or concept cars. This progress is needed because today's oil consumption is unsustainable and because automotive emissions significantly contribute to global warming and climate change. For more information visit
http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/

ABOUT PROGRESSIVE:
Progressive, founded in 1937, is one of the country’s largest auto insurance groups and a leading insurer of motorcycles, recreation vehicles, boats, and commercial vehicles. The Company offers competitive rates and innovative products and services that meet drivers’ needs throughout their lifetimes as well as 24/7 online and in-person customer and claims service.

One of Progressive’s Core Values is Excellence. To the Company’s more than 26,000 people, it simply means seeking constant improvement. Over time, this has meant introducing revolutionary ideas that make car insurance easier to shop for, buy and use. It’s this same innovative spirit that’s behind the Company’s sponsorship of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE. The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE will inspire innovation that will produce more fuel efficient vehicle choices, helping to make a difference in people’s lives.

Progressive’s products and services are available locally through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies in the U.S., online at http://www.progressive.com, and by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (1-800-776-4737).

ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION
The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured the world’s attention when the Burt Rutan-led team, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private spaceship to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for suborbital spaceflight. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation, with the support of its partner, BT Global Services, is creating prizes in Space and Ocean Exploration, Life Sciences, Energy and Environment, Education and Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as a leader in fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org.

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Progressive Automotive X PRIZE Applauds President Obama's Plans to Accelerate Stricter Fuel Economy and Emissions Standards

Michael Timmons — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:50:39 -0700

Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE Applauds President Obama's Plans to Accelerate Stricter Fuel Economy and Emissions Standards

PLAYA VISTA, CA--(May 19, 2009) - Today, the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, a competition designed to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel efficient vehicles, praised President Obama's plan to accelerate new fuel economy and emissions standards passed by Congress at the end of 2007. The plan will set a single new national efficiency standard that requires passenger cars and light trucks to get an overall average of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016, four years earlier than originally planned.

“Improving the energy efficiency of the U.S. transportation system is one the most important challenges facing our nation, and this legislation is the latest and most tangible example of it,” said Cristin Lindsay of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. “We commend President Obama's swift action--these new standards are an important first step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing vehicles' fuel economy.”

The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is offering a $10 million prize purse, funded by Progressive Insurance for production-capable 100 MPGe (miles per gallon energy equivalent) vehicles that are affordable and meet market needs for capability, safety and performance.

Last month, the competition announced a list of 111 Registered Teams, comprising 136 vehicles and 14 different fuel types which intend to compete for their share of the prize purse.

“The need to dramatically improve vehicle technology and diversify the fuels that feed our transportation system is more important than ever,” added Lindsay. “Many of the proposed fuels in our competition have a renewable component and we expect most of our vehicles to use electricity to supplement consumable renewable-based fuels like E85, E10, B20 biodiesel and natural gas. Through this competition, we will stimulate innovation and show that the targeted fuel efficiency standards are possible in the near term."

The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE has received Resolutions of Support from both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, as well as personal support from bipartisan politicians, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D-MI), Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The Prize has also received technical support from The U.S. Department of Energy, The Department of Transportation (NHTSA and Federal Highway Administration) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Department of Energy has also provided a $3.5M grant to fund the public Education Program of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE.

For more information about the Progressive InsuranceAutomotive X PRIZE, please visit www.progressiveautoxprize.org or email progressiveautopress@xprize.org.

About the X PRIZE Foundation:
The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured world headlines when Burt Rutan, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world's first private vehicle to space to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10 million Progressive Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation is creating prizes in five areas: Exploration (Space and Underwater), Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, Education and Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as the leading model for fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org or email prcontact@xprize.org.

About Progressive:
Progressive, founded in 1937, is one of the country's largest auto insurance groups and a leading insurer of motorcycles, recreation vehicles, boats, and commercial vehicles. The Company offers competitive rates and innovative products and services that meet drivers' needs throughout their lifetimes as well as 24/7 online and in-person customer and claims service.

One of Progressive's Core Values is Excellence. To the Company's more than 27,000 people, it simply means seeking constant improvement. Over time, this has meant introducing revolutionary ideas that make car insurance easier to shop for, buy and use. It's this same innovative spirit that's behind the Company's sponsorship of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE. The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE will inspire innovation that will produce more fuel efficient vehicle choices, helping to make a difference in people's lives.

