Colorado Smart Cities Alliance Launches C^2 Challenge Seeking Technology Solutions for Colorado Communities
Innovators are Encouraged to Submit Ideas for the Opportunity to Implement Solution with Government Partners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Denver, CO [June 30, 2022] – The Colorado Smart Cities Alliance (the Alliance) today launched the C² Challenge seeking innovative technology solutions that address four specific problems faced by Colorado communities: housing stability, community resilience, safe streets and civic engagement. To submit a solution for consideration or for more information, visit the C² Challenge webpage or contact Alliance Senior Programs Manager Meghan White at meghan@coloradosmart.city. Some of Colorado’s most innovative governments will collaboratively evaluate proposed solutions and select those that they believe may uniquely address the issue in their community. Winners of the C² Challenge will have the opportunity to demonstrate their solution with at least one community in Colorado.
The C² (Connected Colorado) Challenge enables urban and rural communities to leverage a collaborative approach to explore, vet and implement regionally applicable solutions through an outcome-driven process. The challenge is managed by the Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and run through UrbanLeap, an innovative government procurement platform. Through this open and competitive process, governments will have an opportunity to learn about the many different tools available to them in tackling complex challenges while exploring a new process for identifying potential solutions.
Companies and universities with an applicable solution are invited to submit a proposal by August 5th for a chance to work with Colorado jurisdictions to implement their next-generation solution in local communities.
One of the desired outcomes of the challenge is to maximize the impact it has on the civic innovation space by ensuring solution proposals are available to other governments beyond those participating through the Alliance. Solution providers will have the option to make their proposals available to other local governments around the US that may be facing similar challenges. Local governments and other public entities that are interested in one or more problem areas being addressed in the C² Challenge can register using this link.
This is a unique opportunity for solution providers to collaborate directly with smart cities in Colorado to develop and test their idea in a real-world environment while also gaining exposure within the Alliance network of more than 70 public, private, academic, and allied members.
Confirmed public sector participants thus far include the following jurisdictions: City of Castle Pines, City of Centennial, City of Colorado Springs, City and County of Denver, Jefferson County, City of Greeley, City of Lone Tree, City of Woodland Park, and Arapahoe Libraries. Additional governments may be announced as the challenge progresses. This challenge will prioritize low cost solutions, with costs being capped at $25,000. Information sessions for solution providers will be held on July 13th and July 18th.
The Deployment Board, which consists of participating government employees, will begin reviewing submissions after the proposal deadline of August 5th. The goal is to announce finalists in the beginning of September. The finalists will then have the opportunity to meet with evaluators to answer any questions and clarify specifics about the solution that they submitted. Winners will be announced in October, at which point the jurisdiction will work with the proposer to co-develop a project that tests the solution.
“The C² Challenge is a model for civic innovation that manages the risk of smart cities investment through collaborative partnerships. It offers a distinct opportunity for governments, business and academia to learn from one another by testing new ideas through practical application,” said Alliance Executive Director Tyler Svitak. “We hope the solutions that come through the Challenge help improve Colorado’s quality of life, and that the process fosters smarter government across Colorado. ”
Last year, the Alliance hosted the Revive! Challenge, a civic innovation challenge focused on no-and-low-cost solutions ($5K annually) and received 40 submissions from all over the world. Of those solutions, six winners were selected and given the opportunity to demonstrate their solutions in various Colorado communities. The success of the Revive! Challenge in 2021 demonstrates the importance of this model in encouraging collaboration between the public and private sectors.
###
The Colorado Smart Cities Alliance is the first statewide organization of its kind, bringing together government, businesses and allied organizations to improve life for all Coloradans. The organization accelerates civic innovation in Colorado through partnership building, research education and consulting. The Alliance has over 70 public and private sector members, all of which are interested in collaborating to test new solutions to pressing challenges in our communities.
UrbanLeap is reinventing the public procurement market. Our data-powered platform helps public servants reuse the work of their peers, reach 100% of the relevant vendors, and conduct an intelligent and fair evaluation process. With UrbanLeap governments achieve the best outcome for every purchase — on time and within budget.
Contact
Chelsea Barrett
Colorado Smart Cities Alliance
chelsea@coloradosmart.city
720.213.8238
