A Brisbane-based technology company that helps match car drivers with parking spots has won a major global technology challenge.

Parking App, KERB, won the Toyota Mobility Foundation’s City Architecture for Tomorrow Challenge (CATCH) on 1 July. The competition was hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The US$250,000 prize money will now help KERB introduce its congestion-reducing technology. Company executives believe there are 690,000 parking spaces in Kuala Lumpur, which their marketplace can unlock.

‘We are currently encouraging all Malaysians with an empty parking space to download the KERB app and help reduce congestion,’ says David Albaiceta, Regional Director, Southeast Asia.

The 2020 global challenge was launched by the Toyota Mobility Foundation and co-developed by the Deloitte Future of Mobility Solution Centre.

Austrade encouraged KERB’s submission, and works with the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) to encourage Australian–Malaysian collaboration in digital projects.

Austrade and MDEC signed a collaboration agreement in May 2021, and have committed to an initiative – the Australia–Malaysia Tech Exchange (AMTX). This is an ongoing program of business activities across multiple sectors. It aims to deliver greater commercial partnerships between Australian and Malaysian businesses.

For more information on how Austrade can help your company access technology opportunities in Malaysia, contact Danyal Hamidon.