The finalists were selected by a jury comprised of 6 industry leaders and sustainability champions who evaluated the submissions based on criteria including impact on society and industry, ease of implementation, innovation and the wow factor.
They selected three finalists, AeroVect for GSE automation, CargoAi for decarbonising the industry by use of a CO2 efficiency score, and EliteChamp for an air cargo vacuum pallet.
Steven Polmans, Chair of TIACA praised the applicants, saying that the jury felt the entries were diverse, showing how focused and innovative the industry is.
He says, “This made it difficult for the jury to select a single entry that stood out from the rest and shows promise for a sustainable air cargo industry. I would also like to thank the jury members for their time and dedication in reviewing the entries and the results of their deliberations.”
The start-up and small business category recognises and encourages young and small businesses building their presence, and each finalist will be invited to present their product at the Air Cargo Forum where the live audience will help select the winner.
The winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize and the two runners up will receive $2,500 each.
Chris McDermott, CEO of CHAMP Cargosystems, says that the quality of the submissions made picking finalists difficult.
He says, “Sustainability and the pursuit of more sustainable practices can only benefit us all. We look forward to announcing the winners and the opportunity to meet the finalists at the Air Cargo Forum in a few weeks’ time.”