Progressive's products and services are available locally through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies in the U.S., online at http://www.progressive.com and by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (1-800-776-4737).

X PRIZE & BT Gather World's Top Minds for Interactive Conference to Drive Innovative, Bottom-line Business Solutions

Michael Timmons — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:46:59 -0700

X PRIZE FOUNDATION AND BT GLOBAL SERVICES
GATHER WORLD’S TOP MINDS FORINTERACTIVE CONFERENCE TO DRIVE INNOVATIVE, BOTTOM-LINE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

C-suite executives, foundation, political and academic leaders, and social entrepreneurs are invited
to join cutting-edge innovators to collaborate on business solutions that can deliver
immediate bottom-line results for their organizations at June forum

Playa Vista, Calif. (May 21, 2009) – The X PRIZE Foundation, with its partners BT Global Services, John Templeton Foundation and the United Nations Office for Partnerships, will host a groundbreaking incentive2innovate conference (i2i) for senior-level executives, June 8-9 at the United Nations in New York. i2i will provide an intimate forum for attendees to collaborate with extraordinary business leaders on initiatives to make an immediate impact on innovation, operations and revenue generation within their respective organizations. Innovators will include Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, chairman and CEO, The X PRIZE Foundation; Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief, Huffington Post; Don Tapscott, author of Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything and Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing the World; and many more.

The i2i experience goes beyond simply listening to speakers. Through a highly collaborative format, i2i will connect attendees with peers, business leaders and industry experts to brainstorm relevant solutions for their companies’ most pressing business issues. i2i will provide attendees with the following:

Practical methods to create a culture of innovation through collaboration
Concrete ways to leverage limited resources to innovate through incentivized competition
Proven applications that will help drive innovation and improve bottom-line performance

Conference attendees will also have the opportunity to engage with Thomas Kalil, deputy director, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Obama Administration; Reid Hoffman, chairman and CEO, LinkedIn; Dean Kamen, founder, FIRST, and president, DEKA Research and Development Corporation; Dwayne Spradlin, president and CEO, Innocentive; Matthew Bishop, chief business writer/US business editor, The Economist; Paul Jansen, partner at McKinsey and Company;J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., founder and president of J. Craig Venture Institute and J. Craig Venter Science Foundation; and Charles L. Harper, Jr. D.Phil, senior vice president and chief strategist of John Templeton Foundation,among many others.

i2i will feature working sessions and keynote addresses focused on the following topics:

Open Collaboration: Leverage investments by recruiting the world’s best talent to solve challenges
Incentivized Competition: Design incentive prizes and only pay for the results you need
Health Care: Use open collaboration and incentivized competition to drive healthcare innovations for individual companies and the industry overall
Energy and Environment: Learn from the leaders who are using open-source innovation and competition to lead the green revolution
Power of Politics and Prizes: Understand the government’s current and future use of prizes as a tool to solve major problems within our communities and across borders
Global Development: Collaborate on a new approach to create sustainable economies for the developing world
Open Innovation Culture: Radically change corporate culture; embed innovation in your daily operations and unlock your employees’ hidden talent

“We’ve assembled a dynamic group of visionaries for i2i who are enacting change and making a positive impact on business that will drive this economy out of the recession and into the future,” said Dr. Diamandis. “With the support of our partners, the Foundation has pioneered the concept of innovation through incentivized competition and open collaboration. During i2i, we will share these tools, and show their potential to create revolutionary solutions and drive sustainable economic growth for attendees’ businesses.”

To register for the conference or to view the complete i2i agenda and innovators’ bios, please visit www.incentive2innovate.com

ABOUT THE PARTNERS:

About BT Global Services
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

In the year ended 31 March 2009, BT Group’s revenue was £21,390 million.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt

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Team White Label Space Enters $30 Million Google Lunar X PRIZE

Michael Timmons — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:54:20 -0700

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TEAM WHITE LABEL SPACE ENTERS
$30 MILLION GOOGLE LUNAR X PRIZE

NETHERLANDS (May 8, 2009) – White Label Space, a brandless Moon 2.0 space technology start-up company, announced today its entry into the $30 Million Google Lunar X PRIZE Competition. The team is comprised of space professionals from more than 11 countries across the globe, including: England, Netherlands, Australia, United States, France, Japan, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Norway and Portugal. Detailed information about the team, its members and plans for the Google Lunar X PRIZE is available online at www.whitelabelspace.com.

