Contribute to air cargo's digitalization, sustainability, safety and security.

The air cargo industry is crucial to the global economy and provides vital supply chain efficiencies. It is a highly competitive sector, and therefore needs to continuously reinvent itself, embrace new technologies and adapt to customer expectations.

The fourth edition of the IATA Air Cargo Innovation Awards aims to promote innovation and encourage the development of new concepts and ideas that contributes to air logistics’ digitalization, sustainability, safety and security. 

Startups & Innovators category winner

Out of the three finalist projects selected by the independent jury, the audience of the 16th IATA World Cargo Symposium selected Swiss Airtainer – Sustainable and Smart Active Temperature Controlled ULDs as the winner of the Startups & Innovator category.

Corporate category winner

The IATA Air Cargo Innovation Awards jury panel has chosen LATAM Cargo - Plastic Reduction in Cargo Operations as the winning idea in the Corporate category.

For more information, read the Press Release and the Finalists Announcement (pdf).

Prizes

Start-ups & innovators

 

  • USD 15,000 for winner and USD 2,500 for three runners up

And

  • Entry pass for one person to 2023 WCS, including travel and accommodation
  • Ten-minute presentation slot at the 2023 WCS
  • Visibility in IATA´s communication channels
  • Stamp of recognition

Corporate participants

 

  • Entry pass for one person to 2023 WCS
  • Ten-minute presentation slot at the 2023 WCS
  • Visibility in IATA´s communication channels
  • Stamp of recognition

Cargo Awards Criteria & Terms

To reward the work of the start-ups and innovators that lead industry transformation while also recognizing the work of well-established corporations, the 2023 awards have two separate categories:

  1. Start-ups and innovators (Newly emerged companies, individuals, and small companies with less than 25 staff members)
  2. Corporate participants


The submissions will be evaluated by the jury based on the concept, its innovativeness, contribution to industry priorities, and the likelihood of achieving success. The jury will select the winner of the corporate category and the three runners-up for the start-up and innovators categories. They will all be invited to present at WCS. 

  • Check the Submission Checklist (pdf) and the Judging Criteria (pdf) to know more about the information you should include in your idea submission.
  • It is strongly recommended to include in your application a short video (1-2 minutes) pitching your business idea.
  • Participation is free of charge.
  • You can submit more than than one idea.
  • The competition is about new ideas, so if your product is on the market, it would have to be at the very early stages. 

Review the Cargo Innovation Awards terms and conditions (pdf)

Contact us if you have any other questions

Jury Panel

An independent and diverse panel, including industry experts, academics and executives will assess the submissions received for the award and select the winner for the Corporate category and the three runners-up for the Startups & Innovators one.

The current members of the 2023 Air Cargo Innovation Awards jury panel are:

  • Ján Bojnansky, Supply Chain Coordinator, Universal Postal Union
  • Alice de Casanove, Corporate Strategy, Airbus North America
  • Mikael Lind, Senior Research Advisor, RISE Research Institute of Sweden
  • Ines Knäpper, Innovation and Hackathon Lead, Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, World Economic Forum
  • Turhan Özen, Chief Cargo Officer, Turkish Airlines
  • Yvonne Ziegler, CEO, Mytigate GmbH and Professor Aviation Management at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences

 Learn more about the 2023 Innovation Awards Jury Panel (pdf).