• Sixteen teams of innovators, from 9 countries, developed proofs-of-concept (PoC)s of their innovative data-driven solutions towards improving mobility and city planning in Kuala Lumpur
• Six Finalists were selected by a panel of judges and will receive a US$125,000 grant each to develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) as a ready-to-implement solution 

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach - 27January 2021 - Six solution ideas were announced as finalistsfor the City Architecture for Tomorrow Challenge (CATCH) program. The Toyota Mobility foundation (TMF)launched CATCH in February 2020 with a global call for dynamic, intelligent anddata-driven solutions to address mobility and city planning challenges in KualaLumpur.

Despite the continuing impact of COVID-19, the CATCH program progressedthrough the application stage in May, receiving over 90 entries from 20+countries. Then the Semi-Finalist stage finished in December. In this stage withtremendous support and insights from our strategic and data partners, the Semi-Finalistsobtained an understanding of Kuala Lumpur's mobility issues for their Proof ofConcept (PoC) development over a 6-week period. An esteemed panel of 8 judgesfrom various fields of expertise such as government, sustainable mobility,venture capital, technology, and industry virtually assessed the 16 Semi-Finalists.After careful consideration and based on the feedback from the judges, TMFidentified six teams as Finalists rather than five teams as originally planned.The following six teams are deemed to be best suited to CATCH's problemstatement and the five assessment criteria of creativity, feasibility,sustainability, desirability and technicality. These teams will be asked tofurther develop their MVPs, and at this stage each will receive a grant of US$125,000of financial support to drive testing and implementation of intelligentdata-driven, connected solutions, aimed at a more efficient, innovative, secureand sustainable city of Kuala Lumpur.

The six finalists are as follows:

ConceptualizingData-Driven Innovations to Reality

TMF will continue to work together with strategic partners including Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the MalaysiaDigital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and its data partners -- Prasarana,MapIT, and Grab -- to support the finalists until the selection of a final winner in April-May 2021. Thissupport includes the financial grant by TMF and incubation and mentorship provided by expertsand judges supporting this CATCH program.

Yu Chuan Hock, Director of Urban Transportation of KL City Hall (DBKL) commented: "KualaLumpur City Hall is looking forward to a practical and workable solution to beimplemented to ease congestion and disperse traffic more effectively."

Ir. Dr.Karl Ng, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) commented: "Theseentries show how amazing such innovations can be produced, and even thrive,when data is readily made available."

Pras Ganesh, Directorof Programs of TMF commented: "CATCH was designed to grasp ground breaking innovations,and we were impressed by the ideas of 16 strong Semi Finalists who showcased newdata driven mobility and city planning focused solutions.  Though it was very difficult to narrow downthe selection, as Toyota Mobility Foundation, we are very excited about the sixFinalists and what they can deliver in the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) stageto improve the quality of life of the residents of Kuala Lumpur."

Through CATCH, TMF strives to unlock human-centric, data-driveninnovations toward Toyota's mission of 'Producing Happiness for All' through 'Creating Mobility for All' for residentsof Kuala Lumpur.  Moreover, TMF hopes toutilize the insights gained through this challenge to solve mobility issues inother regions and countries in the future.

To find out more visit www.tmf-catch.org/

About Toyota Mobility Foundation

The Toyota Mobility Foundation was established in August 2014 tosupport the development of a more mobile society. The Foundation aims tosupport strong and equitable mobility systems. It utilizes Toyota's expertisein technology, safety, and the environment, working in partnership withuniversities, government, non-profit organizations, research institutions andother organizations to address mobility issues around the world. Solutions tilldate have aimed at resolving urban transportation problems, expanding theutilization of multi-modal mobility, and developing solutions for futuregenerations.