First it was sargassum. Then, Miami International Airport.
Now, the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority is kicking off its third Public Innovation Challenge with a new focus: Using digital technology to improve cargo operations at PortMiami. The Innovation Authority will award at least $300,000 to early-to-growth stage startups that have solutions to enhance cargo visibility at the seaport.
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Examples of cargo visibility could include "smart port" technologies that allow for the real-time tracking of trucks and containers; advanced data analytics; and efficiency data reports.
“As cargo movement surges, enhanced visibility is crucial for efficiency, sustainability and cost reduction across the supply chain," said Leigh-Ann Buchanan, president and CEO of the Innovation Authority.
PortMiami is one of largest seaports in the U.S. and is a major economic engine for Miami-Dade County. Located on the Biscayne Bay, the port's cruise and cargo operations produced nearly $50 million in economic output and supported 334,000 jobs in 2022, according to the county's 2023 Biscayne Bay Economic Study.
Other examples of technology that could be used to boost efficiency and transparency at PortMiami include computer vision in public spaces to track containers; utilizing public sources like satellite imagery and weather data to track cargo; and employing machine learning or artificial intelligence to process data.
"Bringing innovation and technology to track cargo in real-time at PortMiami is a big step forward towards our goal of being the top trading destination of the Americas,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said in a statement.
Selected startups will participate in a product testing program with PortMiami to test out their solutions in a real-world environment. MDIA will oversee the process and publish a report on the project's outcomes and results.
The Innovation Authority will accept proposals from local and global technology startups until April 26, 2024.
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Launched last year with seed funding from Miami-Dade County, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Citadel Founder and CEO Ken Griffin, the MDIA was founded with $9 million to support three innovation challengers per year. The organization recently selected four startups for its first challenge to find sustainable uses for sargassum, a type of seaweed that piles up on local beaches during the summer.
It began accepting applications for its second challenge, which aims to improve the passenger experience at Miami International Airport, late last year.
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