NYC showcases what scalable innovation looks like

New York City is spotlighting the growing role of in-house innovation with its latest round of Hayes Innovation Prize honourees–public servants developing technology-driven solutions to longstanding operational and service challenges.

“At the start of this administration, Mayor Adams consolidated the city’s tech agencies into a single entity, the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI),” Ruby Choi, Deputy Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives at OTI, told Cities Today. “As the citywide tech authority, OTI coordinates tech-based programmes and policies designed to make government run better, improve service delivery, and keep New Yorkers safe.”

Several recognised projects this year demonstrate how local innovation can achieve measurable results and create pathways for broader system change:

• E-bike battery charging pilot: a pilot by the Department of Transportation introducing battery swap cabinets and charging racks for delivery workers reduced at-home charging by 35 percent, engaged over 100 workers, and helped secure a US$25 million federal grant for expanded infrastructure.

• Sewer atlas: a new citywide digital map by the Department of Environmental Protection of New York’s 12,000-kilometre sewer network is giving engineers vital insights for drainage planning, infrastructure assessment, and system monitoring.

• Smart compost bin programme: an expansion by the Department of Sanitation from 25 to nearly 400 compost bins across the city has led to over 100,000 app downloads and diverted millions of pounds of organic waste from landfills.

Choi noted that these types of solutions are exactly what the Hayes Innovation Prize aims to highlight–projects that are actionable, measurable, and capable of being scaled across agencies.

Scaling innovation, she added, is a core focus of OTI’s broader strategy.

“Our Smart City Testbed programme allows us to streamline and accelerate the piloting process to determine whether novel ideas can scale across the public and private sector,” she said.

Some of the city’s recent pilots are already gaining interest beyond New York including the e-bike charging initiative being replicated elsewhere in the US.

To build lasting capacity, the city is also investing in its internal talent pipeline through a new IT Leadership Academy, created in partnership with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), to help director-level staff build essential leadership skills. An AI Speaker Series is also being launched to give employees a chance to explore how emerging technologies can support their agency’s goals.

“New York City is a global hub for urban innovation, which means our tech workforce must possess the requisite tools and training to excel in today’s rapidly evolving digital environment,” she added.

Honorees were chosen from 90 nominations across 32 agencies, and each winner received a US$1,000 cash prize funded by the foundation. The OTI and the Frederick O’Reilly Hayes Prize Foundation co-sponsored the awards.

Image: Randy Harris | Dreamstime.com