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Overview

*** is pleased to partner with NIH as the Power Connector to support the S-Index Prize Challenge. For questions or further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to amclaren@yet2.com. Please visit the official for more information and to submit for Phase 1 by June 2, 2025!

Background: The Data Sharing Index (S-index) Challenge, led by the National Eye Institute (NEI) with contributions from multiple 2023 ��ѿ��ý (NIH) Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs), aims to incentivize the creation, development, and validation of a quantitative data sharing index. This Challenge is inspired by the h-index, which was developed by J.E. Hirsch in 2005 to evaluate research performance based on the impact and number of publications rather than the journal prestige or authorship order. Its simplicity, inclusivity, and ease of calculation led to the widespread adoption and integration into databases like Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and Google Scholar. The S-index Challenge draws on the key factors contributing to the h-index’s success - simplicity, early adoption, education, and accessibility - while striving to incentivize and reward effective data sharing. 

Objective: The S-index aims to incentivize and reward effective data sharing practices by assessing how effective a researcher is in sharing their research data in a way that has utility for future study. This metric will incorporate factors such as adherence to Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) standards, data timeliness, completeness of annotation, frequency of utilization in other studies, and related publications and patents. This metric seeks to recognize and incentivize the efforts of individuals and teams in sharing data, rather than just the value of the data itself.  

While the enthusiasm for a cultural shift towards data sharing holds promise for promoting rigorous and reproducible research, encouraging data reuse, and accelerating scientific progress, it’s important to recognize that simply sharing data does not guarantee its value as a resource. Effective incentives are essential to motivate researchers to share high quality data that is well-described, well-documented, and in machine-readable formats, accessible through easily navigable platforms. Relying solely on broad data sharing policies or researcher altruism may not suffice to ensure widespread adoption of these best practices.  

Introduced in January 2023, the NIH Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy encourages the dissemination of scientific data to enhance reproducibility, data reuse, and scientific progress. This policy positions the research community at a unique inflection point to elevate FAIR data practices, potentially transforming the sharing of research data to enhance reproducibility, promote data reuse, and spur scientific advances. The DMS Policy defines scientific data as the recorded factual material commonly accepted in the scientific community as being of sufficient quality to validate and replicate research findings, regardless of whether the data are used to support scholarly publications. Importantly, scientific data do not include laboratory notebooks, preliminary analyses, completed case report forms, drafts of scientific papers, plans for future research, peer reviews, communications with colleagues, or physical objects like laboratory specimens. Additionally, the DMS Policy defines data sharing as the act of making scientific data available for use by others, including the larger research community, institutions, and the broader public. This is typically achieved through established repositories, ensuring that valuable data can be accessed and utilized for further research and analysis.

The DMS Policy mandates data sharing, but the scientific community would also benefit from additional incentives that align with the policy’s goals and support the cultural shift towards greater openness and collaboration. A significant challenge we face is that generating well-annotated, accessible data is time-consuming and may impact investigators’ ability to publish as frequently as their counterparts who are not sharing. Currently, there is no way to recognize this crucial contribution, particularly for early-stage investigators who rely on publication productivity for career advancement. An S-index could be disseminated and used by the NIH and, if accepted by the scientific community, incorporated into prominent scientific search engines and university promotion and tenure committees. This would incentivize and evaluate high-quality data sharing, effectively measuring researchers’ contributions to science. It would also contribute to a cultural shift by emphasizing that generating and sharing “high-quality” datasets, thoroughly annotated and contextualized for use by others, is a valuable standalone outcome of research studies rather than merely an adjunct to publications. Furthermore, such an index would enable the direct linking of downstream research and health outcomes to the original datasets, thereby more equitably acknowledging the community-driven aspect of scientific discovery.

To achieve this goal, NIH is employing an open innovation approach and utilizing challenge (a.k.a., prize competition) authority. Challenges allow a high degree of creativity in generating ideas and flexibility in integrating user-friendly requirements. Additionally, it enables agile testing and iterative revisions to develop a robust solution effectively. A Challenge fosters broad and diverse public participation by enabling individuals, teams, and entities to compete for prize awards alongside institutions and organizations. Unlike the substantial infrastructure necessary to apply for and receive federal grants or contracts, participants in a Challenge may face lower entry barriers. This approach also enables the NIH to tap into innovators nationwide with diverse skill sets and backgrounds, including academic, community, and industry partners who may not typically contribute to NIH-funded science. Through a phased approach and the potential for multiple winners, we can enhance adaptability and optimize opportunities for participation and success.  

