Tag Archive: EIT Urban Mobility

  1. European mobility faces inclusivity challenges, EIT Urban Mobility report reveals

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    Source: Zag Daily

    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.

  2. €1.5 trillion euros needed to meet EU transport sector goals

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    Source: SAZ BIKE

    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 full study, “Costs and Benefits of the Urban Mobility Transition,” provides key insights for policymakers and urban planners and is available for further review.

  3. Who are the biggest mobility startup investors in Europe?

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    Source: Zag Daily

    Via ID and Dealroom.co. have published a new report on European Mobility startup investment called ‘State of European Mobility Startups 2023’, ranking EIT Urban Mobility, Bpifrance & the European Innovation Council as the three leading investors.

    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.”

  4. Funding for Urban Mobility Startups – Scale-Up Programme

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    Source: EIT Urban Mobility

    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.

    More information on the Scale-up Programme, the challenges faced and programme applications can be found here: https://www.eiturbanmobility.eu/business-creation/scale-up-programme/

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