Call: Better use of Antibiotics

Horizon Prizes are challenge prizes (also known as 'inducement' prizes) which offer a cash reward to whoever can most effectively meet a defined challenge. They act as an incentive for innovation. They prescribe the goal but not who the innovator should be or how the goal should be achieved.

The objectives of the prize are to:
- Reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics in case of viral upper respiratory tract infections; - Reduce costs and side effects linked to the use of antibiotics;
- Delay the emergence of antibiotic resistant organisms;
- Enable health-care providers to take early decisions in the management of upper respiratory tract infections (rapid initiation and cessation of treatment) and to facilitate the health care provider’s decision not to prescribe antibiotics in case of viral infections and to facilitate patients’ acceptance of not taking antibiotics for viral infections;
- Tackle the widespread and significant health care issue of respiratory infections; an ageing population, antibiotic resistance and increasing health care costs make this a particularly challenging problem. 

Prize money/ subsidy: 1 million €