Calling InfraTech solutions: An opportunity to pitch solutions to multilateral development banks
In partnership with seven multilateral development banks (MDBs) from around the globe, the GI Hub is helping governments and investors in the roads sector in emerging markets make roads more sustainable by providing access to a pipeline of technology-enabled solutions.
This Call for Submissions invites InfraTech solution providers to submit solutions for sustainable roads in emerging markets. The top five solutions will receive coaching and have an opportunity to pitch their solution to MDBs for consideration on current and future road projects.
All InfraTech solutions submitted that meet the mandatory criteria will be invited to have a case study featured in our InfraTech Knowledge Hub, which is referenced by G20 country leaders and other organisations across the public and private sectors.
Our partners
- Asian Development Bank (ADB)
- Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
- Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
- Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)
- The World Bank
- The World Bank Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF)
We can create more sustainable roads in emerging markets
Roads are among the most strategic development opportunities in the infrastructure sector. Globally, about USD218 billion (0.45% of global GDP) is spent on roads each year. This creates a sizable opportunity to shape more sustainable systems and ensure large investments in roads result in outcomes that align with sustainable development goals.
All infrastructure investments can achieve economic development outcomes such as job creation and economic growth. When these economic outcomes are combined with long-term sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience outcomes, infrastructure can become transformative for people and the planet.
This Call for Submissions helps convert opportunity to reality by helping governments and investors in the road sector access a pipeline of high-quality InfraTech solutions that can be deployed at scale in emerging markets and beyond, and by helping technology solution providers break into the infrastructure sector.
Why we need technology to transform roads
Technology maximises investments in infrastructure and enables us to do more with less by:
- Improving the efficiency of infrastructure investment and reducing cost overruns
- Enabling infrastructure to decarbonise and transition to net zero
- Bridging the infrastructure investment gap
- Creating social value through infrastructure.
Why MDBs are key partners for more sustainable roads in emerging markets
Emerging markets are most impacted by climate change but have less capacity to invest in sustainable infrastructure and InfraTech. MDBs are global leaders in developing and financing sustainable infrastructure projects, with firsthand knowledge of infrastructure projects in emerging markets and mandates to invest in and support sustainable infrastructure.
Collectively, the countries served by our seven MDB partners represent about USD80 trillion in GDP (2015), or 99% of global GDP. The GI Hub’s Infrastructure Monitor 2022 found MDBs play a major role as financiers of private investment in infrastructure throughout middle- and low-income countries. As well as financing infrastructure projects and providing technical support, MDBs can also help crowd in more private capital to infrastructure directly and indirectly.
Why technology providers should participate in the infrastructure sector and this Call for Submissions
The growth opportunities for InfraTech are significant. InfraTech is a long-term priority for the G20 under the G20 Riyadh InfraTech Agenda. In 2022 the GI Hub found that all G20 economies have long-term infrastructure plans and strategies that require the scalable adoption of InfraTech, and on average G20 economies are committing around 0.6% of their country’s GDP annually to InfraTech-related investments.
However, even though InfraTech is a growing investment area, infrastructure continues to significantly underuse technology. More effort and investment are needed to help InfraTech solutions break into the infrastructure market; it is a monumental challenge for technologies to cross the ‘valley of death’ to their first commercial operation. The GI Hub is actively working on this issue in partnership with the G20 and others.
This Call for Submissions helps InfraTech solution providers scale up the implementation of their solutions by providing coaching to effectively pitch their solutions in the infrastructure space, as well as access to pitch to MDBs. As noted above, MDBs are key investors and supporters for infrastructure and roads in emerging markets.
How to participate in the Call for Submissions
We’ve kept the call for submissions simple, to promote participation and help ensure a level playing field. The Call for Submissions will be undertaken in two stages. The first stage is a simple expression of interest. If a solution is progressed based on initial evaluation, the GI Hub will contact the submitter for an interview and more detailed submission.
Step 1: Review the Call for Submissions Information Sheet to understand mandatory and evaluation criteria.
Step 2: Submit an expression of interest to the Call for Submissions form by 5 April 2023, 23:59 GMT
Step 3: Wait to be contacted by the GI Hub, at which point you will be asked for further information.
All submissions that meet the mandatory criteria will be invited to have a case study featured in our InfraTech Knowledge Hub, which is referenced by G20 country leaders and other organisations across the public and private sectors. The top five submissions will be given the opportunity to receive coaching on their pitches and pitch their solutions to our seven MDB partners.
Step 4: Stay connected to the GI Hub for future opportunities.
Who can submit a solution to the Call for Submissions
This Call for Submissions is open to any technology-enabled solution that meet all of the following:
- Can be used at any point in the infrastructure lifecycle to deliver transformative outcomes from roads
- Is ready to implement or deploy within 12 months
- Meets one or more of the following use cases:
- Prevent critical asset failures and manage costs by enabling road maintenance to be more accurately prioritised
- Ensure roads continue to operate during disasters and extreme weather events by improving road resilience
- Help prioritise CO2 emission mitigation efforts by more accurately measuring and analysing emissions
- Support decarbonisation and reduce pollution from roads during design, construction, and operation
- Minimise the loss of human lives by improving road safety, particularly in and around construction sites, city streets, and school zones.
- Meets the other mandatory criteria set out in the Call for Submissions Information Sheet.
All types of technology developers and providers – including private sector companies, academia, governments, accelerators, venture capitalists, or MDBs – are eligible if they meet the above criteria.
See the Call for Submissions Information Sheet for key definitions, evaluation criteria, and other details.
Key dates
- Call for submissions open: 9 March 2023 – 5 April 2023
- Deadline to submit expression of interest form – 5 April 2023 23:59 GMT
- Evaluation, including further requests for information and interviews: 5 April 2023 – 26 April 2023
- Top five solutions announced: 9 May 2023
- Top five solutions prepare their pitches: 22 May – 6 June 2023
- Top five solutions make their pitches to the MDBs at the pitch event: on or about 22 June 2023