Goal: The S-index Challenge aims to advance the NIH mission by actively promoting data sharing and developing a robust metric to reward exemplary data sharers. This initiative seeks to incentivize and recognize researchers who excel in making their data accessible, ultimately fostering a culture of openness and collaboration within the scientific community. Additionally, this effort could result in the creation of multiple S-index metrics, enabling and help evaluate the metrics across different data domains. 

Partners: 
NIH Office of the Director

• Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)
• Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS)
• Office of Extramural Research (OER)
• Office of Portfolio Analysis (OPA)
• Scientific Data Sharing Policy Division

NIH Institutes, Centers, and Initiatives

• BRAIN Initiative
• National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
• National Eye Institute (NEI)
• National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
• National Library of Medicine (NLM) 

Target Audiences/Solver Communities: This Challenge is open to the public, including researchers, healthcare professions, data scientists, informaticians, and anyone interested in expanding data sharing in research. The competition aims to stimulate innovation and advance open science principles.

Key Dates and Challenge Timeline: The S-index Challenge will be conducted in two phases, with the first phase laying the groundwork for the second. 
 
Phase 1: Proof of Concept
Participants will engage in brainstorming and idea generation, culminating in the submission of a Proof-of-Concept proposal. These proposals will compete in the first round, with up to 6 finalists selected to advance to Phase 2. In addition, up to 4 honorable mentions will be awarded, but will not be eligible for Phase 2. 
 
Phase 2: Refinement and Implementation
Finalists from Phase 1 will compete for the Grand Prize(s) by submitting a comprehensive proposal addressing specific criteria. This phase will determine the preferred S-metric at the NIH S-index Innovation Event.
 

• Mandatory Registration (intent to participate) Due: March 3, 2025 
• Phase 1 Submission Period Opens: April 21, 2025
• Phase 1 Submission Deadline: June 2, 2025 
• Phase 1 Technical & Federal Judging: July 7 – August 15, 2025
• Phase 1 Announcement of Finalists: September 16, 2025
• Phase 2 Submission Period Opens: September 17, 2025
• Phase 2 Submission Deadline: February 13, 2026
• Phase 2 Technical & Federal Judging: March 2 -April 10, 2026
• Announce Winner(s): May 6, 2026 

Statutory Authority to Conduct the Challenge: The National Eye Institute (NEI) is conducting this Challenge under the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Reauthorization Act of 2010, as amended [15 U.S.C. § 3719].
NEI’s mission encompasses research, training, health information dissemination, and programs related to blinding eye diseases, visual disorders, and mechanisms of visual function. Through this Challenge, NEI aims to explore and implement innovative methods in data science and informatics to enhance and incentivize data sharing. This initiative aligns with NEI’s goal of fostering innovation and driving scientific progress by engaging the broader community. The Challenge will identify and promote effective data sharing approaches, contributing to improved health outcomes and guiding future initiatives and policies.

Prizes
Challenge Award/Prize Amount(s): The total prize purse for this Challenge is $1 million. 

• Phase 1: Up to six winners will be awarded $15,000 each. These winners will be designated as finalists and will be eligible to compete in Phase 2. Finalists are encouraged to use their Phase 1 prize money to travel to Bethesda, MD, for the NIH S-index Innovation Event, where they will showcase their final solutions. Attendance at this event is mandatory to be eligible for Phase 2 prizes. Up to four honorable mentions will be awarded $2,500 each, recognizing their efforts to advance data sharing. 
• Phase 2: The remaining prize purse will be awarded to up to three winners based on their final submissions. Awards will be allocated as follows:
  • First Prize: $500,000
  • Second Prize: $300,000
  • Third Prize: $100,000

Award Approving Official: The Award Approving Official will be Dr. Michael F. Chiang, NEI Director.

Payment of the Prize: Prizes awarded under this Challenge will be paid by electronic funds transfer and may be subject to federal income taxes. HHS/NIH will comply with the Internal Revenue Service withholding and reporting requirements, where applicable. Entities participating in this Challenge are encouraged, but not required, to request and obtain a free Unique Entity ID (UEI), if they have not already done so, via SAM.gov as this will expedite prize payment. Additional information can be found at .

