Building on insights from the previously EIT Urban Mobility co-funded project LivingLAPT, which focused on small autonomous shuttles, InterAct pivots towards full-size, full-speed automated electric buses. These vehicles offer higher capacity and are further along in the development towards driving without a safety driver onboard, thus bringing public transport closer to a driverless future.

In InterAct, the project will develop and test external human-machine interfaces (eHMI) that enable safe and intuitive interactions between automated buses and their environment. Pilots in the real-world environments of Stavanger, Norway and Rotterdam, Netherlands, will see the project integrate the eHMI solution into fully automated buses.

The missing puzzle piece? Human-machine communication!

While automation in public transport promises efficiency and sustainability, a significant challenge remains: the clear communication between automated buses and other road users. In conventional settings, bus drivers use eye contact and gestures to signal intent, creating trust and predictability. The absence of a human driver necessitates alternative interaction mechanisms to maintain safety and encourage acceptance of automated driving technology. Safety and trust are thus key challenges the project will tackle, working to ensure pedestrians and cyclists can reliably interpret the bus’s intentions without human intervention. Additionally, the project will work to enable a seamless transition for users accustomed to traditional bus services.

The human factor of automation

InterAct will develop and deploy eHMI technology, consisting of external text displays on the front, sides, and rear of automated buses. These displays will replace human driver gestures by providing clear messages to pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. The displays will provide important information, such as confirming the detection of road users or signalling when it is safe for them to proceed. The solution will be developed by ADASTEC, technology experts in the SAE Level-4 automated driving software platform for large-scale vehicles , alongside fleet management specialists Applied Autonomy. Real-life testing in Rotterdam and Stavanger will require technical adaptations to the solution tailored toward the mixed traffic conditions of each city and will focus on assessing how well the eHMI communicates with other road users, its impact on safety, and overall user acceptance.

During 2025, the project aims to have an automated bus operation driving between Rotterdam Meijersplein and the Rotterdam-The Hague Airport with the goal of reaching an average speed of 23 kilometres an hour. The 5 km route will see the automated buses, operated by DAM Shuttles, deal with mixed traffic conditions including roundabouts, pedestrian crossings, intersections with traffic lights and overtaking vehicles.

In Stavanger it is aimed to use the human machine interface between the automated buses operated by Vy Buss, and external road users, such that mixed traffic interactions between the automated system and the other road users happens safely without the use of the safety driver using eye contact or hand gestures.

Both pilots will use ADASTEC’s SAE Level-4 automated driving software platform flowride.ai, integrated into the buses, to enable the vehicles to handle bus stops, intersections, traffic lights, crosswalks, traffic participants as well as allowing for precise localisation. Applied Autonomy’s expertise will play a key role in determining the data that will need to be extracted from the bus to best understand the solution’s performance in the mixed traffic conditions.

Automation for a safer and more sustainable future

Improved safety, economic efficiency, and environmental and social benefits are key forces driving the move toward automated public transport. InterAct aims to demonstrate that clear, machine-generated communication will improve road safety by replacing potentially ambiguous human signals and decreasing accidents caused by human error. By replacing drivers and allowing for remote monitoring of multiple buses, automated buses will help the industry overcome challenges caused by driver shortages and lower operational costs. The InterAct project is a critical step towards the widespread adoption of automated public transport solutions.

Check out this video on ADASTEC’s SAE Level-4 automated bus.

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SME Bikekey (Norway) with First (Denmark): Solution for insurers to manage stolen and recovered bikes sustainably, reducing waste, ensuring ESG compliance, and supporting urban mobility.

SME INVAMAR (Türkiye) with Konya Metropolitan Municipality (Türkiye): Smart textile steering wheel that enhances road safety with GDPR-compliant driver health monitoring reducing accidents.

SME ARXAX (UK) with Autostrada del Brennero (Italy): Autonomous network of green refuelling and recharging stations to decarbonise road transport, focusing on mid- and heavy-duty vehicles.  

SME Compass (UK) with Transport for London (UK): Use of connected vehicle data to enhance road safety, optimise public transport, and improve traffic management, supporting London’s sustainable mobility goals. ​

SME Emissium Labs Unipessoal LDA (Portugal) with Instituto Superior Técnico (Portugal): Platform that optimises EV charging with real-time emissions data, reducing costs, stabilising the grid, and promoting sustainable urban mobility.

SME Hydros Power (Spain) with Grupo Torres (Spain): Hydrogen fuel cell system that decarbonises refrigerated transport and logistics, reducing emissions equivalent to 12 million trees by 2030.

SME Tiler (Netherlands) with City of Amsterdam (Netherlands): Tiler’s wireless charging solution optimises LEV fleet efficiency, reducing costs, improving parking, and supporting sustainable urban mobility.​

SME Waymap (UK) with Transport for London (UK): Waymap’s indoor navigation solution enhances accessibility and efficiency in TfL stations, improving mobility for all users and reducing congestion and carbon emissions. ​

SME Fluctuo (France) with Dott-Tier (Netherlands): Fleet IQ optimises shared mobility services by predicting demand, supply, and competition, improving fleet management, pricing, and operational efficiency. ​

SME Urbanivation AB (Sweden) with Stenungsunds Kommun (Sweden): Parkyria uses AI and real-time data to optimise parking planning, promoting sustainability, reducing CO2 emissions, and supporting equitable urban mobility.

