With more people returning to Metro Vancouver’s transit system, TransLink wants to hear from local innovators on how to ramp up safety and cleanliness on the system.
The 2020 Open Call for Innovation is open to proposals from local businesses, entrepreneurs, inventors and “innovators of all sorts” to submit their ideas for ways to improve the health and safety of transit riders and employees, according to a release from TransLink.
“As we welcome back more customers onto transit, we want to collaborate with local businesses, likeminded partners, and innovators of all sorts to help with our recovery efforts,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond in a statement.
“The goal is to produce creative solutions and have them implemented on our system as soon as possible.”
The transit authority says it will be fast-tracking the review process by evaluating proposals as they come in, and will accelerate the implementation of successful ideas.
The winning submissions may be offered:
- Support to help further develop their idea;
- Access to TransLink assets to test or demo their idea;
- Opportunity to pilot the idea on a larger scale in partnership with TransLink.
This year’s call for innovation is part of TransLink’s Safe Operating Action Plan, which outlines a series of enhanced cleaning and sanitation measures on the transit system as people return to the system as B.C. continues to reopen its economy.
The plan also includes measures to support physical distancing and encourages the use of masks.
The Open Call for Innovation launched in 2018. Since then, TransLink has collaborated with industry, entrepreneurs and academia to quickly come up with new ideas and technologies.
For further details and submission guidelines, visit TransLink.ca/opencall
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