Dubai: Registration for the Dubai World Challenge for self-driving transport will on Tuesday, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced.
The challenge, which was previously unveiled by Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA in collaboration with Khalifa University and NewCities international organisation, targets mega companies, start-ups and universities.
The total prize money of the Challenge exceeds $5 million (Dh18.35 million), said Adel Shakri, Director of Transportation Systems cum Head of the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport Committee.
“The initiative aims to be a global platform for driverless transport. Through this initiative, the RTA is seeking to bring together prominent experts, specialists, policymakers, technology drivers, researchers and academicians. It will attempt to come up with the best ideas and visions that serve the Dubai Government’s drive, achieves RTA’s first strategic goal (Smart Dubai), and realise Dubai initiative (Smart Dubai),” he said.
Shakri said the challenge is part of RTA’s efforts to support the leading role of Dubai in self-driving transport and its commitment to realise the Government vision for transforming 25 per cent of total mobility trips in Dubai into driverless trips by 2030.
“Finalists will be announced next October, and winners will be unveiled on October 15 2019,” he noted.
The Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport has about $3 million allocated to mega companies, $1.5 million for start-ups, and $600,000 for universities and academic institutions ($300,000 for local universities, and a similar amount for international universities.)
The Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport has become a key pillar of RTA’s strategy. The RTA is, therefore, launching a host of innovative initiatives such that mobility can be a reality on the ground, said Shakri.
Registration can be done through www.sdchallenge.com