Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, alongside county officials and leaders from Miami-Dade County’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development (OIED), Miami International Airport (MIA), and the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority (MDIA), proudly announced the winners of MDIA’s second Public Innovation Challenge.
Miami-Dade Innovation Authority, Inc. (“MDIA”), a nonprofit that works to strengthen the relationship between local government and technology companies as a way to improve the quality of life for Miami-Dade County residents. This challenge continues to prioritize customer service at MIA, showcasing innovative technologies and solutions designed to enhance the airport experience for both passengers and employees.
Miami International Airport
The showcase featured live demonstrations of the winning technology solutions that will participate in a test program conducted at MIA through fall 2024:
- RouteMe, which utilizes artificial intelligence to allow a passenger to navigate MIA simply with their phone camera
- Signapse, utilizes Generative AI to deliver text to sign language translation, making digital signage accessible to Deaf passengers at MIA
- Mapsted, which provides airport wayfinding mapping with accessibility features and integration to smart technology devices
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava
“As Miami-Dade County’s leading economic engine, MIA’s success profoundly influences the livelihoods of our local residents and businesses,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We are making historic investments to ensure our airport is future-ready in order to provide the highest level of service to our visitors and residents for generations to come. This innovation challenge advances our mission by partnering with visionary innovators to position MIA as a global leader in sustainability and innovation.”
MDIA, working in collaboration with MIA and OIED, selected the Public Innovation Challenge winners from a competitive pool of 136 local and global technology companies after the challenge’s launch in December 2023. MDIA will invest $100,000 in funding into each company to support testing their technology at MIA with the aim to scale these solutions to airports globally afterwards. The test programs will be conducted during the next three months with the option to extend each to as long as 12 months.
This Public Innovation Challenge sought solutions in the following categories:
- Accessibility – Assistive technologies, including those built to improve the passenger experience for those with reduced mobility, and travelers with different physical and hidden disabilities, such as travelers who are neurodivergent, and/or who experience mental health conditions like PTSD.
- Navigation – Wayfinding solutions that allow passengers to navigate the airport more effectively and seamlessly. Solutions may include technologies such as digital displays, virtual reality maps, omnichannel support and chat including AI, navigation instructions in various languages including sign language, and many more.
- Sustainability – Recycling solutions ranging from AI-enabled and autonomous recycling onsite, signage and support for distinguishing recyclable materials from trash, automatic waste data collection, solutions to reduce single-use plastics and waste through promoting consumer behavior change, and incentivizing reuse and recycling.
Leigh-Ann A. Buchanan, President & CEO of MDIA
“As one of the 10 most transited airports in the country and the largest gateway to our community, MIA provides the perfect environment in which to demonstrate that inclusive technology solutions and user-driven innovation are essential to elevating the travel experience,” said Leigh-Ann A. Buchanan, President & CEO of MDIA. “The winners of MDIA’s second Public Innovation Challenge have developed solutions that prioritize the needs of all passengers, including those travelers with different physical and hidden disabilities, to navigate the airport effectively and seamlessly.”
The public innovation challenge attracted 136 companies from 27 countries, where more than 60% of companies were led by founders of color. This applicant pool collective had raised more than $580 million in funding and represented a total revenue of $5 billion.
Launched in 2023 with seed funding from Miami-Dade County, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and Citadel Founder and CEO Ken Griffin, MDIA was founded with equal private, public, and philanthropic funding totaling $9 million. The Public Innovation Challenge at MIA is the second of three challenges launched during MDIA’s first year of operations, including a collaboration with PortMiami to enhance cargo visibility, which collectively further its mission to address Miami-Dade’s most urgent needs around health, housing, climate, transportation, and equitable access to opportunity.
For more information on this and other MDIA Public Innovation Challenges, please visit: www.mdia.miami