Can roads be sustainable? We're helping governments, investors, and tech providers transform roads with InfraTech

Today, the GI Hub announces an exciting new challenge to transform roads in emerging markets, making them more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient through technology.

In partnership with eight multilateral development banks (MDBs) from around the globe, we have issued a call for submissions for technology-enabled solutions for sustainable roads. The program will provide governments and investors with a pipeline of technology-enabled solutions to make roads more sustainable, and will give technology solution providers an opportunity to receive coaching and pitch their solutions to MDBs for consideration on current and future road projects.

Roads are among the most strategic development opportunities in the infrastructure sector. In 2022, G20 central governments budgeted around 0.4% of GDP (USD416 billion) for transport infrastructure, about 47% of which was for roads. The governments of G20 emerging economies budgeted about USD47 billion on roads (50% of their transport investment). Recently, the GI Hub analysed the long-term infrastructure plans of G20 countries and found this trend will continue; the majority of long-term strategic investment in infrastructure is being directed to the transport sector.

Clearly, there is a significant opportunity to ensure these large investments result in roads that meet the future needs of people and the planet by being more sustainable and resilient, and creating outcomes that are equitable for all.

Yet, very few countries consider the potential to amplify the positive impacts of their investments by applying technology to roads. This is especially true in emerging markets where the barriers to implementing infrastructure technology are often even greater than in advanced economies. There is an urgent need for a pipeline of high-quality, scalable InfraTech solutions that can be deployed in emerging markets and beyond.

We're beginning to create such a pipeline through this Call for Submissions, delivered in partnership with African Development Bank, 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, and The World Bank Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF).

The call is open to technology-enabled solutions that can be used at any point in the infrastructure lifecycle to deliver transformative outcomes from roads. Solutions must be ready to implement or deploy within 12 months and must be relevant to emerging markets and one or more of these specific use cases:

1. Prevent critical asset failures and manage costs by enabling road maintenance to be more accurately prioritised
2. Ensure roads continue to operate during disasters and extreme weather events by improving road resilience
3. Help prioritise CO2 emission mitigation efforts by more accurately measuring and analysing emissions
4. Support decarbonisation and reduce pollution from roads during design, construction, and operation
5. Minimise the loss of human lives by improving road safety, particularly in and around construction sites, city streets, and school zones.

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 to participate in the second stage which involves an interview and more detailed submission.

To learn more or submit an expression of interest to participate, visit the web page for the Call for Submissions.