Comments Off on Autonomy Mobility Startup Challenge open for applicants
Sustainable mobility network will reward startups that are bringing new innovations and enabling transformation in the mobility sector
Autonomy Paris is billed as the world’s first trade show for mobility solutions, and the 2023 edition will award 8 winners in the 5th edition of the Autonomy Mobility Startup Challenge (formerly known as Funding the Movement). The aim of the challenge is to recognise and celebrate startups that are bringing new innovations and enabling transformation in the mobility sector. It is open to startups less than 7 years old presenting projects, products, solutions, ideas, or prototypes focusing on any of 7 sub-sectors below.
Applications are open from now until November 15th 2022, and from these, 21 startups will be pre-selected to pitch during Autonomy Paris (3 from each sub-sector). At the event, 8 winners will be chosen by a jury, composed of mobility investors, strategic mobility players, and partners of Autonomy, to receive a prize (1 from each sub-sector, and 1 overall winner from the Public).
7 CATEGORIES 1- Best Innovation in Smart Mobility Cities Re-engineering cities for the shift from motorist to mobilist: Expansion of public transport, e-charging, connectivity and new mobility infrastructure.
2- Best Innovation in Mass Transit Backbone of Smart Cities Mobility complementing active and shared mobility to offer a realistic alternative to car ownership
3- Best Innovation in Active Mobility Moving by human power with mechanical assistance in cities built for walking and cycling
4- Best Innovation in EV Fleets Switching to electric vehicles, sustainably managing the charging of the fleet, optimising driving through route planning and telematics, thereby reducing road traffic.
5- Best Innovation in Shared Mobility Transportation services that offer a range of vehicle types either concurrently or one after another.
6- Best Innovation in Urban logistics Supply chain management that plans, transports, and tracks goods in the least energy intensive manner.
7- Best Innovation in Autonomous Vehicles Driverless trains, trams, buses, shuttles and cars to reduce traffic and transport costs
A Ugandan programme to reduce emissions and a Kenya-based electric vehicle-transition project are the recent winners of the prestigious International Transport Forum Decarbonising Transport Award.
With 64 member countries, The International Transport Forum (ITF) is an intergovernmental think tank for transport policies and is the only global body that covers all transport types. The ITF campaign aims to improve the lives of people by trend analysis and sharing knowledge to deeper understand the role of transport for economic and environmental gains. The ITF’s Annual Summit is the world’s largest gathering of transport ministers and is a platform for discussion and reform.
The innovation category of the International Transport Forum Decarbonising Transport Award went to Wanyama Autosafety Initiatives for its campaigning to reduce air pollution from vehicle emissions. The startup initiative is made up of 400 local mechanics who navigate Ugandan’s capital city, Kampala, to improve the environmental inconsistencies from the capital’s most polluting cars. Kampala regularly exceeded the WHO safety guidelines on air pollution by a staggering six-fold, so there was an urgency with the need to improve the air quality. The Wanyama Autosafety Initiatives searched for solutions to the emissions problems and produced data-driven reports that flagged the problem to the public to gain their support. The EUR 10,000 prize will be used on quantifying equipment to further educate the city’s residents and reduce emissions, and may also be utilised in a possible electric vehicle conversion programme.
The Wanyama Autosafety Initiative Executive Director accepted the award at the ITF Summit on “Transport for Inclusive Societies” in Leipzig, Germany on 20th May 2022, commenting that, “Our multi-faceted programme aims to address the devastating effects of air pollution in our largest city. Early results from this start-up venture clearly demonstrate that a community-based approach rooted in sound data analysis can result in better air quality and improved road safety. I hope the international recognition that comes with this prestigious award will lead to a change in policies and a cleaner, sustainable mobility future in Uganda and beyond.”
More information on Wanyama Autosafety Initiatives can be found here.
