Marco Polo 100 Digital Build Challenge

Revolutionize construction, build affordable housing for $100/sq ft with 3D printing, prefabrication, robotics or new technologies.

 
Find out the newest updates about the challenge
 
 
 

Revolutionize the Construction Industry!

 

With 7 decades of experience building, financing, and operating complex long term infrastructure projects in one of Canada’s most influential cities, Toronto, Horizon is driven to pioneer the next innovation in sustainable real estate.

This open innovation challenge was created with the goal of achieving our mission to build affordable housing using new construction technologies and processes.

Construction is an industry that’s made relatively little progress in how it organizes its business, still using century-old technologies and processes. We believe digital capabilities present opportunities to make qualitative leaps for the industry.  There have been piecemeal efforts made, but no significant revolution in overall project scale practice. 

This is where we want your help!

Horizon is looking for passionate individuals around the world who have innovative solutions that can help us bring our vision to life. We want your ideas & will partner with you to realize them. We will provide land, technical expertise, and funding to actualize and build the chosen concepts.  At the end of our journey, our goal is to have several completed buildings that are operational, and places people can call home.


The Marco Polo 100 Digital Build Challenge is open to everyone
 
We believe the best ideas can come from anywhere.
 
No matter whether you are a startup, entrepreneur, inventor, industry professional, educator, or a student around the globe from fields including but definitely not limited to 3D- printing, prefabrication technologies, robotics, architecture, engineering, manufacturing, and construction.
 
Our expert mentors & partner associations will support you during the whole process to help you advance in all aspects that you do not have expertise in yet.
 

A 4 stage journey

Stage 1

Qualifying Round

Oct 1, 2020 - Jan 11, 2021

Identification of the best ideas from around the world that demonstrate potential for savings in cost, time while using innovative construction technologies/processes.

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Stage 2

Design

(Semi Finals)

Jan 22 - Aug 2021

Up to 20 teams will work with Horizon and its support team to develop & evaluate their plans to construct a futuristic building in an innovative way.

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Stage 3

Small Building (Finals)

Aug 2021 - Aug 2022

Up to 5 teams will work with Horizon and its support team to build a Small Building, intended to showcase the innovative technology/process and scalability.
 

Stage 4

Big Building

(Grand Prize)

After Aug 2022

One team will be selected to partner with Horizon to build a livable Big Building in Southern Ontario, Canada. 

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Your Benefits & Prizes

Awards and certificate for best new ideas, innovation, design
 
Mentorship & feedback

Technical, financial, business support
 
Stipend for travel to Toronto, Canada
 
Up to $140,000 of investments and $15,000 of cash
 
Royalty of $15/sq meter ($1.39/sq ft). Royalties received after the Challenge
 
Intellectual property maintenance fee of $65,000

Technical, financial, business support
 
Up to $10,000,000 of investments and $200,000 cash prize
 
Royalty of $20/sq meter ($1.86/sq ft). Royalties received after the Challenge
 
Intellectual property maintenance fee of $250,000

 

Your Benefits & Prizes