A group of MBA students from QUT, MIT Sloan School of Management and the University of Auckland have come together to ensure transport and infrastructure around the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games goes beyond the concept of flying taxis to make the event accessible to all.
The QUT Entrepreneurship initiative saw the students work together on a ‘Mobility Collaboration Sprint’ which will included a visit to the planned Northshore Olympic Village site, the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub and the QUT BMW Design Academy.
They will be led by Associate Professor Glen Murphy and guided by experts such as Professor Alexander Paz, QUT Transport and Main Roads Chair, Santiago Valasquez Hurtado, 2022 Churchill Fellow and Founder of EyeSyght and Hailos, and Professor Michael Milford, Director of the QUT Centre for Robotics before presenting their pitches at the end of the week.
QUT’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Entrepreneurship Professor Rowena Barrett said a highlight of the week was a panel discussion – ‘Mobility 2032: Fast Tracks and Future Hacks’.
“It’s all very well to consider flying taxis and yes, the cross-river rail will be critical in moving people about the city, but we want to explore what else is realistically possible for all to be able to seamlessly live in Brisbane and participate in the Olympics and Paralympics with ease,” Professor Barrett said.
“With 2032 rapidly approaching, this is an opportunity to make Brisbane a more liveable city for all. Infrastructure and transport innovation are the key.”
The event, to be emceed by journalist, author, and business advisor David Fagan, will also see three students from Bundaberg State High School present a smart mobility solution that won them the 2023 Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards which is supported by a QUT-Bundaberg MOU.
“The students – Cadence Taylor, Aida Peterson and Nicole Seesink – formed a team called Hard Headz and have come up with a technology solution using sensors to address the problem of head injuries inflicted on riders of scooters when helmets are not worn,” Professor Barrett said.
MIT Sloan School of Management and QUT entered a multi-year strategic collaboration in 2019 focused on academic exchange, a unique innovation immersion program for QUT MBA and EMBA students, and engagement of QUT’s entrepreneurial students in some MIT programs. The collaboration is directed by MIT Sloan Global Programs.
