ICAO INNOVATION COMPETITION

ICAO launched in 2022 a global competition under the theme of “Innovation and Resilience in aviation”.

The ICAO Innovation Competition was open to university students enrolled in a final year of a Bachelor’s programme or in a Master’s programme. It was designed to spark innovative ideas and concepts for new solutions or services supporting the five ICAO Strategic Objectives and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs).

The jury of this competition featured:

Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the ICAO Council;
Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization;
Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of the UN World Tourism Organization;
Mr. Simon Hocquard, Director General of the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO);
Ms. Angela Albritton, Representative of ALICANTO;
Mr. Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General of Airports Council International (ACI);
Mr. Eric Fanning, Chairperson of the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA);

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Over the past decades, international civil aviation has overcome important challenges and demonstrated its ability to withstand major shocks and disruptions. This was made possible thanks to the commitment of aviation professionals across the globe, who have developed and implemented processes and technical solutions to enhance the resilience of the sector. However, in the context of an ever-growing traffic forecast, the intrinsic capacity of the aviation system is stretched, making any disruption to operations a system-wide challenge. In addition, any measure to build and strengthen resilience in aviation has to further support the ICAO Strategic Objectives of Safety, Air Navigation Capacity and Efficiency, Security & Facilitation, Economic Development of Air Transport and Environmental Protection.

In addition, the magnitude, duration, and global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected air transport operations and the future of such operations, putting people at the center of the response: travellers and aviation professionals alike. A global consensus has emerged on the pivotal role of aviation workers in finding and implementing solutions for the conduct of aviation operations, at all levels and across the aviation value chain.

With this in mind, the resilient future of international civil aviation cannot materialize without a workforce aware of the challenges faced by the sector and ready to commit to imagining the aviation it wants. By resilience, we mean the ability of the sector to ensure the continuity of air mobility while progressing the five ICAO Strategic Objectives and contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

RESULT

Mirlo (Winner)

Mirlo takes the top spot in the ICAO Innovation Competition with its game-changing the multidisciplinary solution for aeronautical communication. Mirlo ensures clear communication using the power of machine learning to decrease the level of uncertainty and ambiguity induced by different accents. By making sure everyone understands each other, Mirlo boosts safety and efficiency in aviation.

Team Members:

Michael Josue CHAVES VARGAS
Morelia SOTO-GARRO
Maryam SAFAIFARD

Airbus offered an internship to the winning team within its organization, such as Airbus UpNext.

Congratulations to the Mirlo team for their outstanding innovation!

AI Resilience Consultant (Finalist)

AI Resilience is an innovative proposal of an Artificial Intelligence Resilience Evaluator, coupled with a dedicated global commission of experts that would develop aviation-specific global resilience standards. It is a platform for standardised aviation resilience guidelines, with experts across public and private organisations. Global recognition and participation for all resilience considerations different environments and cultures.

Team Members: Kiswendssida Tehohore OUEDRAOGO, Osamah AL SHAMI

iAssist (Finalist)

The introduction of the 'iASSIST' tool represents a transformative innovation in civil aviation compliance and addresses the challenges faced by countries striving to meet SARPS. Powered by data analysis and Artificial Intelligence, it would provide Member States with tailored solutions to enhance aviation infrastructure, safety, and regulatory frameworks. Aligned with ICAO's mission and UN Sustainable Development Goals, iASSIST would revolutionize compliance management by identifying areas of non-compliance and offering real-time data-driven solutions.

Team Members: Angelo Giovanni GAILLET, Karan KARAN, Diandra-Sorana GRAMA, Ankush KUMAR, Uday Chandra GOLLAPALLI.

Congratulations to all participants for their innovative contributions to the future of aviation.

DESCRIPTION

ICAO is launching a global competition under the theme of “Artificial Intelligence in international civil aviation”.

The ICAO Innovation Competition is open to university students enrolled in a final year of a bachelor’s programme or in a Master’s programme. It is designed to spark innovative ideas and concepts for new solutions or services supporting the five ICAO Strategic Objectives.

The jury of this competition will feature prominent representatives of the aviation sector and the United Nations.

Participants will have until 15 June 2025 to prepare and submit their proposals.

SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE

PROBLEM STATEMENT

The future of aviation hinges on our ability to embrace innovation and harness the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address the multifaceted challenges facing the industry. Participants are called upon to embark on a journey of discovery and creativity, envisioning and developing AI-powered solutions that redefine the boundaries of what's possible in aviation. From enhancing safety and efficiency to promoting sustainability and resilience, proposals should embody the spirit of innovation and pave the way for a future where aviation thrives in harmony with the demands of the modern world.

In this effort, participants are encouraged to explore a wide spectrum of opportunities for AI application within the aviation domain. Whether it's optimizing air traffic management systems, revolutionizing aircraft design and manufacturing processes, or reimagining the passenger experience, the possibilities are limitless. Solutions should not only demonstrate technical feasibility and innovation but also prioritize real-world applicability, scalability, and sustainability.

In the face of increasing global air traffic and the imperative to address challenges such as climate change, safety, and economic sustainability, the aviation industry is seeking innovative AI-driven solutions that not only bolster resilience but also propel progress towards achieving ICAO's Strategic Objectives. Participants are invited to propose cutting-edge AI applications that address the following key areas:

Safety Enhancement

Develop AI algorithms or systems that analyze real-time data from multiple sources to predict and prevent potential safety hazards, such as runway incursions, airspace conflicts, and adverse weather conditions. These solutions should integrate seamlessly with existing air traffic management systems to ensure proactive risk mitigation and enhance overall aviation safety.

