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Spanish company makes Global Infrastructure Hub’s top 10

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Infrachallenge 2020 is an initiative of the Global Infrastructure Hub, whose objective is to accelerate the global digitization of the industry under the slogan “Innovate. Disrupt. Transform ”. Infrachallenge emerged during Australia’s presidency at the G20, and is supported by MIT SOLVE of the Massachusets Institute of Technology (USA). A challenge where participants from all over the world submitted their proposals and where Wellness TechGroup presented SAFITY based on its SAFE CITY architecture and which has already been highlighted with the Seal of Excellance from the European Commission.

The Global Infrastructure Hub (GI Hub) is hosting its first innovation competition, InfraChallenge, and is down to 10 international finalists with the winning team set to be announced following a live pitch on Thursday, 24 September at 1PM GMT.

GI Hub was established by the G20 and works to drive an ambitious agenda on sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructure through action-oriented programmes that supports the G20. One such programme is the first InfraChallenge where international applicants were invited to pitch digital ideas to tackle economic or social infrastructure issues the industry is facing.

Spanish company Wellness TechGroup, made the top 10 and will go head-to-head against nine other teams from the UK, US, UAE, Sierra Leone, and Australia, for the winning title of GI Hub’s first InfraChallenge.

The entry of the Wellness TechGroup, Safity is a technology platform that uses artificial intelligence to monitor infrastructure in public spaces to detect possible risks and threats, particularly in regard to crowded events in public spaces, enabling authorities to better coordinate and respond in real time to potential incidents.

The biggest enabler of our entry was the impact of the incidents during Easter Week in Seville in 2017. This created a common awareness among stakeholders to overcome the challenge to make our city and this event safer. This understanding is crucial to the success of our approach and we chose it as our entry to the InfraChallenge competition to reach decision makers that could help us to persuade the right people to promote the convenience of cities’ digitalization, and provide the economic support to implement it,” Research and Development and Value Ecosystem Manager of Wellness TechGroup, Jose Antonio Morales said.

The InfraChallenge has clear potential to address Spain’s own infrastructure challenges. According to the GI Hub’s Global Infrastructure Outlook, Spain has an estimated infrastructure investment need of US$1.1 trillion in the years to 2040, with the energy and road sectors accounting for majority of the projected investment need.

“Traditionally, the infrastructure industry has been slow to capitalise on digital innovations, which is why it is essential we support more start-ups like Safity to develop solutions that will bring disruption to the industry and better prepare us for the future,” the GI Hub’s CEO, Marie Lam-Frendo said.

The winning team of the InfraChallenge will receive a $AUD 50,000 funding package to implement their pitch, ongoing support from GI Hub and MIT Solve to further develop their solution, as well as exposure to the G20’s Infrastructure Working Group.

To watch the live event, you can register for free at https://www.gihub.org/news/event-infrachallenge-final/

For interview requests contact:
Simone Rayner
srayner@respublica.com.au