NIH/NEI reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to (a) cancel, suspend, or modify the Challenge, or any part of it, for any reason, and/or (b) not award any prizes if no submissions are deemed worthy.

 

Timeline

04/21/25 08:01 AM EDT: Phase 1 Submission Period Open

06/02/25 05:00 PM EDT: Phase 1 Submission Period Deadline

09/16/25 05:00 PM EDT: Phase 1 Announcement of Finalists

09/17/25 08:00 AM EDT: Phase 2 Submission Period Opens

02/13/26 05:00 PM EST: Phase 2 Submission Deadline

05/06/26 05:00 PM EDT: Announce Winners

Prizes

Total cash prizes
$1,000,000

Prize description

Challenge Award/Prize Amount(s): The total prize purse for this Challenge is $1 million.

• Phase 1: Up to six winners will be awarded $15,000 each. These winners will be designated as finalists and will be eligible to compete in Phase 2. Finalists are encouraged to use their Phase 1 prize money to travel to Bethesda, MD, for the NIH S-index Innovation Event, where they will showcase their final solutions. Attendance at this event is mandatory to be eligible for Phase 2 prizes. Up to four honorable mentions will be awarded $2,500 each, recognizing their efforts to advance data sharing.
• Phase 2: The remaining prize purse will be awarded to up to three winners based on their final submissions. Awards will be allocated as follows:
  • First Prize: $500,000
  • Second Prize: $300,000
  • Third Prize: $100,000

Rules

Eligibility rules

To be eligible to win a prize under this Challenge, a Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity):

1. Shall have registered to participate in the Challenge under the rules promulgated by the 2023 ��ѿ��ý (NIH) as published in this announcement.
2. Shall have complied with all the requirements set forth in this announcement.
3. In the case of a private entity, shall be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States, and in the case of an individual, whether participating singly or in a group, shall be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. However, non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents can participate as a member of a team that otherwise satisfies the eligibility criteria. Non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents are not eligible to win a monetary prize (in whole or in part). Their participation as part of a winning team, if applicable, may be recognized when the results are announced.
4. Shall not be a federal entity or federal employee acting within the scope of their employment.
5. Shall not be an employee of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS, or any other component of HHS) acting in their personal capacity.
6. Who is employed by a federal agency or entity other than HHS (or any component of HHS), should consult with an agency ethics official to determine whether the federal ethics rules will limit or prohibit the acceptance of a prize under this Challenge.
7. Shall not be a judge of the Challenge, or any other party involved with the design, production, execution, or distribution of the Challenge or the immediate family of such a party (i.e., spouse, parent, stepparent, child, or stepchild).
8. Shall be 18 years of age or older at the time of submission.

Participation rules

1. Participants (whether individuals, groups of individuals, or entities) may not use federal funds from a grant award or cooperative agreement to develop their Challenge submissions or to fund efforts in support of their Challenge submissions unless use of such funds is consistent with the purpose, terms, and conditions of the grant award or cooperative agreement. Participants intending to use federal grant or cooperative agreement funds must register for and participate in the challenge on behalf of the awardee institution, organization, or entity. If a Participant uses federal grant or cooperative agreement funds and wins the Challenge, the prize must be treated as program income for purposes of the original grant or cooperative agreement in accordance with applicable Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR § 200).
2. Federal contractors may not use federal funds from a contract to develop their Challenge submissions or to fund efforts in support of their Challenge submissions.
3. By participating in this Challenge, each Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity) agrees to assume any and all risks and waive claims against the federal government and its related entities, except in the case of willful misconduct, for any injury, death, damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits, whether direct, indirect, or consequential, arising from participation in this Challenge, whether the injury, death, damage, or loss arises through negligence or otherwise.
4. Based on the subject matter of the Challenge, the type of work that it will possibly require, as well as an analysis of the likelihood of any claims for death, bodily injury, property damage, or loss potentially resulting from Challenge participation, no Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity) participating in the Challenge is required to obtain liability insurance, or demonstrate financial responsibility, or agree to indemnify the federal government against third party claims for damages arising from or related to Challenge activities in order to participate in this Challenge.
5. A Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity) shall not be deemed ineligible because the Participant used federal facilities or consulted with federal employees during the Challenge if the facilities and employees are made available to all Participants participating in the Challenge on an equitable basis.
6. By participating in this Challenge, each Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity) warrants that they are sole author or owner of, or has the right to use, any copyrightable works that the submission comprises, that the works are wholly original with the Participant (or is an improved version of an existing work that the Participant has sufficient rights to use and improve), and that the submission does not infringe any copyright or any other rights of any third party of which the Participant is aware.
7. By participating in this Challenge, each Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity) grants to the NIH an irrevocable, paid-up, royalty-free nonexclusive worldwide license to reproduce, publish, post, link to, share, and display publicly the submission on the web or elsewhere, and a nonexclusive, nontransferable, irrevocable, paid-up license to practice, or have practiced for or on its behalf, the solution throughout the world. Each Participant will retain all other intellectual property rights in their submissions, as applicable. To participate in the Challenge, each Participant must warrant that there are no legal obstacles to providing the above-referenced nonexclusive licenses of the Participant’s rights to the federal government. To receive an award, Participants will not be required to transfer their intellectual property rights to NIH, but Participants must grant to the federal government the nonexclusive licenses recited herein.
8. Each Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity) agrees to follow all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies.
9. Each Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity) participating in this Challenge must comply with all terms and conditions of these rules, and participation in this Challenge constitutes each such Participant’s full and unconditional agreement to abide by these rules. Winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements herein.
10. As a condition for winning a cash prize in this Challenge, each Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity) that has been selected as a winner must complete and submit all requested winner verification and payment documents to NIH within 15 business days of formal notification. Failure to return all required verification documents by the date specified in the notification may be a basis for disqualification of a cash prize winning submission.

