The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in partnership with the World Bank and other global tech leaders, has officially launched the AI for Safer Roads Innovation Challenge.
This initiative aims to leverage emerging technologies and large-scale mobility data to revolutionize how road safety is managed across Asia and the Pacific.
The challenge specifically addresses the critical issue of speed limits that do not align with real-world road conditions.
By utilizing artificial intelligence, the initiative seeks to uncover hidden risk patterns and provide actionable insights that can reduce road-related deaths and injuries.
Participants are tasked with developing analytical models that assess whether current speed limits adhere to Safe System principles.
These tools must be capable of identifying road segments where limits are inconsistent with road functions or expose vulnerable users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, to unacceptable risk.
Funding and benefits
Selected participants will gain exclusive access to anonymized datasets, including GPS probe data, road network information, and Mapillary street-level imagery.
This high-resolution data allows teams to analyze operating speeds and speed distributions to determine if current posted limits are truly appropriate.
The top five solutions will be shortlisted in September 2026, giving these teams the unique opportunity to build their visualizations directly on ADB’s GIS platform.
The process culminates in October with a presentation to a high-level jury, offering innovators significant professional exposure and the chance to influence regional safety policy.
Application requirements and eligibility
This competition is open to teams of one to five people comprised of data scientists, AI specialists, transport engineers, and policy innovators.
Ideal candidates should be capable of producing map-based visualizations and policy-ready outputs, such as a Speed Safety Score, to help governments prioritize road interventions.
Applicants must be from ADB member countries to participate in this regional effort.
Furthermore, all registered teams must agree to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before they are granted access to the sensitive datasets provided for the challenge.
Deadline
The window for submissions is currently open, but time is running out for technical teams to enter.
All AI models and geospatial analyses must be submitted for expert review no later than June 25, 2026.
To apply, visit Asian Development Bank call page. Visit our global opportunity page for more.
Summary not available at this time.
