OFFICE OF THE MAYOR—Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today announced $2 million in seed research grants to fund over 40 City projects exploring science-based solutions to public problems. The Pilot City program pairs City workers with STEM researchers from local universities to develop applied research projects and technology solutions that address the everyday challenges facing New Yorkers.
This year’s winners include partnerships between agency staff and researchers based at institutions across the City:
- The Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit and the City University of New York to analyze data from the Tenant Helpline, Housing Court and 311 to identify patterns in displacement and building distress to inform tenant protection outreach.
- The Department of Transportation and New York University to measure the socioeconomic impacts of bus priority projects on riders and communities.
- The Department of Citywide Administrative Services is partnering with Vanderbilt University and Pratt Institute to build a centralized digital hub to demystify NYC’s civil service system.
- The Department of Transportation and Columbia University to explore wayfinding solutions for people with vision disabilities.
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“New York’s greatest asset is its people. Pilot City taps into the remarkable talent found across our universities and public agencies, creating partnerships that can make government more responsive, effective, and innovative. Revson is proud to support Pilot City and its novel model for tackling real-world challenges facing New Yorkers every day,” said Sasha Beder-Schenker, Senior Program Officer, Charles H. Revson Foundation.
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