In its push to help transform the lives of millions around the world, the Toyota Mobility Foundation, in partnership with Challenge Works and World Resources Institute, announced the Sustainable Cities Challenge, where the main goal is to improve the lives of people by increasing access to jobs, education, and other essential services

The $9 million global challenge aims to help cities adapt to the future and address the challenges of moving people and goods in a reliable, efficient, and inclusive way. The global challenge is also seen as an opportunity to apply advances in transport modes, infrastructure design, operations, energy options, and connected data systems.

“Our experience over the past decade has underscored the importance of the local city’s buy-in and engagement with our activities. Throughout the Sustainable Cities Challenge, we are looking to come alongside cities to find innovative solutions in the areas they identify as critical to develop a scalable model for the cities of tomorrow,” Toyota Mobility Foundation Program Director Ryan Klem said.  

Entry to the first stage of the Challenge is open to city leaders and municipal governments, transport departments, and other related local and regional agencies. Entries should be submitted according to one or more of the following three themes: 

• Expanding access to safe, affordable, and inclusive modes of transportation
• Harnessing the power of data to create connected and resilient mobility ecosystems
• Reducing environmental impact through low-carbon and renewable energy solutions

Shortlisted cities will be invited to attend a capacity building academy in the US and will receive support developing their challenge design, becoming part of a wider network of other innovative city teams. 

The three winning cities will be selected to host a City Challenge on February 2024 to attract entries from global innovators. Innovators could be homegrown–living in the city or country chosen–or may be from anywhere across the globe, but with solutions applicable and adapted to the winning cities. The winning innovators for each city will be announced in late 2024, and the cities and innovators will share $9 million in funding to test and roll out their solutions.

The Toyota Mobility Foundation funds the Sustainable Cities Challenge and has been designed in partnership with Challenge Works and World Resources Institute. Challenge Works is an international leader in developing challenge programs to drive new thinking and find creative solutions to problems facing society, while World Resources Institute is a global research organization that works with partners to develop practical solutions that improve people’s lives and ensure that nature can thrive.

Transforming mobility systems will help cities become more inclusive and accessible for the people living in them. Currently, 1.2 billion people living in cities do not have access to one or more core services.

To find out more and to enter, visit the Sustainable Cities Challenge website.