The Toyota Mobility Foundation has partnered with the World Resources Institute (WRI) of Brasil in the creation of the InoveMob Challenge, a new competition designed to foster innovation for urban mobility solutions. The competition seeks to identify solutions to improve urban mobility in areas of intense population in order to alleviate traffic congestion to reduce emissions and pollution.
Targeted at entrepreneurs, researchers and mobility solutions companies, the purpose of the initiative is to select the most innovative projects that promote sustainable and inclusive alternatives to improve mobility in cities. Proposal features expected by the InoveMob Challenge organizers include the use of clean technologies, improvement of vehicle occupancy, contribution to the accessibility of individuals with disabilities, the elderly and children, and promotion of gender equity in mobility.
Challenge Stages
The InoveMob Challenge will consist of five stages – registration, semi-finalists selection, finalists selection and project development, and winner announcement – which will take place over the course of 2018.
After the initial registration period, 12 semi-finalist projects will be selected and the teams will be invited to participate in preparation (capacity-building) workshops. Their proposals will be submitted to city administrators, who will determine interest in supporting and hosting the initiatives. Each semi-finalist should have at least one ‘ambassador’ directly related to the project.
Following the workshop phase, five finalists will be selected to execute their pilot projects. Each will receive US $20,000 (R $60,000) in financial support to implement the pilot, as well as expert mentoring throughout this stage. Pilot projects will be deployed between June and November 2018 and should be in operation for at least eight full weeks.
The winning project will be selected in December 2018, receiving financial support of US $100,000 (around R $300,000). The winning team will work together with the InoveMob Challenge organizers to implement and scale the solution in other activity centers and Brazilian cities.
When we speak of New Mobility we speak of a new industry that offers innovative solutions to meet the main needs of people in their daily commutes. New Mobility combines technology and data to create transportation alternatives in four categories: shared mobility, innovative products, consumer experience, and data-driven decisions. To take advantage of all the positive changes that New Mobility can bring, it is essential that cities be open and prepared to receive disruptive innovations — with regulations geared not only to conventional transportation systems but also to make room for innovative solutions.
The Collaboration
Established in August 2014 to support the development of a more mobile society, TMF aims to support strong mobility systems while eliminating disparities in mobility. The Foundation works in partnership with universities, government, non-profit organizations, research institutions and other organizations to address mobility issues and organizes a number of mobility competitions around the world.
Currently, TMF is at the forefront of the Mobility Unlimited Challenge, which has open registration globally to bring together innovations to improve the mobility of people with paralysis. The goal is to have a prototype developed by the winner by 2020.
WRI Brasil is part of the World Resources Institute (WRI), a global research organization operating in more than 50 countries, with offices in Brazil, China, the United States, Mexico, India, Indonesia, Europe and Africa. The non-profit organization is focused on research and application of methodologies, strategies and tools geared towards the areas of climate, forests and cities. It works closely with local leaders to protect the environment and create solutions that contribute to the prosperity of Brazil in an inclusive and sustainable way.
This isn’t the first time TMF has partnered with the WRI. Last year, WRI India and TMF developed a Challenge in India called Station Access and Mobility Program (STAMP). The program’s goal is to build solutions to improve access to the Bengaluru subway network and encourage its usage.
“We understand that Brazil is one of the leaders in Latin America and that it is ready to foster innovative mobility solutions. The most robust and long-lasting solutions are those that come from innovators who understand the local mobility issues. That is why Toyota Mobility Foundation and WRI Brasil partnered up to create this challenge for innovators across Brazil,” says Ryan Klem, Programs Director at Toyota Mobility Foundation.
The partnership will see Toyota Mobility Foundation and WRI Brasil invest R $600,000 (US $200,000) in subsidies for urban mobility solutions.
Registration for the InoveMob Challenge is open until March 9, 2018 at www.desafioinovemob.org
