BMW i, the sub-brand of the German automaker for electrics, has entered into a collaboration with the non-profit TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) organization to sponsor a new “NextVisionaries” competition aimed at seeking out ideas from “pioneers, strategists and creatives from around the world” on new ways to enhance personal mobility. Announced this week at the annual TED Conference in Vancouver, Canada, the multi-phase undertaking will rely on a panel of mentors to review submissions on the subject of “Visionary Mobility” in an effort to find “the most impressive, most promising and most groundbreaking proposals.”
Reshaping personal transportation
As part of this Visionary Mobility theme, entrants will propose vehicular and technological concepts, hardware/software solutions and other related ideas for products and services that “have the potential to shape the face of personal transport in tomorrow’s world.” The mentors will pick six finalists at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. A panel of experts will select the overall winning idea which will be presented by its creator at a TED Talks event New York City in November.
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“Ever since the founding of ’project i’ ten years ago, BMW i has been a visionary pioneer. This spirit of visionary thinking and pioneering action unites BMW i and the TED community. For all pre- thinkers of inspiring and iconic visions around the mobility of tomorrow, we offer a great stage with this unique cooperation,” explains Hildegard Wortmann, senior brand vice president for BMW. Lisa Choi Owens, head of global partnerships at TED, adds: “TED Talks give the most creative minds and their most fascinating ideas a way to reach curious audiences around the world. The collaboration with BMW i gives us the chance to unearth some of the most exciting new thinking in the field of mobility.”
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Applications for the Visionary Mobility competition as well as other related information can be found at https://nextvisionaries.com.
