Offered by EIT Urban Mobility, the scheme helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to protect and develop their intellectual property activities by reimbursing some of the costs involved.
The SME Fund was established to motivate more SMEs to use and protect intellectual property, because, due to cost barriers, many of them do not register or manage their IP rights. By providing financial assistance in the form of vouchers, it aims to help companies grow and enhance competitiveness by investing in their IP portfolios.
Reimbursements can account for a significant percentage of eligible IP fees (e.g., up to approximately 90% for some services, 75% for many IP filings and up to 50% for international extensions).
Types of vouchers typically offered include:
Support for IP Scan services and IP strategy diagnostics
Trade mark and design protection
Patent protection
Community plant variety protection
Who can apply?
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including micro-enterprises, based in EU Member States and Ukraine (under conditions of territorial control).
Applicants are required to meet the EU definition of an SME, with fewer than 250 employees and limited turnover/assets.
The application can be submitted by:
The business owner
An SME employee
An authorised representative acting on behalf of the SME
The scheme runs on a first come, first saved basis and is open from 02/02/2026 – 04/12/2026.
The Strategic Innovation Open Call is an invitation for European innovators to submit proposals that address impactful solutions for urban mobility. The call, which is open from 2026 to 2028, has several cut-off dates, with the next submission deadline being June 18, 2026.
Through its call, EIT Urban Mobility is looking for projects that are innovative, ambitious, and market critical in addressing key problems cities, public authorities, and mobility providers encounter.
EIT has estimated that there will be a total funding of €60 million allocated for the call that is open from 2026-2028, for distribution to successful submissions addressing the following urban mobility topics:
Urban logistics
Public transport
Mobility data management
Electrification of transport and alternative fuels
Health and mobility
More information about the call can be accessed here.
EIT Urban Mobility’s fourth edition of its SME Market Expansion Open Call will focus on five topics, including health and mobility, urban logistics, and electrification of transport and alternative fuels. Applications for the Call, a program designed to support SME business growth and market expansion, will be accepted until December 1, 2025.
The SME Market Expansion Open Call promotes SMEs to grow and expand their markets by supporting the replication and scaling of successful solutions within new sectors or regions. The opportunity facilitates a strategic platform for SMEs, enabling them to bring their ambitions to scale, such as opening subsidiaries or expanding into new markets.
The Call aims to accelerate the market adoption of innovations by reducing development and deployment risks, with a clear path to market, by enabling cities and businesses to procure and scale those innovations. By collaborating with an end-client, SMEs can validate their innovations in a real-life setting as they gain visibility and credibility in Europe.
Who can apply?
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that supported by an end client, a public or private entity, and which are committed to testing and demonstrating their solution.
Please note: SMEs that were selected and funded for the previous EIT Urban Mobility SME Market Expansion Open Call (2025) are not eligible to ensure a balanced project portfolio.
The Call focuses on the following five topics:
Health and mobility
Urban Logistics
Electrification of transport and alternative fuels
Mobility data management
Public Transport
EIT funding allocation
The total estimated funding allocated to the SME Market Expansion Call is €600,000.
Approximately 10 projects will be implemented by 10 different SMEs, with each entity awardee receiving an EIT funding allocation of €60,000.
EIT Urban Mobility has published the second edition of its Costs and Benefits of the Urban Mobility Transitionstudy, the findings of which support the logic of the mobility pyramid, where active mobility and public transport are prioritised over private motorised transport, for optimum environmental and financial returns. The study was developed in conjunction with consultancy firm TRT Trasporti e Territorio.
The mobility pyramid concept is based on that of the familiar food pyramid, and was originally conceived by Danish architecture company Jaja. The pyramid format is intended to encourage people to make more choices from the base and lower parts of the pyramid structure, and the least from the top, with Jaja stating simply that “It’s good for you, your wallet and the environment.”
The position of different transport modes in the pyramid is a result of ranking based on their efficiency, impact on the environment, and their societal benefits.
Active mobility: This forms the pyramid’s base section, with net-zero emissions, and should be the most dominant mode for sustainable transport networks and systems.
Public transport: This forms the mid-section of the pyramid, and is an efficient, scalable mode enabling people to travel further and quicker in scenarios where active mobility is not feasible. EIT Urban Mobility emphasises that public transport systems should be “inclusive and accessible, available to all.”
