The Miami-Dade Innovation Authority, Miami-Dade County and PortMiami announced four pilot project winners of MDIA’s third Public Innovation Challenge, which aims to seek out smart port technologies to enhance cargo visibility and improve operations at PortMiami, one of South Florida’s largest economic engines.
MDIA is a nonprofit on a mission to bridge the gap between innovative startups and public sector needs. It leverage emerging tech to identify and scale innovative solutions to the county’s most pressing challenges, including sustainability, housing, transit and more.
Each of the companies selected will receive $100,000 to perform pilots that integrate AI, computer vision, and advanced analytics to optimize cargo tracking, terminal operations, and roadway congestion, the MDIA said. The selected companies, which include early-stage and growth-stage startups, will participate in a product testing program directly with PortMiami, which will be overseen by MDIA. MDIA will also work closely with the portfolio companies to publish a report on the outcomes and results. By piloting their solutions at the massive PortMiami, the companies gain key knowledge they can use to scale their solutions nationally or globally.
Miami-Dade County’s PortMiami, which is contributing $61 billion annually to the local economy and supporting more than 340,000 jobs, benefits by experiencing how emerging technologies can help the port with actionable data to improve operational efficiency, safety and environmental performance. The pilots could lead to partnerships.
“This challenge exemplifies how the government can catalyze innovation by making it easier for emerging technologies to prove their impact in the real world. We’re not only improving operational efficiency, but also demonstrating a scalable model for how public infrastructure can drive private sector innovation. These pilot projects are the first step in unlocking smarter, safer, and more resilient trade across Miami-Dade and beyond.” said Leigh-Ann A. Buchanan, president and CEO of MDIA.
The call for entries to the port challenge went out about a year ago. The companies selected are:
- GenLogs, based in Arlington, Va., will provide data on the movement of cargo around the state and country, providing valuable business development insights.
- Conbo.ai, born in Israel, will provide visibility into movement of cargo trucks on Port, which will assist in improving cargo operations. Additionally, Port of Miami Terminal Operating Company (POMTOC) agreed to a joint pilot project with the Port and Conbo.ai, which will provide insights into the movement of cargo trucks and equipment within the terminal, leveraging the data to improve terminal operations.
- San Francisco-based GridMatrix will track the movement of trucks on Port with a focus on roadway safety and congestion.
- Argu Eye, of Illinois, will monitor and analyze container movements and the safety of port operations through incidents involving cargo handling equipment and cargo movement. This allows for new insights into the flow of cargo at the seaport.
“Introducing real-time cargo tracking at PortMiami through this innovative pilot is a strategic leap toward our vision of becoming the premier trade hub of the Americas. This challenge reflects our ongoing commitment to investing in smart, future-ready infrastructure — boosting efficiency, enhancing global competitiveness, creating local jobs, and delivering even better service to our partners and customers,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, in a statement.
The MDIA launched in 2023 with $9 million in seed funding from Miami-Dade County, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Citadel Founder and CEO Ken Griffin to support the public challenges. In January 2024, MDIA selected four startups for its first challenge: to find sustainable uses for sargassum, the seaweed that piles up on local beaches, impacting tourism. Later in the year MDIA selected selected three startups for challenge No. 2, which sought solutions for improving the passenger experience at Miami International Airport.
The MDIA has two more public challenges underway: one is seeking solutions for Miami mobility and a second one seeking solutions for the county’s solid waste problem.
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