Air Navigation Capacity and Efficiency

Design AI-driven optimization tools that optimize airspace usage, flight routes, and airport operations to maximize capacity and minimize delays while reducing fuel consumption and emissions. These solutions should leverage AI techniques such as machine learning and optimization algorithms to enhance air traffic flow management and streamline air navigation procedures.

Security and Facilitation

Propose AI-powered solutions for enhancing airport security screening processes, passenger identification, and baggage handling to improve efficiency and security while ensuring seamless travel experiences for passengers. These solutions should leverage AI technologies such as facial recognition, biometric authentication, and predictive analytics to detect and mitigate potential security threats in real-time.

Economic Development of Air Transport

Develop AI-based predictive models and decision-support tools that enable airlines and airports to optimize resource allocation, pricing strategies, and route planning to maximize profitability and promote sustainable growth. These solutions should leverage AI techniques such as demand forecasting, revenue management, and route optimization to enhance the economic viability of air transport operations.

Environmental Protection

Create AI-driven solutions that minimize the environmental impact of aviation operations by optimizing fuel efficiency, reducing emissions, and mitigating noise pollution. These solutions should leverage AI technologies such as data analytics, predictive modeling, and autonomous systems to promote eco-friendly practices and contribute to the aviation industry's commitment to environmental sustainability.

COMPETITION DATES & DEADLINES

Participants around the globe will have until 15 June 2025 to prepare and submit their proposals before the competition is officially closed. The Innovation Award Ceremony will be held on the next Innovation Fair in September 2025.

13 March 2024	Launch of the competition
17 May 2024	Deadline for submission of questions
16 August 2024	Live Q&A session
17 January 2025	Final deadline for submission of questions
15 June 2025	Deadline for submission of proposals
16 June to 15 August 2025	Review of the proposals by the jury
18 August 2025	Selection of the finalists
25 September 2025	Announcement of the winning team

HOW TO ENTER THE COMPETITION

1.	Develop your concept and create related visual representation, using still images or a combination of still and video renderings (3D visuals or other).
2.	Summarize your proposal in 2000 words maximum (including footnotes, references, etc.), and prepare a description of the concept of operations and its business case in 5 slides.
3.	Upload your renderings (in .jpeg, .mp4, etc.), text and presentation (in .pdf format), along with your name, age, and nationality through platforms such as Google Drive, Dropbox or YouTube and share the links with us through this form. Any images sent must be minimum 1000px wide, and any video being rendered must be in 1920x1080p HD format. Please ensure you share a link with general access. For any questions or concerns please reach out to innovation@icao.int .
4.	Proposals must be submitted in English by groups working together as a team (maximum of 5 individuals per team). All members of a group must individually meet the eligibility criteria to enter. One member of the group must submit the proposal, only one participation per group is accepted.
5.	Please kindly note that ICAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the competition.

SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA & GUIDELINES

1.	The competition is open to groups of individuals (maximum of 5 individuals per team) who are enrolled in the final year of a Bachelor’s Programme or in a Master's programme at any time between 13 March 2024 and 15 June 2025. An official attestation letter will be requested.
2.	The proposed concept should cover one or more ICAO Strategic Objectives: Safety, Air Navigation Capacity and Efficiency, Security and Facilitation, Economic Development of Air Transport, Environmental Protection.
3.	The proposed concept should support the advancement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation".
4.	The contest submission deadline is 15 June 2025.
5.	The winning team will be announced during the Innovation Award Ceremony at the ICAO 2025 Innovation Fair and on ICAO's website and social media accounts.
6.	6. The proposals submitted by all entrants will be accessible on the ICAO Innovation Portal, unless otherwise requested by the competitors.
7.	The winning team of the ICAO 2024 Innovation Competition will also be given the opportunity to receive their award virtually or in-person. ICAO Training is delighted to offer free registration for the selected ICAO online courses to the top 3 teams of the next Innovation Competition. This initiative aims to empower current and future generations of aviation professionals with the skills and tools to overcome industry challenges through training, as well as help them explore innovative ideas and methods for new solutions supporting ICAO Strategic Objectives. Also, WIPO will offer a chance to tap on the expertise of WIPO’s academy to help use intellectual property as part of their innovation journey.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The following terms and conditions would apply to the competition.

1.	ICAO, its officials and agents shall not be responsible or liable for any claims, demands, losses and liability of any kind or nature arising out of or in connection with contributors’ participation in this contest, or their acceptance of its awards.
2.	Participants represent and warrant that their submitted drawing, design or concept is their original work, that it has not been copied, and that it does not violate the rights of any other person.
3.	The copyright for any submitted drawing (s), design (s) or concept(s) shall remain the property of the entrant, but entry in this contest constitutes the entrant’s irrevocable, perpetual permission and consent to ICAO and others authorized by ICAO, without further compensation or attribution, to use, distribute, reproduce or otherwise utilize the submitted material(s) in whole or in part for the duration of the copyright.
4.	By entering your drawing, design or concept in the contest, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold and save harmless, ICAO and its officials, agents, employees, consultants, subcontractors and other representatives from and against all suits, proceedings, claims, demands, losses and liability of any kind or nature brought by any third party against ICAO, including, but not limited to, all litigation costs and expenses, attorney’s fees, settlement payments and damages, based on, arising from, or relating to ICAO’s use of the drawing, design or concept.
5.	Nothing in or relating to the contest or its terms and conditions shall be deemed as a waiver, express or implied, of any of the privileges and immunities enjoyed or which may be enjoyed by ICAO, its officers and staff, either pursuant to the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies, 1947 or other applicable conventions, agreements, laws or decrees.
6.	The obligations under these Terms and Conditions do not lapse upon closure of the contest, and ICAO reserves the right to change, amend, delete or add to these Terms and Conditions at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

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