Private motorised transport: The tip of the pyramid represents the least sustainable, but often most ubiquitous mode of transport, due to car-focused urban planning.
The EIT Urban Mobility study’s findings support the hierarchy of the pyramid, demonstrating that active mobility and public transport translate into significant health benefits, reductions in carbon emissions, and cost savings.
Study methodology
The study explores three scenarios of emissions reduction through simulations in twelve city prototypes. These scenarios are evaluated using carbon emissions indicators, plus financial costs and benefits linked to the interventions, and simulated to align with the Green Deal objectives.
Cost benefits
The study’s third scenario, which prioritises the achievement of net-zero emissions by 2050, found that the encouragement of a shift towards walking and cycling could result in health benefits equating to approximately €850-1,170 per capita. The WHO’s Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) is cited in the study, which has found that “greater levels of activity yielding greater benefits for individuals, particularly those who are induced into active modes from relatively inactive lifestyles.”
Scenario three – assuming the highest reduction in private car trips – is also the one which demonstrates the greatest cost savings for transport users. A shift in habits from private motorised transport towards more public transport and shared mobility translates into the highest cumulated cost savings per inhabitant – individual savings of up to €2,900 per inhabitant in 2030, and €15,000 per inhabitant by 2050.
The role of shared mobility
Shared mobility solutions, such as bikes or scooters, can serve as key connection modes within the transport ecosystem, particularly for first- or last-mile connectivity to public transport and destinations. The study emphasises that, while such services have the potential to enhance accessibility, there must be proper planning in place, to allow these services to complement public transport effectively. Without holistic planning and proper integration, shared mobility can actually reduce public transport use, rather than support it.
Investment in public transport
The study highlights that investment in reliable, efficient public transit systems can increase ridership by 7% by 2030, when combined with regulations such as low emissions zones which are designed to discourage individual car usage. An important additional benefit is that road traffic deaths decrease when users switch from private cars to urban public transport, as trams, buses and metro systems all lead towards safer streets.
EIT Urban Mobility is inviting Europe’s innovators to submit proposals to its Strategic Innovation Open Call, with the aim of accelerating the implementation of impactful solutions which address urban mobility’s most pressing challenges.
Through this call, EIT Urban Mobility seeks to support innovative, ambitious and market-critical projects which address key problems faced by cities, public authorities and mobility providers, stating “We aim to de-risk development and enable large-scale deployment by backing solutions with a clear path to market and the potential to scale across Europe.”
Scope of the call
The call will focus on five sectors in which EIT Urban Mobility believes Europe has the potential to innovate and create impact:
Urban logistics
Public transport
Mobility data management
Electrification of transport and alternative fuels
Health and mobility
The call may, in the future, include specific topic scopes to address key opportunities or failures in the market, which could benefit from funding support.
EIT funding allocation
The total estimated funding allocated to this call is €60 million for the period 2026-2028, and has multiple cut-off dates The indicative funding for the first submission cut-off is €9 million.
Each project may receive up to €2 million of EIT funding. EIT Urban Mobility will reimburse up to 65% of the eligible project costs, while the minimum co-funding rate for all proposals is 35%.
Who can apply?
This is a multi-beneficiary call for proposals; there must be a minimum of two independent legal entities, working together. These entities must be established in two different European Member States, and/or Third countries associated with Horizon Europe.
For information on special cases, including Switzerland and Hungarian universities please refer to the Call Manual.
Application process
The Strategic Innovation Open Call is open from 2026-2028 with several cut-off dates, outlined below.
The assessment of the proposals involves two stages:
The newly released “Better Mobility” report by EIT Urban Mobility highlights concerns about Europe’s current mobility systems in addressing the needs of diverse populations.
Developed in collaboration with Point& and Impact Hub Vienna, it underscores the necessity of inclusive transport solutions and outlines key actions to enhance accessibility across the continent.
European mobility challenges
According to the report, Europe’s transportation systems predominantly cater to a narrow demographic of middle-aged men working conventional nine-to-five jobs, without care giving responsibilities or physical impairments. As a result, vast segments of the population, including caregivers, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly, remain underserved.
EIT Urban Mobility Startup Programmes Lead, Celeste Reglá Díaz, emphasized this issue, stating, “Europe’s current mobility system excludes huge parts of the population. Mobility needs are far more complex than the current system accommodates.”