Team White Label Space was created in 2008. With a strong background in space engineering and knowledge of the costs involved, the group realized that there were numerous global companies that could finance a Google Lunar X PRIZE mission with less than 10 percent of their yearly advertising expenditure.

Like the early Apollo missions, the winning Google Lunar X PRIZE mission will reach billions of people. By reaching this audience, White Label Space will offer an unprecedented advertising opportunity and will create strong and enduring brand associations for international companies operating in industries such as technology, automotive, telecommunications, transportation and finance.

From its Global Headquarters in the Netherlands, White Label Space will continue to build strong partnerships with companies and organizations around the world, particularly those that are interested in stepping into the space market or expanding their existing market share. Making maximum use of web technologies, White Label Space will provide an integrated promotional platform that showcases the partners' capabilities and products. By cooperating in the development of the White Label Space Google Lunar X PRIZE mission, the partners will also develop new technologies and products that can be reused in future space missions.

By extensively using social media to engage the public at large, White Label Space will reach beyond the space-enthusiast community and inspire people from all walks of life to join its exiting journey of discovery and adventure.

Team Composition

The core Team White Label Space team consists of eight members: Steve Allen, Robin Biesbroek, Marina Petrozzi, Andrew Barton, Kazuya Yoshida, Juergen Schueltz, Mark Bentley and Ayako Ono. Another 40 collaborators and advisors support the core team

The founding members of Team White Label Space include members of the Lunar Explorers Society (LUNEX) and participants in the Euromoon 2000 project, a European Space Agency (ESA) plan for a lunar surface exploration.

LUNEX is an international space advocacy organization that aims to promote the exploration of the Moon for the benefit of humanity. LUNEX members believe that the Moon is the next and most important step in the human exploration of the solar system and are dedicated to help achieve this goal through furthering international cooperation, outreach activities and general enlightening of the public. In pursuing this aim LUNEX hopes to bring the benefits of the Moon to all people on Earth through a sustainable exploration process.

Euromoon 2000 was an initiative of the European Space Agency (ESA) in the 1990s that aimed to land a robotic craft at the Aitken Basin near the Moon's south pole in the year 2000. The efforts to develop the Euromoon 2000 mission plan were led by the Dutch Astronaut Wubbo Ockels, who assembled a team of over 25 engineers and scientists from ESA and industry to make a preliminary mission assessment study, building upon some related studies that took place in the preceding years. ESA was not able to find the budget for the mission but the efforts and progress made at that time are relevant to any European team wishing to compete in the Google Lunar X PRIZE.

Approach

The White Label Space team's goal is to appeal to investors by assembling a strong international technical team capable of winning the Google Lunar X PRIZE. White Label Space sees the creation of strong partnerships as a key element of this vision. Partners will benefit by showcasing their technology, products and capabilities on the international stage. To build an effective team, White Label Space will focus on interoperability and will develop interchangeable and modular designs that will lead to new interface standards for low cost space missions. This open and collaborative approach is analogous to what the internet revolution has done for business and the shift away from closed proprietary standards to open ones, where anybody can contribute and benefit.

White Label Space recognizes the enormous possibilities of the internet to share knowledge and organize information, to realize international collaborative projects more ambitious than ever attempted before. White Label Space intends to use the latest such internet technologies and will continue to update and modernize its internet infrastructure, looking to emerging internet technologies such as cloud computing for use with distributed project collaboration.

Partners

Today, White Label Space has five official partners developing different technologies and equipment for its Google Lunar X PRIZE mission;

The Swiss Propulsion Laboratory (SPL) is developing a low-cost engine for the landing stage of the White Label Space mission. SPL has long experience developing cheap and reliable rocket propulsion systems for numerous customers. SPL has a rocket motor test bench located on the same site as its workshop and engineering design offices, enabling rapid and extensive testing of its engine designs.

