The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced the launch of the ARPA-I Ideas Challenge, offering up to $1 million in prizes for innovative transportation technologies. This initiative by the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Infrastructure (ARPA-I) seeks to engage American innovators from both public and private sectors to propose concepts that could transform transportation infrastructure.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy emphasized America's history of transportation innovation, stating, "From the Wright Brothers to the Apollo missions, America invented transportation innovation." He added that the new challenge aims to continue this tradition by supporting 21st-century technological advancements.
The challenge is structured in two stages. In Stage 1, applicants must identify a critical infrastructure challenge and propose a breakthrough solution with an R&D plan. Concept papers are due by September 17, 2025. Selected winners will present their ideas at a workshop this fall.
Stage 2 invites winning teams from Stage 1 to submit detailed proposals. Up to ten finalists will compete in early 2026 for Stage 2 prizes before a panel of judges and audience members from both sectors.
Winners will receive recognition from USDOT leadership and participate in discussions about their proposals' potential impact on future research and development paths for ARPA-I and USDOT.
For more details on participation, interested parties can visit the USDOT website or attend a virtual proposer's day webinar on August 20, 2025.
Information from this article can be found here.
