Airport International Group (AIG) has joined an international competition targeting startups in Jordan, France and Turkey that is aimed at accelerating the development of the airport of tomorrow and the future of mobility.  

The first ‘Airport Innovation Days’ competition has been launched by Groupe ADP – one of the world’s leading airport operators and AIG’s majority shareholder.

The most innovative solutions will be recognised at three regional finals this year: October 25 in Ankara, November 6 in Amman, and December 4, in Paris.

Winning startups will see their proofs of concept (POC) deployed at airports in their respective regions: Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), operated by Airport International Group; Groupe ADP Paris airports; and Ankara Esenboga Airport, managed by TAV Airports.

Supported by Groupe ADP’s ‘Innovation Hub’, which has launched over 120 experimental projects in Paris since 2022, ‘Airport Innovation Days’ seeks to promote startups within the airport sector, raising the profile of innovative projects serving their local ecosystems.

The 2024 edition of the competition will award startups in four categories:

• The first is ‘Green Airport’ for startups offering solutions to decarbonise airport operations
• The second is ‘Passenger Experience’ for startups striving to improve the passenger experience in terminals
• The third is ‘Airport Operations’ for startups enabling optimal and efficient management of airport facilities
• The fourth is an ‘Open Category’ for startups proposing an innovation to enrich the airport experience and appeal in an original way

Finalist startups will present their solutions to a panel of expert judges and be offered a place in the mentoring programme for their region.

This includes the opportunity to engage with top management from Groupe ADP, Airport International Group and TAV Airports.

They will also benefit from media visibility in collaboration with Sifted; a leading media brand backed by the Financial Times dedicated to startup, tech and innovation news.

Groupe ADP, Airport International Group and TAV Airports will financially support the winning startups with a POC worth up to EUR 50,000 at the airport in the winning zone.

Additionally, the winning startups in Jordan and Turkey will be invited to the regional final in France to showcase their innovations to a panel of international experts.

To mark the launch of ‘Airport Innovation Days’, Sifted has published a report titled ‘Above the Clouds, the Future of Flying’, which examines airport innovation and its role in transforming mobility in the context of ongoing decarbonisation efforts.

Building on the success of the ‘Innovation Hub’ initiated in 2017, the programme’s ambition is to accelerate the transformation of Groupe ADP’s airports to develop centres of excellence that foster innovation locally.

“In a country like Jordan, with its dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, vibrant startup landscape and young, well-educated workforce, the ‘Airport Innovation Days’ competition presents an exceptional opportunity to foster innovation and collaboration,” said Airport International Group CEO, Nicolas Deviller.

“As the operator of QAIA, Airport International Group has consistently prioritised the competition’s focus areas: eco-friendly practices, exceptional passenger experiences and world-class operations.

“We eagerly anticipate the innovative ideas and solutions that the brightest minds from Jordan, France and Turkey will unleash to revolutionize the future of airports and mobility,” commented

Groupe ADP Deputy CEO, Edward Arkwright, said: “Boosted by the success of our various operations to promote innovation within our international ecosystem, we are launching for the first time an international competition in France and across our global network in Jordan and Turkey.

“‘Airport Innovation Days’ is part of our open innovation approach, which aims to identify and support promising startups that will help us build the airport of tomorrow.

“In the wake of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which accelerated innovation in passenger services, this initiative seeks to strengthen Groupe ADP’s influence on our strategic themes through a multi-local approach, ultimately positioning us as the number-one innovation incubator for airports.” – TradeArabia News Service