The fourth annual public innovation competition, Kick Prague 2023, has announced its winners, with the AI sensor project for street cleaning taking the top prize. The competition, which lasted nearly four months, provided registered teams with professional workshops, training, and mentoring from experts representing municipal and private companies. Out of 47 applicants, ten projects made it to the finals, and the winner was selected based on the specific challenge, innovation, practical application, market potential, and overall benefit to the city.

The winning project, Occo, developed by startup Waste Digital, impressed the judges with its use of artificial intelligence to enhance street cleaning in Prague. Occo utilizes a compact, battery-powered IoT sensor equipped with an optical sensor and AI algorithms to evaluate waste station surroundings. This data can then be used to optimize cleaning routes for vehicles, leading to a cleaner, more environmentally friendly, and cost-effective capital.

The second-place project was a food database developed by a team of young student authors. The website aims to combat food waste in school cafeterias by allowing each school to upload their menu and actual photos, enabling students to make informed choices and reduce food wastage.

The muuv project secured third place by providing high-quality and reliable navigation for Prague residents with mobility restrictions. By combining existing measures with data collected from its 3D scanner, muuv offers tailored route planning from door to door for wheelchair users, blind individuals, seniors, and parents with strollers.

The top three teams received a total prize fund of 100,000 crowns, with the winner receiving half of the amount. Additionally, each team has the opportunity to secure up to 200,000 crowns for further support related to project implementation and will receive six months of project support from Operator ICT.

Kick Prague draws inspiration from hackathons and modern practices employed by world metropolises and private companies. The competition’s objective is to discover, develop, and implement technological and innovative projects that enhance the lives of Prague residents. With the success of this year’s competition, Kick Prague continues to promote innovation and drive positive change within the city.

Article by Prague Forum