The NFL has announced it will partner with General Electric to develop better technology for detecting concussions and protecting the brain, The New York Times reports. The four-year initiative, with $50 million in funding, will begin in March. It'll focus on improving imaging equipment as well as crowd-sourcing safety equipment ideas.
Athletes in the U.S. suffer from 3.8 million sports-related concussions a year. In our January issue, we discussed the possibility of a helmet that could save football.
The first part of the NFL/GE partnership will provide at least $30 million to develop better imaging equipment tailored toward detecting head trauma.
The second half of the project sets aside $20 million an innovation challenge for new and improved safety equipment. The most promising ideas from the challenge would be financed and brought to market.
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