USDOT offering $1 million in prizes for ‘Ideas & Innovation Challenge’

USDOT offering $1 million in prizes for ‘Ideas & Innovation Challenge’

Join Aug. 20 webinar for details on contest to transform transportation infrastructure

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Infrastructure (ARPA-I) is seeking transformative ideas to improve the nation’s transportation infrastructure. The Ideas & Innovation Challenge offers $1 million in prizes for high-impact concepts with a clear path to deployment.

USDOT will hold a webinar Aug. 20 to discuss the challenge and provide an overview of Stage 1 of the challenge, eligibility to participate, technical considerations and more. Register now for the free webinar.

Questions about the challenge can be sent to ARPA-I@dot.gov A.

Challenge rules state that, authorized in Section 25012 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, Pub.L. 117-58; codified at 49 U.S.C. § 119), the Advanced Research Projects Agency –  Infrastructure (ARPA-I) of USDOT is poised to accelerate and commercialize the essential breakthrough technologies that can tackle national transportation sector goals of enhanced safety, faster project delivery, lower costs, increased efficiency and improved resilience against physical and cyber threats for all users.

The competition includes two stages, each of which includes cash prizes.

Stage 1: Submit a concept paper (up to 5 pages) by Sept. 17at 5 p.m. ET. Up to 15 Stage 1 prizes may be awarded.  Each Stage 1 winner will be awarded a prize of $20,000 and invited to a USDOT innovation workshop in late 2025, where they will present and discuss their concept with USDOT research and development leadership and stakeholders and receive feedback to refine their ideas and approach for Stage 2.

Stage 2: All Stage 1 winners will be eligible to submit a detailed proposal.

• Up to 10 finalists will be selected to take part in the ARPA-I Ideas Challenge Finals event planned for early 2026 where they will present their project proposal to a panel of judges and audience members from the public and private sector to compete for Stage 2 prizes.
• Up to five Stage 2 prizes may be awarded, totaling $700,000.

Challenge guidelines state that participants are encouraged to “propose R&D program and project ideas within the following strategic areas that could achieve breakthrough technologies relevant to one or more of” USDOT’s top priorities.

The Challenge lists the following strategic areas:

1. Knowledge – Tools that allow infrastructure operators to understand everything they need to know about their transportation infrastructure systems (e.g., AI-enabled infrastructure detection and classification tools, Use of Sensing technologies)
2. Construction – Constructing infrastructure safer, faster, more cost-effectively, and with a longer lifespan. (e.g., Automation and robotics for construction and maintenance for workforce efficiency and work zone safety).
3. Optimization – Optimizing the movement of people and goods at scale in real time to radically increase system safety, enhance performance, and decrease costs, leveraging connectivity and automation.
4. Enabling & Foundational Technologies – Core tech that supports future breakthroughs.