Judging

Phase 1: Proof of Concept

Please visit the for judging criteria details.

Phase 2: Refinement and Implementation

Please visit the for judging criteria details.

How to enter

Phase 1: Proof of Concept

To enter the Challenge
Create an account on Freelancer.com
In order to enter the challenge, the Team Lead will need a Freelancer account. Create an account on the .

Register for the Challenge (Mandatory registration)
Once you have a Freelancer account, you must register for the Challenge by completing the . Participants must register their intent to participate by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on March 3, 2025. Only registered participants are invited to submit the entry. Please note that you must have a Freelancer.com account in order to register.

Submit your Phase 1 proposal (Opens on Apr 25, 2025)
Participants who submitted a complete Registration Form in advance of the Registration Deadline are invited to submit Phase 1 proposals by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on June 2, 2025.

Registration Categories
Individual – Registering on behalf of yourself. To be eligible for a cash prize, the Individual must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Team - Registering as a group of individuals competing together but not on behalf of an established organization, institution, or corporation. Each participating Team is required to identify a Team Captain who will register and submit on behalf of the Team members. The Team Captain is responsible for all communications with the Challenge sponsors and, in the event of winning a cash prize, will be paid the prize in full. To be eligible to receive a cash prize, the Team Captain must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. In the event that a dispute regarding the identity of the Team Captain who actually submitted the entry cannot be resolved to NEI’s satisfaction, the affected submission will be deemed ineligible.
Entity - Registering as a group of individuals competing together on behalf of a legally established organization, institution, or corporation. Each participating Entity is required to identify a Point of Contact who will register and submit on behalf of the Entity. The Point of Contact is responsible for all communications with the Challenge sponsors. In the event of winning a cash prize, the prize will be paid directly to the Entity, not to the Point of Contact. To be eligible to receive a cash prize, the Entity must be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States. In the event that a dispute regarding the identity of the Point of Contact who actually submitted the entry cannot be resolved to NIH’s satisfaction, the affected submission will be deemed ineligible.

Phase 1 Submission Requirements
Participants who submitted a complete Registration Form in advance of the Registration Deadline are invited to submit Phase 1 proposals by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on June 2, 2025.

Phase 2: Refinement and Implementation

Phase 2 Submission Requirements
Only phase 1 winners are eligible to compete in Phase 2. Eligible participants are invited to submit proposals by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on February 13, 2026. By addressing the following submission requirements, Participants can effectively convey how their proposals meet the judging criteria and showcase the value and potential impact of their research projects. Participants should create Submission Packages that provide evidence of how their Phase 1 proposal was refined and implemented. These packages should detail the metrics for identifying and rewarding exemplary data sharers and showcasing widely used resources.

Resources

Contact

Contact: amclaren@yet2.com

Winners

Winners will be announced following judging of submissions.