The Space Robotics Lab at Tohoku University in Japan will work with White Label Space to design a rover for the Google Lunar X PRIZE mission. The lab is led by Professor Kazuya Yoshida and has contributed to numerous Japanese space missions including the Hayabusa asteroid sample return mission.

JAQARsoftware.com is White Label Space's partner for orbital design and mission analysis. JAQARsoftware.com provides quality, easy-to-use intelligent software tools that allow its customers to solve complex spaceflight problems such as satellite trajectory optimization in short time on everyday desktop PCs. Clients include many of the top space companies and agencies across Europe, the USA and Asia.

Lunar Numbat is a team of Australians and New Zealanders who are using their skills and Open Source technologies to develop new software and electronic hardware in support of the White Label Space mission.

Wroclaw University of Technology's Institute of Telecommunications, Teleinformatics and Acoustics has extensive experience developing aerospace communications equipment including the Amateur Radio for the ISS (ARISS) antenna which is now flying on the European Columbus Module of the International Space Station.

White Label Space is continually looking to form new partnerships with capable partners from all over the world and discussions are currently under way with three other potential partners.

White Label Space sees this as the beginning of an adventure that has far reaching consequences for all of humanity. For us the GLXP is the starting point of the next wave of space exploration where the common person can become a contributor and not just a spectator.

For more information:

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About The Google Lunar X PRIZE

The $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE is an unprecedented international competition that will challenge and inspire engineers and entrepreneurs from around the world to develop low-cost methods of robotic space exploration. The $30 million prize purse is segmented into a $20 million Grand Prize, a $5 million Second Prize and $5 million in bonus prizes. To win the Grand Prize, a team must successfully soft land a privately funded spacecraft on the Moon, rove on the lunar surface for a minimum of 500 meters, and transmit a specific set of video, images and data back to the Earth. For more information about the Google Lunar X PRIZE, please visit www.googlelunarxprize.org.

About The X PRIZE Foundation

The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured the world’s attention when the Burt Rutan-led team, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private spaceship to win the $10 million ANSARI X PRIZE for suborbital spaceflight. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation and its revolution partner BT Global Services are creating prizes in Exploration (Space and Oceans), Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, Education and Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as the leading model for fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org.

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MIT Enterprise Forum of Phoenix Presents an Evening With Peter Diamandis

Michael Timmons — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:29:31 -0700

Iconic Figure in Personal Space Flight and Founder of X PRIZE Foundation

PHOENIX, AZ--(Marketwire - May 6, 2009) - The MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Enterprise Forum of Phoenix will host an extraordinary event, Rewarding Breakthrough Innovation, on June 4, 2009, at the Arizona Science Center where Arizona business leaders and community members will meet the key figure in the development of the personal spaceflight industry, Dr. Peter H. Diamandis. He will be sharing his experiences, vision and passion for having created many space-related businesses and organizations including the X PRIZE Foundation, the Rocket Racing League, Zero Gravity Corporation, Singularity University and Space Adventures, Ltd.

The evening experience includes a direct conversation with Dr. Diamandis exploring how Arizona can participate and contribute on a global scale by advancing opportunity through science, education, technology and entrepreneurism. The presentation by Dr. Diamandis will highlight the X PRIZE Foundation, where money is rewarded to directly fund research in areas of exploration in space and underwater, life sciences, energy and environment, education and global development to benefit humanity. He will share how to get involved and even compete for the million dollar prizes like the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE awarded in 2004 to Mojave Aerospace Ventures for the world's first private spaceflight on SpaceShipOne.

He will also incorporate highlights of his vision and role as the Vice Chancellor and Chairman of Singularity University, a revolutionary education program that focuses on inspiring leaders who strive to understand and facilitate the development of exponentially advancing technologies and apply, focus and guide these tools to address humanity's grand challenges. Registration is required.

"The exciting event is part of the continuing series presented by the MIT Club of Phoenix, now the newly formed MIT Enterprise Forum of Phoenix, with a mission of fostering entrepreneurship and exploring innovation with unique access to leaders and pioneers in areas of business, technology and science," said Armando Viteri, chair of the MIT Enterprise Forum Phoenix. "We are privileged to have Dr. Peter Diamandis share his experiences and encourage us to use imagination and change the way we see ourselves on this planet."

