The Gulf Research Program applies science, engineering, and medical knowledge to develop solutions to challenges that cross the three main charges of the GRP. Those charges are to use this endowment to enhance offshore energy safety, environmental protection and stewardship, and health and community resilience. The GRP will appoint a committee to provide input and oversight to design and implement a $50 M innovation challenge, the Gulf Futures Challenge (GFC). The competition will award new solutions that solve for complex problems at the intersection of three future states in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf Futures) - the Future of the Energy Transition, Future of Environmental Change along the Gulf Coast, and the Future of Healthy and Resilient Communities.

The vision and goal of this work is to invite the people of the Gulf to describe the future they want to see and what action they will take to realize that future. The committee is charged to develop the competition criteria and structure, launch, communication, and award structure. The committee will not make the final selection of the semi-finalists or final winners. Semi-finalists and the final winners will be chosen as a result of several phases of judging. The committee will work with NASEM leadership, external subject matter experts, and the GRPDC in fulfilling its charge and through the process of executing the challenge.

• Phase I: Design - Including competition structure, selection criteria, communications, and outreach
• Phase II: Launch, Review, and Awards - Semi-finalists will be provided additional funds for proposal development followed by selection of up to five final award winners of between $1M - $20M, with at least one award of $20M.