Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, along with 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), announced the winners of MDIA’s Public Innovation Challenge.

The challenge focuses on customer service at MIA and demonstrates innovative technologies and solutions designed to improve the airport experience for customers and employees.

The presentation showcased the technology solutions that will be part of a test program running at MIA through fall 2024: RouteME uses AI to enable passengers to find their way around MIA using their phone camera; Signapse (UK) uses generative AI to translate text into sign language to make digital signage at MIA accessible to deaf passengers; and Mapsted provides airport wayfinding maps with accessibility features and integration with smart technology devices.

“As Miami-Dade County’s leading economic engine, MIA’s success has a profound impact on the livelihoods of our residents and businesses,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We are making historic investments to ensure our airport is future-ready so we can continue to provide the best possible 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, in collaboration with MIA and OIED, has selected the Public Innovation Challenge winners from a competitive pool of 136 local and global technology companies following the launch of the challenge in December 2023. MDIA will invest $100,000 in each company to support the testing of their technology at MIA, with the aim of subsequently scaling up these solutions to airports worldwide. The testing programs will be conducted over the next three months, with the option to extend each program to up to 12 months.

“As one of the top 10 busiest airports in the country and the largest gateway to our community, MIA provides the perfect environment to demonstrate that inclusive technology solutions and user-driven innovation are essential to improving the travel experience. The winners of MDIA’s second Public Innovation Challenge have developed solutions that prioritize the needs of all passengers, including travelers with a variety of physical and hidden disabilities, to help them navigate the airport effectively and seamlessly,” added Leigh-Ann A. Buchanan, President and CEO of MDIA.

“The Office of Innovation and Economic Development’s mission is to make Miami-Dade future-ready by emphasizing equity, resilience and innovation. The Public Innovation Challenge at Miami International Airport is a perfect example of this commitment. By integrating cutting-edge technology and fostering cross-sector collaboration between our local government and innovators, we are enhancing the passenger experience and aligning with our core values ​​of agile, solution-oriented government. This initiative not only advances our goal of creating a thriving, inclusive economy, but also ensures Miami-Dade remains a global leader,” said Francesca de Quesada Covey, Chief Innovation and Economic Development Officer.

At the same time, as part of its Future Ready initiatives, the airport is advancing its Modernization in Action Plan, a comprehensive effort that will invest nearly $9 billion in maintenance and capital improvements over the next 10 years. This plan includes some of the largest modernization projects in MIA’s history, such as restroom improvements, new jetways, renovated elevators, escalators and moving walkways, construction of a 2,240-space parking garage, a four-star hotel and terminal-wide renovation projects.

Launched in 2023 with seed capital from Miami-Dade County, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin, MDIA is equally funded with private, public, and philanthropic funding totaling $9 million. The Public Innovation Challenge at MIA is the second of three challenges launched in MDIA’s first year of operations, including a collaboration with PortMiami to improve freight transparency, which together advance MDIA’s mission to meet Miami-Dade’s most pressing needs in health, housing, climate, transportation, and equitable access to opportunity.