Seating is limited and registration is required. Attendees will have a chance to personally greet Dr. Diamandis in an open networking session beginning at 5:00 PM. Hors d'oeuvres will be served. The live presentation will start at 6:00 PM and opportunities for question and answer will be 7:30 to 8:00 PM.

To register for the event, visit http://tinyurl.com/c6vs7b or call 602-640-9005. Members of the MIT Enterprise Forum, MIT Club of Phoenix, Arizona Science Center and All-Ivy Council of Phoenix members pay $50 by pre-registering and all other pre-registrants pay $60 to attend. If seating is available, the cost on the day of the event is $75. MIT students and their parents attend for $40. Arizona Science Center is located at 600 East Washington Street Phoenix at Heritage and Science Park in Copper Square. Registration for the event is open through midnight June 2, 2009. Corporate sponsors include Osborn Maledon, Stearns Financial Services, Arizona Science Center and Advisory Board Architects.

MIT Enterprise Forum of Phoenix -- The MIT Enterprise Forum of Phoenix is a chapter for the MIT Enterprise Forum, The Global Entrepreneurial Network. Formerly the MIT Club of Phoenix, a chapter of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Alumni Association, the new MIT Enterprise Forum of Phoenix is dedicated helping technology entrepreneurs with direct access to experienced and successful CEOs through a series of coaching panel events of local business experts. MIT Enterprise Forum of Phoenix brings together local, national and even global leaders and entrepreneurs from real companies discussing real issues, providing everyone a front row seat to behind-the-scenes success. The organization has the mission to enhance the value of the MIT degree, build community, and celebrate shared experiences.

X PRIZE Foundation and Knome Spotlight DNA Day With Historic Charity Auction of Whole Genome Sequence

Michael Timmons — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:04:00 -0700

X PRIZE Foundation and Knome Spotlight DNA Day With Historic Charity Auction of Whole Genome Sequence

Initiative to Raise Awareness of Whole Genome Sequencing
as a Vehicle to Advance Personalized Medicine

Playa Vista, Calif., (April 23, 2009) --To spotlight National DNA Day, which will be celebrated on April 25, The X PRIZE Foundation, an educational nonprofit prize institute dedicated to fostering radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity, and Knome, Inc., a leading personal genomics company, today announced a first of its kind charity auction. Individuals will be able to bid for a whole genome sequencing, analysis, and interpretation service of their individual genome. The event opens on eBay Friday, April 24 and will run for 10 consecutive days - ending Monday, May 4, 2009. Bidding will begin at $68,000 and proceeds will benefit The X PRIZE Foundation.

Knome is contributing KnomeCOMPLETE™, its flagship whole genome sequencing service and is participating in the project to help raise awareness of the X PRIZE Foundation’s Archon X PRIZE for Genomics (AGXP), a global competition that will award $10 million to the first person or team that can sequence 100 human genomes within 10 days.

“This is a very exciting time in genomics,” said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and CEO, The X PRIZE Foundation. “The ability to fully sequence human genomes and use that personal genetic information to predict disease susceptibility and guide proactive care has the power to transform our entire healthcare system. We hope this charity auction will help continue to raise public awareness about the radical breakthroughs in personalized medicine new technology in this area can provide. The Archon X PRIZE for Genomics is dedicated to assuring that the general public will have access to accurate, affordable and accelerated personal genomic analysis. Although companies can currently sequence the human genome, it is not with the rapidity and economy required to win the Archon Genomics X PRIZE. It is that quantum jump in speed and reduction of cost that make this X PRIZE so important in accelerating the dawn of personalized medicine."

“Knome is proud to partner with The X PRIZE Foundation to highlight the technological advances we have made and the potential for genomics to revolutionize personalized medicine. We share the same goal of making genomics more widely accessible, which in turn will propel the burgeoning field of genomics-based health care,” said George Church, PhD, Knome Co-Founder and Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School. “Whole genome sequencing represents the gold standard in personal genomics. Every genome we sequence today gets us closer to the goal of truly personalized and preventative medicine.”

