The inaugural SmartRail USA Innovation Awards 2015 is a nationwide search for new products and solutions for the transit (rail, metro and bus) industry. Launched in May by SmartRail World and the winners will be presented at SmartRail USA Congress & Expo in Charlotte in October. There are two separate awards. Size isn’t important, entrants could be a one-person start-up, a transit operator or a global multi-national. Innovation is the key.
- Product Innovation of the Year – identifies the best and most innovative products in the rail industry. Hardware or software, it can be a new product, an update of an existing solution or an improved way of utilising current technology that will improve our industry. The focus can be large or small but the product and the improvement it makes is the important factor. Open to entrants from solution providers and individuals.
- Project of the Year – recognizes new developments and ways of thinking in improving and increasing efficiency in rail project delivery and management. With a particular focus on projects that have helped deliver a safer, more reliable transit network, increased capacity, boosted ridership or improved passenger experience. We welcome entrants from transit agencies as well as solutions providers.
The judging committee includes a number of industry experts from across North America including Robert Stewart (Chairman of the North American Rail Passengers Association), Jim Baker (CEO, Xentrans), Paul C Worley (Rail Division Director, North Carolina Department of Transportation) amongst others.
The panel is chaired by Luke Upton, editor of SmartRail World who on the launch of the Awards commented; “North America is such an exciting place for transit innovation at the moment. From the major suppliers and operators right through to single person start-ups there’s now both an appetite and ability to deploy technology to improve the industry. We aren’t putting up any barriers to entry for these Awards, we want to make it as inclusive and easy to enter as possible. And we can’t wait to see some of the entries. The judging panel are expecting to have to make some very tough decisions.”
Winners gain significant media exposure worth $1000s, presentation of the award at SmartRail USA Congress & Expo in Charlotte, N.C. in October.