The report presents concerning statistics: over 100 million EU citizens have care giving duties, yet few mobility services cater to their needs. Similarly, more than 100 million people in the EU live with disabilities, yet most mobility services are not barrier-free. Additionally, while the EU’s population of individuals aged 65 and over exceeds 90 million, only 10% of them utilize digital mobility services.
Beyond social equity, inclusive mobility presents substantial economic and environmental benefits. The report estimates that improved accessibility could lead to a 70% reduction in traffic-related injuries and fatalities across EU cities, potentially saving €11,000 per capita between 2022 and 2050. Furthermore, it projects a €4,000 per capita reduction in costs related to greenhouse gas emissions and a CO2 emission reduction of up to 96% between 2022 and 2025.
Recommendations for achieving inclusive mobility
The ‘Better Mobility’ report identifies five key actions to foster a more inclusive transport system:
A Holistic Mobility System: The report advocates for an integrated transportation ecosystem prioritizing accessibility, multimodal hubs, and barrier-free public transport. It calls for a unified system that offers streamlined ticketing, single-point departure access, and improved working conditions for mobility staff. Additionally, involving users in transport planning is deemed crucial to ensuring inclusivity.
Liveable Cities with Enhanced Public Spaces: Cities are encouraged to redesign urban environments to prioritize pedestrians, green spaces, and proximity-based accessibility. The report cites Paris as a model for community-driven urbanism, with its pledge to create 100 hectares of new green areas.
Prioritizing Health in Urban Planning: As climate change continues to impact global health, the report urges cities to enhance green spaces and implement traffic-calming measures to reduce pollution and stress. Given that one in four EU citizens will be over 64 by 2030, ensuring accessible infrastructure for this demographic is essential.
Commitment to Inclusive Design: Mobility solutions should be flexible, smart, and sensory-inclusive to cater to diverse user needs. The report highlights Lisbon’s efforts in redesigning traditional mosaic pavements to improve accessibility while preserving aesthetic integrity.
Safety and Security as Core Principles: The report stresses the importance of fostering safe transport environments beyond reducing accidents. Clear communication, reliable transport systems, and infrastructure designs that enhance users’ sense of security are deemed necessary for widespread adoption of public transport.
The role of stakeholders in driving change
EIT Urban Mobility directs its findings toward key stakeholders, including mobility startups, urban planners, and policymakers. The report emphasizes the importance of collaboration, with cities leveraging regulatory power and funding, while startups contribute innovation and user-centric designs.
“Cities have regulatory power. They have the funding to enforce accessibility standards, and the resources to implement inclusive policies and infrastructure,” Reglá Díaz noted. Over the past four years, EIT Urban Mobility has supported more than 315 pilot projects across Europe, enabling cities to implement best practices for inclusive mobility solutions.
Additionally, the Better Mobility Accelerator program supports startups in developing transport solutions tailored to underserved populations. The report also identifies tourism and healthcare as key sectors with untapped potential for mobility innovation, noting that only 5% of mobility advancements focus on tourism and 10% on health, despite growing demand.
Reglá Díaz called for increased investor support and more city-driven policies to scale inclusive mobility innovations. “It shouldn’t be a tick-box exercise – inclusivity impacts everyone and can make huge changes socially, environmentally and economically,” she emphasized.
As Europe grapples with the evolving challenges of sustainable transport, the ‘Better Mobility’ report provides a comprehensive roadmap for fostering inclusivity in mobility systems. By implementing the proposed strategies, policymakers, startups, and urban planners have the potential to create transport networks that serve all citizens equitably.
The European Union’s EIT Urban Mobility initiative has published its latest “Costs and Benefits of the Urban Mobility Transition” study, which calculates the investment needed by 2050 for the EU to achieve its Green Deal goals.
This study is an update on previous findings from its 2021 report, presenting detailed simulations of three transition scenarios for twelve European city prototypes. It highlights the diversity of urban spaces across the EU and outlines the challenges and opportunities for achieving significant CO2 reductions by 2030.
The findings suggest that while technological advances alone could reduce urban mobility CO2 emissions by 21% by 2030, this figure falls short of the EU’s Green Deal target, which requires a 44% reduction in emissions. According to the report, achieving the 2030 Green Deal goals will require major behavioral changes, presenting significant challenges in terms of public acceptance.
It emphasizes the potential of reducing car use and emissions through a mix of enhanced public transport, shared mobility alternatives, and access restrictions. By 2030, EIT has calculated that these measures could result in a 7% increase in public transport trips and a 16% reduction in private car trips.
