The innovation competition for the AutoMod project combines current megatrends in technology and sustainable development. Participants will get to develop and conceptualise innovative technological solutions for tackling circularity challenges. The first application round for concept-level solutions is open until 10 June.
The innovation competition for the ERDF-funded AutoMod project is all about tackling circularity challenges and facilitating smart city development with technological solutions.
The application route in the first phase of the competition is for concept-level ideas that exhibit well-grounded and researched potential for further development. Applications can be submitted until 10 June. The selections will be announced by 30 June 2022.
Note! The document for the open call for tenders is currently getting modified! The updated version will be published on week 20.
The project’s partner companies and implementers (Forum Virium Helsinki, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and the City of Espoo) will provide the competitors with various resources, such as coaching on product development and business, background materials on the needs and challenges that have been identified, testing environments, and development tools.
What we are looking for
The purpose of the concept application route in the first phase of competition is to look for bold and innovative concept-level ideas. These ideas are not expected to be immediately ready for implementation or involve specific technical solutions.
The idea can be showcased through e.g. a visual mock-up or presentation. The evaluation criteria are mainly based on speculative, yet researched and well-grounded, potential for further development, including scalability, business potential, impact, multi-purpose use, use of data or the latest technologies and the team’s capability and motivation.
As such, the proposed solution may be a software application, a business concept, a new operating model or interface, for example.
Examples of topics to which the proposed solutions may be related:
waste sorting (e.g. separating biowaste or types of plastic) and identifying different
types of waste and materials.
picking up litter
separating construction waste
‘last mile’ services in parks or recreational areas
grass-mowing in difficult terrain (e.g. steep banks) and collecting the waste for composting.
emptying rubbish or waste bins
streamlining work
facilitating recycling or remanufacturing
distributing various repair and maintenance services.
Procurements
Through the concept route, the project is looking for concept-level ideas that exhibit well-grounded and researched potential for further development.
The evaluation criteria are mainly based on speculative, yet researched and well-grounded, potential for further development (scalability, business potential, impact, multi-purpose use, use of data or latest technology, the team’s capability and motivation, and other similar qualities).
The chosen concept-level ideas are commented and further developed together with the help of our specialist. We will offer 5,000 euros for 0–2 chosen projects for the development work.
The ideas with potential can be offered to the main route in the autumn but the different application routes are not dependent on each other. So the providers do not need to take part in the first idea phase to take part in the main competition route.
The main route
The next phase of the competition will begin in August-September. The pilot prototypes procured via this main application route will be attached to prototype platforms and tested at various locations in the Helsinki region in early 2023. The selected tenderers will be offered additional coaching regarding the utilisation of the latest technologies, among other topics, during the autumn.
The two separate application routes allow competitors to participate with innovative entries that are very different from each other, such as prototypes of robots, software applications, interfaces or business concepts.
Through the second application route, we will select 1–3 solutions with a total combined value of up to EUR 45,000. The value of the individual pilot contracts will be
EUR 5,000–20,000 per selected solution. In addition to this, the selected solutions will receive various types of support from companies and city operators during the project, e.g. testing areas, module development, business opportunities and identifying practical
circular economy applications.
New operating conditions for using autonomous platforms and robotics
The AutoMod project is developing new cooperating and operating models for the circular economy through robotics. The project is about creating innovations that solve the circular economy challenges of smart cities and generate new business opportunities.
It also provides new operating conditions for using autonomous platforms and robotics.
At best, the project will result in an ecosystem that utilises robotics, serves other sectors beyond the circular economy and can expand throughout Finland in the future.
