The USDOT has selected four teams to advance to the finals of the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Infrastructure (ARPA-I) Ideas and Innovation Challenge, a $1 million prize competition designed to identify breakthrough transportation technology concepts.
The finalists were selected from 448 submissions nationwide and represent private-sector, individual, and academic innovators. Their concepts focus on resilient navigation, adaptive freight operations, shared mobility intelligence, and durable infrastructure solutions.
The final competition will be held June 24, 2026, at USDOT headquarters, where the teams will present their ideas and compete for a share of $700,000 in Stage 2 prizes. The challenge is intended to help inform future research and development priorities for ARPA-I, USDOT, and the broader transportation sector.
