City Architecture for Tomorrow Challenge Archives

Toyota Mobility foundation selects 6 finalists for CATCH program

Toyota, although a leading vehicle manufacturer, also gives attention to mobility and city planning challenges and issues. After all, its products are related in various ways, and helping to create a better environment for all is important.

This is being done through the Toyota Mobility foundation (TMF) which last year launched the CATCH – City Architecture for Tomorrow CHallenge – program involving Kuala Lumpur. Despite the continuing impact of COVID-19, the CATCH program progressed through the application stage in May, receiving over 90 entries from 20+ countries.

The Semi-Finalist stage concluded in last month, and with support and insights from strategic and data partners, the Semi-Finalists obtained an understanding of Kuala Lumpur’s mobility issues for their Proof of Concept (PoC) development over a 6-week period. An esteemed panel of 8 judges from various fields of expertise such as government, sustainable mobility, venture capital, technology, and industry virtually assessed the 16 Semi-Finalists.

TMF identified 6 teams as Finalists rather than five teams as originally planned. The following six teams are deemed to be best suited to CATCH’s problem statement and the five assessment criteria of creativity, feasibility, sustainability, desirability and technicality. These teams will be asked to further develop their MVPs and, at this stage, each will receive a grant of US$125,000 of financial support to drive testing and implementation of intelligent data-driven, connected solutions, aimed at a more efficient, innovative, secure and sustainable city of Kuala Lumpur.

“CATCH was designed to grasp groundbreaking innovations, and we were impressed by the ideas of 16 strong Semi Finalists who showcased new data driven mobility and city planning focused solutions. Though it was very difficult to narrow down the selection, as Toyota Mobility Foundation, we are very excited about the six Finalists and what they can deliver in the Minimum Viable Product stage to improve the quality of life of the residents of Kuala Lumpur,” said Pras Ganesh, Director of Programs of TMF.

TMF will continue to work together with strategic partners including DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall), the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and its data partners – Prasarana, MapIT, and Grab – to support the finalists until the selection of a final winner in April-May 2021. This support includes the financial grant by TMF and incubation and mentorship provided by experts and judges supporting this CATCH program.

“Kuala Lumpur City Hall is looking forward to a practical and workable solution to be implemented to ease congestion and disperse traffic more effectively,” said Yu Chuan Hock, DBKL’s Director of Urban Transportation.

TMF hopes to utilize the insights gained through this challenge to solve mobility issues in other regions and countries in the future.

The Toyota Mobility Foundation was established in August 2014 to support the development of a more mobile society. The Foundation aims to support strong and equitable mobility systems. It utilizes Toyota’s expertise in technology, safety, and the environment, working in partnership with universities, government, non-profit organizations, research institutions and other organizations to address mobility issues around the world.

Toyota to build a prototype city of the future in Japan! (w/VIDEO)

Kuala Lumpur chosen for the City Architecture for Tomorrow Challenge

Kuala Lumpur has been chosen as the designated pilot city for the City Architecture for Tomorrow Challenge (CATCH) which was launched today. This is the region’s first global challenge that will attract innovative, data-driven entries from global participants. The aim is to raise efficiency in urban planning and drive forward the future of mobility.

CATCH will seek to address mobility challenges in Kuala Lumpur with a global call for solutions, for a period of 8 months, where participants – from start-ups, academic and research institutions to corporations, or even the general public – can conceptualize and develop solutions that are dynamic, intelligent and data-driven to design future city infrastructures.

Grants of up to US$1.5 million
The competition involves the Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) in partnership with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). This partnership will enable Kuala Lumpur to take the lead in developing next-gen urban development and city mobility management for the region.

TMF will be providing grants at every stage of the challenge – up to US$1.5 million (RM6.211 million) in total – to support teams towards the development and trial-testing of the solutions in Kuala Lumpur. Participants will also have access to expert mentors and an incubation program.

Data empowerment
CATCH will provide participants with data to empower them to develop solutions that will be selected (in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act). The data partners are made up of both public and private sectors that have different data points of a commuter’s journey such as Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, Royal Malaysia Police, Land Public Transport Agency, Grab, MapIT MSC, Mass Rapid Transit Corporation and Prasarana Malaysia.

According to Shin Aoyama, President of Secretariat, Toyota Mobility Foundation, TMF was set up to address mobility issues around the world, using a unique approach driven by sustainability, innovation and partnership. “CATCH was designed in partnership with the Malaysian government, to encourage data-driven but human-centered interventions to improve city planning and the mobility ecosystem,” he explained.

“We take pride in overcoming ‘impossible’ challenges to make ‘Mobility for All’ a reality. TMF provides the platform to create a better, more mobile society and we fully support this digital and data-driven approach,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor, a local partner involved in the competition.

The Toyota Mobility Foundation was established in August 2014 to support the development of a more mobile society. The Foundation aims to support strong mobility systems while eliminating disparities in mobility. It utilizes Toyota’s expertise in technology, safety, and the environment, working in partnership with universities, government, non-profit organizations, research institutions and other organizations to address mobility issues around the world. Programs include resolving urban transportation problems, expanding the utilization of personal mobility, and developing solutions for next generation mobility.

Toyota to build a prototype city of the future in Japan! (w/VIDEO)

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