⚠ Summarised by AI based on an external source. Last updated: 3 Mar 2026. Starthubs is not liable for any inaccuracies. Always consult the official challenge information.
Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha — one of the world's leading aviation hubs — is looking for startups and SMEs to develop a unified, real-time movement intelligence platform. The airport currently tracks passengers through multiple separate systems, but has no integrated solution that provides a full picture of passenger and staff flows. Through the Qatar Open Innovation programme run by QRDI, HIA is inviting innovators worldwide to solve this problem. Up to $100,000 in funding is available, along with access to real operational data and a dedicated trial environment at the airport.
What is HIA looking for?
HIA needs a platform that brings together data from existing airport systems — including Wi-Fi access point logs, XOVIS sensors, the Airport Operational Database (AODB) and AI-powered security cameras — into one centralised view. The solution should combine advanced analytics, predictive modelling and user-friendly dashboards to provide real-time and forward-looking insights. Key capabilities include:
- A unified spatial dataset through GIS digitisation of all terminal areas, roads and car parks
- Per-flight passenger movement profiles showing flow patterns by origin, destination, aircraft type, time of day and season
- Detection of bottlenecks, congestion points, cross-flows and dwell times across airport zones
- Three analysis windows: historical data, real-time monitoring and predictive future modelling
HIA is not looking for siloed or purely retrospective tools. New hardware is only welcome if it replaces multiple legacy systems and delivers better integration. More details are available on the official challenge website.
Who is this for?
This challenge is open to startups, SMEs and corporates worldwide. There are no geographic restrictions — QRDI explicitly welcomes applicants from both inside and outside Qatar. Universities can also participate in partnership with a private-sector lead applicant. A key requirement is that your solution must be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 or higher, meaning it should be a validated technology in a relevant environment. The pilot itself will take place in Qatar in collaboration with HIA.
What's in it for you?
This challenge offers a strong combination of funding, data access and commercial potential:
- Up to $100,000 USD in cash funding from QRDI to support solution development
- Access to real operational data including flight operations, resource allocation plans, camera feeds and Wi-Fi logs
- A dedicated trial environment within HIA for proof-of-concept testing (3–6 months)
- Subject-matter expertise and project management support from HIA teams
- Potential for commercial roll-out across HIA, with the possibility of expanding to other airports globally
- Background IP stays with the innovator; foreground IP ownership is discussed case by case