Led by Gavriel Kleinwaks at 1 Day Sooner

Innovations in indoor air quality can reduce pathogen spread indoors. For example, far-UVC technology is similar to the commonly used UV water treatment, but, instead, can be used to kill pathogens spread indoors through air and respiratory droplets. Since indoor spaces have an especially high risk of pathogen transmission, this technology could play a major role in preventing future pandemics and, in the event of a pandemic, help keep important institutions open (e.g., schools and hospitals). To enable wider spread adoption of innovative products, targeted research is needed to develop cheaper products that appeal to customers. However,  the private incentive to invest in indoor air quality is incommensurate with the social value (i.e., reducing transmission of pathogens benefits society at large – not just individual building owner customers). Pull funding, such as advanced market commitments, could help close this gap between private and social value and, thus, stimulate more R&D and scale-up in this space.