The highest charity auction bidder will receive:

A digital copy of his or her whole genome sequence on Knome’s innovative GenomeKey™, a fully encrypted portable storage device. Once sequenced, the winning individual will join an exclusive list of the first humans to have ever been sequenced, a group that currently includes genomics pioneers James Watson and Craig Venter.
A comprehensive analysis and interpretation of the winner’s genome by Knome scientists and access to KnomeXplorer™, Knome’s proprietary personal genome browser and update service.
An in-person roundtable discussion held at the Harvard Club of Boston with Knome’s team of world-leading geneticists, clinicians and bioinformaticians to review the winner’s sequence data and discuss the latest genomics research and discoveries.
While in Boston, complimentary accommodations at the exclusive Mandarin Oriental Hotel and a private dinner with Professor George Church.

Complete details are available at www.ebay.com/DNA.

ABOUT DNA DAY

DNA Day was first created by the United States Congress in 2003 to commemorate the completion of the Human Genome Project and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the DNA double helix structure. The first human genome sequence was completed at a cost of $3 billion in 2003. In 2007, Nobel Prize winner James Watson’s genome was sequenced at an estimated cost of $2 million. Since then, the collective efforts of the world’s leading research institutions, pioneering companies and the teams that have entered the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics competition, are lowering the cost of sequencing to the point where personal genomics for members of the public is now possible.

ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION

The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured the world’s attention when the Burt Rutan-led team, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private spaceship to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for suborbital spaceflight. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation, with the support of its partner, BT Global Services, is creating prizes in Space and Ocean Exploration, Life Sciences, Energy and Environment, Education and Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as a leader in fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org.

ABOUT KNOME

Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Knome has the distinction of being the first personal genomics company to commercially offer whole genome sequencing and analysis services for individuals. KnomeCOMPLETE™ whole genome sequencing service enables the most comprehensive analysis of trait and disease associations available on the market today. Working alongside leading geneticists, clinicians and bioinformaticians, Knome empowers its clients to understand and control their own genomic information in a manner that is both anonymous and secure. Knome is a privately funded company. For more information, visit www.knome.com. Knome, KnomeCOMPLETE, GenomeKey and KnomeXplorer are trademarks of Knome, Inc.

X PRIZE Foundation, WellPoint Inc. Unveil Initial Design for Revolutionary $10+ Million Healthcare X PRIZE

Michael Timmons — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:15:28 -0700

Initial Prize Design Released for Public Comment at World Health Care Congress in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON (April 14, 2009) -- The X PRIZE Foundation, a nonprofit organization that drives innovation through large incentive competitions, in collaboration with the WellPoint Foundation, one of the nation’s largest private foundations, and WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP), the nation’s largest health benefits company in terms of medical membership, announced today the initial competition design for a $10M+ Healthcare X PRIZE.

The Grand Challenge for this Healthcare X PRIZE will be to create an optimal health paradigm that empowers and engages individuals and communities in a way that dramatically improves health value. Following today’s announcement, the public is invited to comment on the approach and provide feedback to ensure that the competition results in affordable, high-quality health care for all communities. An overview of the initial prize design and guidelines are available for public comment at www.xprize.org/wellpoint.

The initial X PRIZE design was announced jointly by Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, chairman and CEO, The X PRIZE Foundation and Angela Braly, president and CEO, WellPoint, Inc. They were joined by the Hon. Bill Bradley, former U.S. Senator, and managing director, Allen & Company LLC, and the Hon. Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House and Founder, Center for Health Transformation, for a health care discussion moderated by Susan Dentzer, editor in chief, Health Affairs.

“President Obama has called for bold new ideas to revitalize our health care system. We are answering that call by developing an innovative incentive prize that optimizes the health of all Americans and significantly increases the value from every health dollar,” said Dr. Diamandis. “This is not the situation today and we need to change it. Ultimately, you get what you incentivize. If we can refocus our health care system on helping individuals optimize health, and reward providers who improve outcomes, the implications over the next decade will be profound.”

“I’m very pleased to be part of this developing X PRIZE competition,” said Sen. Bradley, “This prize will bring together people from different elements of the health care system and get them collaborating to devise a new system that will produce the highest quality health care for the greatest number of people at the lowest possible cost. The greatest key is tapping into the American people; if you’ve got a great idea, put it forward.”

