Question:
Who is eligible to participate?
Answer:
Anyone over the age of 18 and a citizen of the United States may be a member of a team and submit a proposal
as a team to participate. Each team must have at least two and no more than four members.
Question:
Does the whole team have to be onsite during the entire length of the competition?
Answer:
Yes, all team members are expected to live at the provided housing and work at the George Mason University facility during the eight weeks. However, team members may leave for weekends if they wish. In addition if there are a few days here and there where a team member needs to be elsewhere, this is also acceptable. Nevertheless all team members are expected to spend the vast majority of all weekdays of the entire eight weeks working together onsite.
Question:
What about students who are enrolled in classes or people with jobs?
Answer:
To participate in this project, it is necessary that team members make arrangements to be onsite in Arlington, VA for the eight weeks. Those with jobs or in school would need to take leaves of absence or make other arrangements in order to participate.
Question:
Will the cost of transportation be provided?
Answer:
All transportation costs are the responsibility of team members. No transportation costs will be paid directly by George Mason University or by DARPA. However each team will receive $10,000 up front that may be used as the team wishes, such as for transportation costs.
Question:
Will computing equipment be provided?
Answer:
No - team members must bring their own computers. George Mason University will provide hi-speed internet access. The housing facility also will provide hi-speed internet access at no charge to teams.
Question:
Can companies compete?
Answer:
Teams will be treated as a set of individuals hired on a consulting basis. Payments will likewise only be made to individuals, and will be treated as taxable income. No subcontracts will be issued for this project.
Question:
Can a company get the rights to an employee's ownership of the software developed on the project?
Answer:
Individuals will own the rights to their work, subject to a Government Purpose License (GPL), and therefore may make any arrangements with an employer they see fit, as long as the GPL is treated in an appropriate fashion, i.e. the GPL transfers with ownership rights and licensing arrangments.
Question:
Can university professors participate?
Answer:
Yes (except for George Mason University professors). As with companies, all individuals must compete as individuals on a team, rather than as University representatives, per se.
Question:
Will teams be selected before the end of the proposal period?
Answer:
No. Teams will only be selected after the proposal deadline date.
Question:
We want to put together our best team and proposal so will be submitting close to the end date for submission. Can you tell us how many
proposals you have received so far?
Answer:
For various reasons we do not want to list the number of proposals received to date. However, we will post a warning if we are getting close the limit of those that will be reviewed. Otherwise, you should assume that your proposal will be reviewed even if it is submitted close to or on the final date for proposal submission.
Question:
Can payment be made to a company rather than to the individuals on a team?
Answer:
No. Payment to companies is not allowable under the project's contractual constraints. However we like the idea that a team comprised of individuals who happen to work for the same company might come to some creative, win-win arrangement with their company that enables them to participate in Innovation House under the required conditions. The FAQ on software property rights above may be relevant as well.
Question:
Is development/delivery of software in MATLAB or other high level environments acceptable?
Answer:
Yes.
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