Accelerate Change with Airport Innovation Runway

The Airport Innovation Runway is an open innovation program with a structured approach designed to swiftly identify, test and validate solution for specific business challenges.
Active CHALLENGES

Challenge yourself with Airport Innovation Runway

We foresee a future where innovative, sustainable, and accessible energy revolutionises the aviation industry, and we are eager to collaborate with solution providers to bring this vision to life.
Autonomous aircraft-to-ground power (GPUs) connections
No Longer Accepting Applications

Are you an expert in building autonomous solutions, robotics, or computer vision? Schiphol is looking for an autonomous solution capable of connecting the aircraft into ground power (both mobile and fixed power) when it is parked d, and removing the power plug from the aircraft prior to take off. Successfully addressing this challenge would have a direct positive impact on ground staff H&S and operational efficiency, making it a high priority for Schiphol Group.

Find out more
How might we use EV chargers for load balancing?
Closing 23/09/2024

Royal Schiphol Group aims to operate the most sustainable and high-quality airports in the world. With increasing demand on energy infrastructure it is critical that we support a flexible and even distribution of electricity across the grid, preventing overloading in specific areas and ensuring a stable power supply. Royal Schiphol Group see it as our societal responsibility to take a leading role in this. Therefore we are looking for BSPs, BRPs, CSPs and other market players who can help us turn our EV chargers into load balancing assets. We are looking for solutions, where our EV charging capacity is used for:

Find out more
Wanted: solutions to increase passenger waste separation at our airports.
Closing: 20/11/2024

Royal Schiphol Group (RSG) aims to operate the world’s most sustainable airports. One of our current challenges is managing passenger waste in the terminal. We recognize that the separation of residual waste can be improved – and we are actively scanning the market for the best possible solutions; if you can help us we want to hear from you!

Find out more
the program

We aim to fast-track open innovation through Airport Innovation Runway

A program where collaboration isn't just a buzzword, but a catalyst for change.
The Program
The airport industry is facing challenges on all fronts. To accelerate change, the Schiphol Innovation Hub offers a program that fast-tracks innovation: Runway. Airport Innovation Runway is a hands-on initiative that helps challenge owners from Schiphol’s most pressing issues with solutions from the most promising startups, scale-ups and established companies.
For Solution Providers
We’re thrilled to introduce our new Open Innovation Program, an opportunity for startups and technology providers to collaborate with airports in solving challenges across our various business units. We believe that true innovation is a collective effort, and we invite external parties to join us in this exciting journey.
For Challenge Owners
The Runway program provides guidance for challenge owners across the business. Through a structured innovation framework, we proactively identify and invite external parties to address business challenges quickly, aiming to validate the feasibility of a proof of concept that can be further developed.
how it works

The AIR Innovation Process

We use a proven process to break down challenges, validate potential approaches, evaluate solution providers and identify promising solutions in a controlled environment.

Challenge Launched

Challenge is published and open for solution providers to submit applications, proposals and RFI

Application Selection

Solutions will be reviewed against different selection criteria

Pitch + Q&A Session

Solution providers discuss their solutions directly with the challenge owners and key decision makers at Schiphol

Collaboration shaping

Selected solution providers define terms, budget and roadmap for a Proof of Concept process.

Proof of concept

Corporates and Solution implement the PoC roadmap at the agreed conditions. Schiphol staff and TNW's open innovation specialists will support the roadmap with regular check-ins, support and mentorship.

find out more

Ready to innovate?

Find out more about Innovation at Royal Schipol Group