The Metropolitan region of Rotterdam The Hague (MRHD) features public transportation facilities to be proud of. For the long haul, people are working hard to optimize these facilities. That will be necessary as it is expected that this region will expand with more than 400.000 residents in the upcoming decades, which automatically results in a growing demand for public transport. 

Agreements are already being made about an investment program for the public transportation with a horizon up to 2040. These agreements must ensure that the growth continues, customers are satisfied or become more satisfied, the region remains accessible to everyone and the agglomeration power of the region strengthens. At the same time, there are already a number of bottlenecks in the system, or places where new bottlenecks are likely to arise. MRDH, together with RET and HTM, are searching for innovations that contribute to finding a solution for the current growth restriction, and that solves the bottlenecks in the public transport network during peak hours.

A COLLABORATION WITH YES!DELFT

Throughout recent years, the MRDH has successfully collaborated with tech incubator YES!Delft. Together with Get in the Ring, a global network of support organisations, corporations and governments that want to make an impact, YES!Delft is responsible for scouting startups across Europe, who are offering an efficient and feasible solution for the challenge within the region.

The challenge is all about mapping out efficient and feasible solutions to reduce the strain within public transportation during peak hours. This is a necessary topic because public transportation facilities within the MRDH will expand, simply because the number of travellers come from an organic autonomous growth.

STARTUP SELECTION CRITERIA

The most important selection criteria of your startup is that your product needs to offer a solution that fits the challenge. Besides that, you startup needs:

• A minimum of two co-founders;
• To operate in the tech industry;
• A completed prototype or MVP;
• To be scalable, innovative and impactful;
• To have someone who is able to speak either English or Dutch.

WHAT IS THERE TO WIN?

• A pilot project together with MRDH, RET and HTM (the finalists will pilot their prototype(s) as soon as possible). If the pilot is  successful, the solution might be implemented.
• 15K Y!D Credit for workshops, programs and masterclasses at YES!Delft
• The finalists get access to the incubator, YES!Delft network, events and programs. (For some programs there might be a selection).
• YES!Delft offers support in setting up pilots between the finalists and MRDH / RET / HTM

ABOUT INNOVATIEROUTE

The innOVatieroute is an initiative of HTM, RET and the MRDH. We challenge parties to find innovative solutions to the challenges of tomorrow’s public transport. We are looking for new ideas for sustainability, cost efficiency, or better travel experiences for our regional public transport. How can we make better use of trams, buses, and subways? How do we make our facilities more attractive? What is a better way to deal smarter with management and maintenance?

The InnOVatieroute organizes specific requests, where startups and other interested parties can register to. The best solutions are guided, and are given the opportunity to start a pilot at the public transport companies HTM and/or RET. For the first request, we are looking for innovative ideas and solutions for the bottlenecks in the public transport network during peak hours.