The collaboration between The X PRIZE Foundation, WellPoint, Inc. and the WellPoint Foundation to design a $10M+ Healthcare X PRIZE was announced in October 2008. Since then, hundreds of comments from the public and leaders across the health care industry have been collected from The X PRIZE Foundation Web site to create the initial design announced today.

“From across the health spectrum physicians, consumers, entrepreneurs, technology experts, government officials and others have already contributed their time and expertise to developing a meaningful prize design,” said Angela Braly. “Now we ask the public and interested stakeholders to take a look at our initial design and share ideas on how we can use a Healthcare X PRIZE to create a dramatic improvement in the health of our families and communities while simultaneously improving affordability.”

The X PRIZE Foundation’s health care prize development team and WellPoint collaborated with prominent health care providers, thought-leaders, academic and political advisors from across the nation to identify key components for a health care focused incentivized competition. Key advisors include: Dr. Glenn Steele, CEO, Geisinger Health System; Dr. Jim Weinstein, director, Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice; Dr. Carol Diamond, managing director, Markle Foundation; Mark Litow, principal and consulting actuary, Milliman; Dr. Dean Ornish, president, Preventive Medicine Research Institute; Michael E. Porter, professor, Harvard Business School; Hon. Bill Bradley, former U.S. Senator; and Hon. Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House and Founder, Center for Health Transformation.

The proposed $10M+ Healthcare X PRIZE is designed to improve health value by more than 50 percent in a community during a three year trial. A competition around value measures and compares health outcomes against the total cost of care for a community. Health outcomes would be measured by a “community health index,” which combines functional health (e.g., reduced sick days, improved ability to climb stairs) and clinical events (e.g., visit to ER, rehospitalization). Total cost would include direct costs incurred across health benefits, payroll (sick and disability pay), coupled with out-of-pocket health care.

“We have a challenge of how we pay for things. In many ways, we over pay for acute care and we underpay for preventative care and wellness,” said Speaker Gingrich. “This approach allows for significant improvements that would lead to better health outcomes, which would lead to longer, more active lives and do so at lower costs.”

Under the proposed competition framework, teams would have 18 months to conceive, model, and submit plans to create a new paradigm that can impact the health status of individual participants as well as the overall health status of communities. A later pilot phase will be used to demonstrate that the models can successfully be applied on a small scale. To select finalists, the competitive field will be narrowed to approximately the top five performers as judged by an objective process currently under development. During the competition stage, the five finalists will be matched to a test community of 10,000 individuals and compared against a control group during a three year real-world trial. WellPoint, together with its affiliated health plans, has committed to collect appropriate data and collaborate with employers and providers to set up the test communities, subject to validation by an independent third party. The competing team’s ability to change incentives is expected to drive improved behaviors across consumers and providers.

“We appreciate the tremendous support and advice we've received from the health community as we've shaped this effort,” said Dr. Vijay Goel, director of Prize Development, The X PRIZE Foundation. “By engaging individuals through the creation of a personal vitality score to help them understand their health options, and then measuring the impact of their choices at the community health level, we can create new approaches to achieve optimal health in a convenient, proactive, and effective way. We see the Healthcare X PRIZE effort as a public-private collaboration that makes affordable health care for working families a sustainable reality.”

ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION
The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured the world’s attention when the Burt Rutan-led team, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private spaceship to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for suborbital spaceflight. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation, with the support of its partner BT Global Services, is creating prizes in Space and Ocean Exploration, Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, Education and Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as the leader in fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org.

ABOUT WELLPOINT, INC.
WellPoint is committed to improving the lives of the people we serve and the health of our communities by simplifying the connection between health, care and value. Our goal is to help shape the impact each health care decision has on individuals, the health care system at-large, and our communities. WellPoint’s more than 42,000 associates work every day to help create the best health care value for our customers. Through collaborations with providers and with innovative programs, WellPoint’s affiliated health plans reward healthy lifestyles and quality, safe and effective care. As the nation’s largest health benefits company, with approximately 35 million members in its affiliated health plans, WellPoint is at the center of the health care system. This position provides us with the relationships and insights needed to help create affordable and actionable solutions that improve health care. As an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, WellPoint serves members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as the Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at www.wellpoint.com.

