Meet the Finalists of the IRF Start-up Label 2022 Edition
Transforming mobility requires more than just technology and infrastructure. Transforming mobility requires innovation on all fronts: in the way we think, we plan, we design, and we deliver and manage transport systems.
The International Road Federation (IRF) believes that one way to boost that lack of innovation and needed change in the mobility sector is through start-ups. That is why, the IRF continues to support the most prominent start-ups in the sector through its initiative launched in 2021, the IRF Start-up Label. Awarded Start-ups will benefit from IRF’s most valuable assets for three consecutive years: unique knowledge and expertise, broad networking capabilities, and extensive data services.
The applications for the 2022 IRF Start-up Label closed on 31st August, the date after which they went through a thorough assessment process. Each application was examined by a pool of IRF experts in charge of delivering a global evaluation of the company. Some of the criteria taking into consideration is: impact on IRF’s key fields of action; environmental and social impacts; level of innovation and the company’s capacity to protect it; market traction, its viability and scalability; and founders’ profiles.
The six finalists competing for the IRF Start-up Label will be pitching their companies at the upcoming IRF Annual Conference taking place in Marrakech on 6 October. Registration for the event is free, but make sure to secure your spot! Visit the event page to learn more.
Meet the six finalists competing for the 2022 IRF Start-up Label:
AIWaysion
AIWaysion, founded in 2021 by researchers at the University of Washington, United States, provides smart mobility solutions for safer and more efficient transportation. AIWaysion’s next-generation connected vehicles products leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), computer vision, edge computing, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are ideal to serve the diverse needs of smart transportation.
Edge Vision
Edge Vision is a technology company that strives to improve transportation by digitising real-world, real-time transportation data and automating traffic flow management. Its edge AI-powered software provides insightful data to solve complex mobility problems, make intersections safer and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
IRIS
Maintenance is critical to the safety and resilience of infrastructure, yet most technology that gathers asset condition data is expensive or impractical at scale. IRIs' award-winning solution enables cities to monitor road infrastructure at a substantially lower cost by using dash cameras with artificial intelligence to detect road hazards and defects in real time.
GoodVision
GoodVision Ltd was founded with the ambitious goal to help cities and the transportation industry increase their efficiency, via advanced technology and artificial intelligence. Their software combines AI and Big Data analytics to create a unique, intelligent solution for adaptive traffic control and urban planning, allowing traffic to flow based on more accurate traffic insights.
Kerbed It
Kerbed IT specialises in utilising existing infrastructure, in particular kerbs, to develop innovative, disruptive and cost-effective multi-beneficial housing systems primarily aimed at private and public road networks. Its solutions support the growing needs for Electric Vehicles, specialist lighting solutions and enable stakeholders to deploy IoT, smart road, connected and autonomous vehicle technologies at unprecedented rates and a far lower cost than any other alternative available.
Transconomy
Founded in 2022, Transconomy specialises in automatically extracting infrastructure assets and creating accurate GIS-based asset inventories from roadway images using Artificial Intelligence. Its solution streamlines the asset inventory process and work in harmony to provide innovative and cost-effective ways to perform data collection, processing, analysis and visualization.
Latest News
National Road Assessment Programme launched to eliminate high-risk roads in Tanzania
Dar Es Salaam, September 14, 2022 - TanRAP, the Tanzania Road Assessment Programme, has been launched today in Dar es Salaam to eliminate high-risk roads and curb the more than 16,000 people who die on the country’s roads annually.
The Government of Tanzania through the Ministry of Works and Transport marked the launch by signing a Letter of Intent to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) and the occasion culminated with the release of the survey vehicle which is to undertake a tranche of TanRAP surveys along approximately 1,000km in Tanzania this year.
A key milestone of the Ten Step Project Tanzania, TanRAP is an initiative headed by the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT), which aims to build capacity and improve the safety of road infrastructure in the country in partnership with other leading stakeholders such as Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS), Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA), Tanzania Road Association (TARA), National Institute of Transport (NIT), Road Safety Ambassadors (RSA), Roads Fund Board (RFB), development banks, mobility clubs, road safety NGOs and industry.
Represented by the Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Works and Transport, Hon. Atupele Mwakibete at the launch, the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Prof. Makame M. Mbarawa said, “We are proud to launch TanRAP today in collaboration with important local and international partners. Tanzania is the very first country to be selected under the United Nations Road Safety Fund initiative to implement the UNRSC Ten Step approach to improve road infrastructure safety on both new and existing roads. We are grateful for this privilege and the opportunity that this project has created for the creation and establishment of a National Road Assessment Programme in Tanzania.”
Rob McInerney, CEO of the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) said, “TanRAP captures the iRAP spirit, connecting people and partners to ensure we solve problems once and share success quickly. By drawing on the globally recognised and freely-available iRAP methodology and software, and with connections to training and iRAP partners worldwide, TanRAP will help road agencies develop evidence-based policy and systematically manage safety on existing roads and new road designs”.
“Building capacity on all fronts and ensuring all new roads are built and existing roads upgraded to the 3-star or better standard for all road users will be critical to fatality and serious injury reductions in Tanzania” added Susanna Zammataro, Director General of the International Road Federation (IRF). “This is a key milestone of the Ten Step Project which is also supporting training in road safety engineering, iRAP Assessments and road safety audits; reviews of national strategy on safe infrastructure; and the national road design standards.”
Jointly funded by the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) and by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (UKAid), through the Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF) of the World Bank, the Ten Step Plan Tanzania is a 30-month project designed to meet the specific needs of Tanzania and build sustainable institutional capacity, impact and partnerships. Under the guidance of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) the project is being implemented by a consortium led by the International Road Federation (IRF), and includes the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), the World Road Association (PIARC) and the Tanzania Roads Association (TARA). The project has brought together the Government of Tanzania through MoWT, TANROADS, TARURA, National Institute of Transport (NIT), and other leading institutions, NGOs and industry stakeholders in Tanzania.
Already 539 road safety professionals and engineers have recently received road safety training supported by the Ten Step Project and 16 have attained iRAP Supplier Accreditation to support the assessments. During the coming months, iRAP accredited experts will perform new assessments of existing roads and designs using the iRAP methodology and drawing on TANROADS and TARURA datasets. This will build on the more than 5,000 km of assessments of existing roads and designs previously funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) and undertaken by the GRSF.
Through TanRAP, the Ten Step Project will grow the length of existing roads and designs assessed to more than 10,000 km by March 2023 building on the more than USD$1 billion of road infrastructure investment already made safer through iRAP assessments.
TanRAP will support implementation of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 in Tanzania which provides a road map for how countries can halve road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
Achieving greater than 75 per cent of travel on 3-star or better roads for all road users by 2030 stands to save 1.6 million lives and serious injuries over the 20-year life of treatments in Tanzania with an economic benefit of $26 for every $1 spent.
For more information:
ABOUT MoWT
The Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) is a government ministry of Tanzania. It was created in 2010 and is responsible for promoting a quality, efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective construction industry that facilitates the social and economic development of the country. Among others, MoWT is mandated to administer the safety and security of transport; policies on works, construction, transport and transportation and their implementations; roads, bridges, ferries and mechanical matters; engineering and design works; and transport licensing.
ABOUT IRF
The International Road Federation (IRF) is a global, independent, not-for-profit organisation with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Active since 1948, IRF is a membership-based organisation, representing leading corporate and institutional players drawn from the road and mobility sectors worldwide. Its mission is to promote the development of roads and road networks that enable access and sustainable mobility for all. Its approach is centred on key strategic components of knowledge transfer & information sharing, connecting people, businesses and organisations, and working on policy & advocacy.
