The America Competes Act, renewed by Congress this week, now gives every federal department and agency the authority to conduct prize competitions.

According to the Office of Science and Technology Policy blog: “Whether it’s developing new products that will be manufactured in America, or getting and using energy more sustainably, or improving health care with better therapies and better use of information technology, or providing better protection for our troops abroad and our citizens at home, innovation will be key to our success.”

The prize competition idea follows on some very successful challenge programs offered by the X Prize Foundation and the government’s own Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Challenge.gov site.