Miami International Airport (MIA) and the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority, (MDIA), a nonprofit that looks for ways to improve the quality of life for local residents, have launched the second Public Innovation Challenge to support tech start-ups seeking solutions to boost the experience for airport travelers.
In collaboration with MIA and Miami-Dade County, the MDIA will select at least three early-to-growth stage technology start-ups and provide $100,000 in funding to each company to support testing of solutions at the airport, so they can be scaled to airports globally afterwards.
This Public Innovation Challenge seeks solutions in three areas: accessibility, navigation and wayfinding at the airport, and sustainability. In addition to the six-figure investments, selected companies will participate in a product testing program directly with MIA.
“By tapping into the creativity of the global technology community, we aim to enhance accessibility, convenience and sustainability at our airport to better serve our growing number of passengers,” said Ralph Cutié, MIA director and CEO. “Through an open innovation format allowing anyone to submit ideas, we look forward to piloting cutting-edge solutions that make travel efficient and inclusive for our diverse travelers. Most importantly, we aspire to create an airport environment championing sustainability across operations.”
