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Join us from May 2 – June 16, 2022 for eight-weeks, virtual and in-person, innovation competition where we create and celebrate innovative solutions that make our region smart, livable, resilient, and sustainable for everyone. We invite people from all backgrounds to join and share their solutions for the future!
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What solution do you see to help cities grow, operate, and meet population demands over the coming decades?
The Smart City Challenge will convene wide-ranging teams virtually via Zoom to innovate in the following sectors: housing, transportation, health, water, food systems, education, broadband, infrastructure, energy, public safety, and more to address this question.
To participate, you can register as an individual or a team. Over the course of a month, you will have the opportunity to hear from sector experts while developing your own innovative, high-impact solutions that will advance equitable and inclusive opportunities for all people to thrive in the greater Washington region. Cash and in-kind prizes will be awarded, including pilot project opportunities, participation in the Smart City Works accelerator, membership in Refraction, and Amazon Web Services credits. Prizes will be awarded based on innovation, equity and inclusivity, practicality of application, and regional impact, as outlined in the judging criteria below.
Prizes will be awarded based on innovation, equity and inclusivity, practicality of application and regional impact, as outlined in the judging criteria below.
The Challenge will begin on May 2, with virtual keynotes and speed networking sessions (for those looking to join or field a team). Throughout the six weeks, we will host optional panels and thought leadership events. Participants are encouraged to meet with their team regularly and will be able to meet one on one with mentors to consult about their solutions.
Final judging and closing ceremonies will take place on June 16. Finalists will have 4 minutes to present a pitch deck and any additional material to a panel of judges. Please keep an eye on our events section for updated scheduling!
For any questions, please get in touch with us at:
Submit Your Concept
Monday, May 2
3-6pm ET
Wednesday, May 11
12-1pm ET
Wednesday, May 18
12-1pm ET
Wednesday, May 25
12-1pm
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Wednesday, June 1
12-1pm ET
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Wednesday, June 8
4-7pm
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Thursday, June 16
4-7pm ET
Teams will submit a pitch video (no more than 4 minutes) to smartcitychallenge@gmail.com by June 3 at 5pm ET . Each solution will be judged using the following criteria.
How innovative is the solution? How differentiated or unique is the solution?
What is the impact (e.g., number of people helped, overall reduction in costs, improved quality of life) of the solution for the Washington, DC region? Does it have the potential to be implemented across the region?
Practicality and Scalability
Can the solution be implemented in the near- to medium-term (within 1-2 years) in a cost-efficient manner? How easily can it be replicated or scaled to a larger market?
Social Responsibility and Equity
What impact does this solution have on addressing racial, accessibility, age, gender, or other inequities? How does your solution or company address important social issues like climate change? Demonstrate your neutral or positive impact.
The Smart City Challenge is grateful for the generosity and partnership of all our partners.
We are in a period of unprecedented regional urbanization and change. More than half of the world’s population now lives in or near a major urban area. Global population continues to grow unabated and, over the next two decades, the world will have to accommodate about 70 percent more inhabitants within existing physical footprints. Yet, there is a considerable lack of meaningful thought or planning at the regional level, lack of change in the built environment, and the pandemic has starkly revealed the strains, gaps, and inequities in systems across densely populated regions.
Given the challenges of limited investment and resources, diminishing space, energy use, and the need for more resilient, equitable and sustainable solutions, adding more physical infrastructure alone won’t work. Decision making at regional levels is complexly difficult, and bureaucratic public procurement policies and a dearth of private sector investment in R&D discourage innovation. As a result, the infrastructure to support healthy and vibrant communities—our buildings, roads, water, energy, communication, education and transportation systems—is deteriorating, costly, and inefficient.
The potential for innovation in the urban and built environment is before us, but largely untapped. Advances in materials science, sensors, and control systems, and the rise of connected devices and the internet- of-things, offer enormous opportunity to connect, improve and in some cases, reinvent urban systems. Communities need the capability to integrate technologies and new ideas. We need companies focused on new ways to build, maintain, and operate civil infrastructure. Rapid deployment of innovative solutions will make communities smarter, more livable, resilient, and sustainable for citizens and businesses in the years.
What solution do you see to help cities grow, operate, and meet population demands over the coming decades?