The research category of the ITF Decarbonising Transport Award went to the Transition To Electric Boda Boda in the Nairobi City County, Kenya project. Nairobi City County has a notable motorcycle taxi network but is often not considered for electric vehicle transitions. The research category winners will now be able to explore any policy, legal and institutional hindrances that prevent the Boda Boda motorcycle network from inclusion in transport electrification policies.
The EUR 5,000 prize will allow the campaigners to collect data and research legality and policies in order to progress towards achieving Kenya’s sustainability goals. The study will further identify any essential steps needed to convert Boda Boda’s power from internal combustion engines into electric batteries. This will maximise Kenya’s environmental decarbonisation and adhere to the county’s wonderful renewable energy source production.
Accepting the award, James Moronge, Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Nairobi, commented: “Boda Boda taxis have attained a significant place in catering to people’s travel needs. They contribute significantly to load factor and vehicle kilometres travelled, as well as to emissions. It is important, therefore, that they be adapted to lower-emission energy sources, including battery-powered technology. I’m delighted that the relevance of this research is recognised at the International Transport Forum’s Summit, and I hope that ITF’s global reach will help us to share the insights of our work with other countries.”
ITF Secretary-General Young Tae Kim said: “We cannot achieve our climate goals without decarbonising transport. Emerging economies with growing demand for mobility face particular challenges. I am deeply impressed by the level of innovation and commitment to transport decarbonisation reflected in applications for ITF’s new Decarbonising Transport Award. I am delighted that the ITF can support these carbon-neutral transport solutions through funding and support for research, outreach and dissemination. I hope that the award winners will greatly benefit from the visibility of the award and that we will continue to collaborate on our shared climate goals.”
The ITF Decarbonising Transport Award recognises projects with great potential to aid in decarbonising transport in emerging economies. 37 applications, primarily from African, Latin American and Asian countries, were assessed by an internal and external jury representing a diverse set of countries and profiles. The two winning entries were selected from a total of seven finalists. More information can be found here.
Comments Off on Winners announced for European Green Capital 2023 and European Green Leaf 2022 Award
The European Green Captial 2023 is awarded to Tallinn, Estonia, and the two cities awarded for Green Leaf 2022 are Valongo, in Portugal and Winterswijk in the Netherlands.
The awards recognise green initiatives and achievements in cities across Europe, with the European Green Capital Award being presented to a city with more than 100,000 inhabitants that is willing to engage in real change, and the European Green Leaf Award intended to honour the environmental efforts and achievements of smaller towns and cities of 20,000 – 100,000 inhabitants.
Tallinn will benefit from a prize of 600,000 EUR towards implementing the initiatives and measures to enhance the city’s environmental sustainability, and Valongo and Winterswijk will enjoy 200,000 EUR each for their cause.
During the ceremony Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius highlighted the crucial role of cities in championing the green transition objectives of the European Green Deal. Commissioner Sinkevičius said:
“The cities of Tallinn, Valongo and Winterswijk have demonstrated commitment and concrete actions to create healthier, better and greener places for their citizens. Despite another year under Covid-19 constraints, the ambitions for a green transition remain high. The winners this year have convinced us of their ability to go the extra mile for sustainability and lead the way in creating cities that are fit for life.”
Tallinn was chosen by the jury largely for the city’s systemic approach to green governance and interlinked strategic goals, in line with the ambitions of the European Green Deal. Tallinn is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but a beautifully intact medieval city with a rich culture, varied habitats and rare wildlife. Tallinn will be the flagbearer in a new network of 19 European cities pursuing UN Sustainable Development Goals at a local level, including areas such as on poverty eradication, gender equality, clean water, climate change, sustainable cities and energy sustainability, economic growth and employment.
Valongo is a forest-dense area that impressed the judging panel with its community engagement and strong commitment to action, including various ways the city offers support to low-income citizens in the transition to sustainability, plus its collaborative work with neighbouring cities. Winterswijk’s winning combination was its advanced initiatives to drive the ecological transition, among which were energy tables which bring together local stakeholders to help steer the local energy transition, and a revolving fund for citizens to increase the energy efficiency of their homes.
