On June 7, 2017, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), along with innovation facilitator NineSigma, announced the launch of a global competition to identify new and innovative uses for corn as a renewable feedstock for making sustainable chemicals with significant market demand.  The Consider Corn Challenge is intended to be a starting point to help industry realize the full potential of corn by inspiring new concepts, approaches, and technologies that will help drive innovation.  NCGA will select up to six winning proposals from industry, academia, and other research institutions that consider new ways to utilize corn and maximize its contributions to the economy.   Winners will be announced in February 2018 and each will receive $25,000.  Responses to the Consider Corn Challenge are due by 5:00 p.m. (EDT) on September 28, 2017.  More information on the challenge is available at the NineSigma website.