ABOUT THE WELLPOINT FOUNDATION, INC.
The WellPoint Foundation, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization wholly funded by WellPoint, Inc. Through charitable contributions and programs, the Foundation promotes WellPoint’s inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that WellPoint’s affiliate health plans serve. With combined assets of $95 million, the Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that, among other health related programs, address and provide innovative solutions to promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These disease states and medical conditions include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s annual associate giving campaign and provides a 50 percent match of associates’ campaign pledges. To learn more about the WellPoint Foundation please visit www.wellpointfoundation.org.

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X PRIZE Foundation, WellPoint, to Announce Initial Design for Potential $10 Million X PRIZE to Revolutionize U.S. Health Care

Michael Timmons — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:42:24 -0700

Initial prize design with call for public comment to be shared at 6th Annual World Health Care Congress on April 14 in Washington, D.C.

WHO/WHAT: Health care, wellness, academic and innovation thought-leaders will join Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and CEO, The X PRIZE Foundation, and Angela F. Braly, President and CEO, WellPoint Inc. to announce - for public comment - an initial PRIZE design for a proposed $10+ Million Healthcare X PRIZE. This first-of-its kind competition will focus on reinventing the health care system in a bold, measurable and scientific fashion to enable dramatic improvement in health care value in the United States.

The PRIZE is focused on improving health care value through optimal health. The proposed design will align and improve care within communities and proactively assist individuals in optimizing their health in a way that reduces overall costs. By setting a higher bar for good health based on better outcomes and an individual’s active participation, The X PRIZE Foundation, the WellPoint Foundation, and WellPoint, Inc. are striving to make health care dramatically more proactive, personalized and focused on engagement in health and vitality.

The initial competition design is the result of extensive research into health care market challenges and the identification of opportunities for improvement that could result from an incentivized competition. The PRIZE design work was supported by a team of prominent health care providers, health care thought-leaders, academic and political advisors, including: Dr. Glenn Steele, CEO, Geisinger Health System; Dr. Jim Weinstein, director, Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice; Dr. Carol Diamond, managing director, Markle Foundation; Mark Litow, principal and consulting actuary, Milliman; Dr. Dean Ornish, president, Preventive Medicine Research Institute; Michael E. Porter, Harvard Business School professor; Hon. Bill Bradley, former U.S. Senator; and Hon. Newt Gingrich, founder, Center for Health Transformation.

A panel discussion with Dr. Diamandis, Angela Braly, Hon. Bill Bradley and Hon Newt Gingrich will follow the announcement. The panel will be moderated by Susan Dentzer, editor in chief, Health Affairs. One-on-one interview opportunities can be scheduled upon request.

For background information, please visit www.xprize.org/wellpoint.

WHEN: April 14, 2009 from 12:15pm - 1:00pm (EST)

WHERE: Press Conference during the 6th Annual World Health Care Congress Marriott Wardman Park Hotel - 2660 Woodley Road, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008 Washington 5, exhibit Level

To listen in by conference call, please contact Michael Timmons at prcontact@xprize.org or 310-741-4884. Questions may be submitted via Twitter @healthxprize.

CREDENTIALS & INTERVIEW REQUESTS:
To request credentials and/or to schedule interviews with Dr. Peter Diamandis, CEO and Chairman, The X PRIZE Foundation, Angela Braly, President and CEO, WellPoint Inc., or one of the Healthcare X PRIZE advisors, please contact Arron Robinson at prcontact@xprize.org or (310) 741-4899.

ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATIONThe X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured the world’s attention when the Burt Rutan-led team, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private spaceship to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for suborbital spaceflight. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation, with the support of its partner BT Global Services, is creating prizes in Space and Ocean Exploration, Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, Education and Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as the leader in fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit http://www.xprize.org/.

As an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, WellPoint serves members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as the Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at www.wellpoint.com.

ABOUT THE WELLPOINT FOUNDATION, INC.
The WellPoint Foundation, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization wholly funded by WellPoint, Inc. Through charitable contributions
and programs, the Foundation promotes WellPoint’s inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that WellPoint’s affiliate health plans serve. With combined assets of $95 the Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that, among other health related programs, address and provide innovative solutions to promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These disease states and medical conditions include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s annual associate giving campaign and provides a 50 percent match of associates’ campaign pledges. To learn more about the WellPoint Foundation please visit www.wellpointfoundation.org.

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