Commenting on the findings, Maria Tsavachidis, CEO of EIT Urban Mobility, said: “The report underlines the urgency of prioritising targeted investments in clean mobility to achieve positive impacts on health and the environment. Public transport is proving to be the most affordable and comprehensive solution to reduce CO2 emissions. However, this change brings challenges. We need coordinated efforts at all levels – from the local to the European level – to ensure that the necessary investments are made and that citizens are involved and supported in this development.”
The benefits of achieving Green Deal goals outweigh its costly investment
While all three scenarios are projected to meet the 2050 decarbonisation targets, achieving these goals will require an investment of at least €1.5 trillion. Despite these costs, the study concludes that the benefits, including improved public health, reduced emissions, and increased road safety, outweigh the financial burden.
The report looks at the European mobility startup fundraising environment against the backdrop of a globally declining venture capital market. It reveals that in 2023, European mobility startups secured funding of $9 billion, which was a 26% decrease from 2022.
There is also positive news for the mobility sector, in that it is still listed as the third most funded industry in Europe. EIT Urban Mobility’s Director of Impact Ventures, Fredrik Hanell told Zag Daily that they had invested in over 100 startups in 1000 days.
EIT Urban Mobility is an initiative formed by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). EIT believes that there are various reasons for 2023’s decline in start-up funding, including market saturation, investors being more cautious after a brisk post-pandemic expansion, macroeconomic uncertainties, micromobility regulatory challenges, and a shift in consumer preferences may have also played a part in investor confidence declining.
Even with numerous challenges, EIT will continue to push forward with its investment in the mobility sector.
“Cities are looking for these solutions that bring a positive impact,” said Hanell. “By leveraging emerging technologies, forging strategic partnerships, and addressing evolving consumer needs, mobility startups can position themselves for success in an increasingly competitive landscape that goes beyond Europe. We believe this is where the landscape for mobility is going.”
Mobility investment breakdown
In 2023 E-mobility companies with a focus on EV batteries, EV charging and infrastructure shone brightly, with these start-up companies receiving the most funding, securing over 50% of total investment for the mobility sector.
Hannell predicts that alternative mobility start-ups will have a surge in popularity this year.
“Startups focusing on electric two-wheelers, e-motorcycles, and e-scooters are poised to attract attention as micromobility solutions continue to gain traction,” he said. “And following this logic, in 2024 I believe that initiatives aimed at extending battery life, especially of light vehicles, promoting battery swapping, and enhancing sustainability are likely to drive investment.”
“Looking ahead, the future of mobility startups in Europe will likely be shaped by several key factors. The continued growth of electric vehicles, advancements in autonomous technology, and the rise of shared mobility services are expected to drive innovation and investment in the sector.”
Since January 2019, EIT Urban Mobility have been actively encouraging people to readdress the way in which they move around cities, with a vision to make our cities a better place to live. As an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a significant amount of funding to support a new campaign named the Scale-up Programme is already in place.
The Scale-Up Programme is a quest to identify the 12 most promising urban mobility startups. The successful startups will receive funding and partnership opportunities to further progress their campaigns. This will include invites to notable European events where they can meet possible funders and secure partnership prospects. Applications for the initiative are active until 12th June 2022.
Two different paths are on offer from the EIT to benefit the startups. The aforementioned networking opportunities at prominent events are available to five of the successful startups, valued at 25.000€. The second route includes all of the first, plus pilot schemes with city partners with funding figures of 50.000€ by EIT Urban Mobility. In application for the second path, the startups will gain support from public authorities and organisations who have identified restrictive issues in top European cities.
The Scale-up Programme is led by CARNET in accordance with PowerHub, Fraunhofer Society for the Advancement of Applied Research, UnternehmerTUM, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Niedersächsisches Forschungszentrum Fahrzeugtechnik (NFF), Digital Hub Logistics Hamburg and the City of Hamburg, Xpreneurs and UnternehmerTUM Digital Hub Mobility.
The startups must conform to a few select guidelines, the most important of which is the product’s status. It requires technical readiness ((TRL) of 7-9) and maturity in order to be implemented into any pilot schemes. The cities are essentially used as workshops to demonstrate how people, cargo and waste can be moved around in a more ethical manner, so the products have a wonderful opportunity to be showcased.