SME Bruntor (Rhino R SIA) (Latvia) with Rimi Eesti Food AS (Estonia): Bruntor’s electric cargo vehicles, in partnership with RIMI Estonia, revolutionise last-mile grocery deliveries with sustainable, efficient solutions for cleaner cities and inclusive employment.

SME Mooevo (Spain) with KOIKI HOME (Spain): Electric vehicle for sustainable refrigerated deliveries, reducing emissions, congestion, and supporting carbon-neutral urban logistics.

SME Bikademy (Croatia) with Tourist Board of Brod-Posavina County (Croatia): Mobile incentive based-app encouraging cycling for tourism, daily commuting, and CO2 savings.

SME Naviblind Aps (Denmark) with VBB Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH (Germany): Outdoor navigation system for blind users, providing accurate positioning and vocal guidance to navigate unfamiliar routes independently.

SME Transcality (Switzerland) with AMB (Spain): Transcality’s digital twin streamlines urban planning by integrating diverse data and models, enabling efficient, transparent simulations for sustainable, equitable, and accessible city development.

To learn more about EIT Urban Innovation projects visit here.

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Data gaps in urban cycling

Cities across Europe are striving to reduce congestion, lower emissions, and promote active travel. Yet, traditional cycling data sources—such as census data, fixed counters, and accident reports—offer incomplete insights. These methods often lack key metrics, such as near-miss incidents and road surface conditions. This provides outdated information, limiting their use for real-time decision-making, and cannot track individual rider behaviour beyond basic GPS tracking.

Without comprehensive, real-time data, cities struggle to design safe and efficient cycling infrastructure. Furthermore, fleet operators lack insights to optimise performance, and businesses miss opportunities to enhance sustainability reporting.

AI-driven data for smarter cities

Spinovate will employ See.Sense’s patented sensor technology, on-board processing and AI to turn e-bikes into connected vehicles. This allows capturing advanced telemetry on braking, swerving, speed, dwell time, route-choices, road surface conditions, and rider behaviour. See.Sense’s technology monitors the cyclist’s environment up to 800 times per second, giving city officials a complete picture of the cyclist experience in their urban area.  

The solution includes smart cycling sensors and data collection to capture real-world cycling patterns, safety risks and road quality insights. Expert partner in AI and design thinking, the University of Exeter will lead the development of AI-powered data dashboards. For city planners, the data dashboard will provide safety heatmaps, infrastructure assessments and predictive insights; for fleet operators, the capability to generate rider safety scores, maintenance alerts and fleet optimisation insights; and for employers it will support ESG reporting with data on CO2 savings and active travel trends.

Pilot implementation in Dublin

The Spinovate pilot will run in Dublin with project demo host Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and project partner Moby Bikes, who will deploy sensors on 60 e-bikes from both public and private fleets. The pilot will focus on three key cycling environments: public bike sharing, private business fleets, and courier and delivery services. By analysing data from these diverse cycling use cases, the project will generate insights that can be applied and replicated across European cities to improve safety, infrastructure, and micromobility services.

Data insights for a more sustainable future

In the short-term, the data dashboards launched for city planners, employers, and fleet operators will provide real-time insights into cycling safety, road conditions, rider behaviour and the identification of high-risk areas and infrastructure improvement needs. In the longer term, it is envisaged that the solution will be an integral part of urban smart mobility ecosystems, enhancing multi-modal transport planning and providing a European-wide standard for cycling data insights. This will enable the construction of safer and more efficient cycling infrastructure in a data-driven manner.

The Spinovate project is set to improve urban cycling by providing the real-time, connected data needed to enhance safety, improve infrastructure, and unlock new business models. By leveraging AI and sensor technology, this initiative aligns with the EU’s strategic vision for active mobility, while helping to foster a competitive and sustainable European cycling industry.

Read more about EIT Urban Mobility’s Innovation projects here.

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Why do women drop out of the mobility and transport sector?

The “leaky pipeline” refers to the loss of women at various stages of their careers in the sector, caused by societal norms and expectations, and a lack of female representation, as noted by Julia Nyberg, Consultant at Trivector Traffic.

In the first WIN-ITS project, participants from ITS organisations in the Nordic and Baltic countries identified the “leaky pipeline” as a significant challenge to gender equality in the sector. Balanced gender representation doesn’t necessarily ensure equality. The real issue lies in the persistent norms that shape working environments and career opportunities. The lack of women in leadership positions and the scarcity of role models are also key concerns.

Gender equality in the Nordics: Current status in the sector

The moderator, Maria Fragranes Clemmensen, Head of Secretariat and Nordic Programme Manager at TECH NORDIC ADVOCATES, presented that Nordic countries rank below the OECD average for female entrepreneurship among women aged 18 to 64.

“The technical sector is fairly reluctant to make drastic changes in terms of how it organises itself and its processes, norms and prevailing culture,” noted Thomas Burø, Assistant Professor at the Department of Engineering Technology and Didactics Strategy and Leadership Development at DTU. He is also part of a research group studying how the Danish tech sector is addressing diversity.

While there has been an increase in the presence of women in the sector, “at management levels and boards, gender representation is still heavily unbalanced,” said Signe Klintgaard Korać, Leading Specialist in mobility at COWI. With 25 years of experience in the mobility sector, she observed that “these environments often don’t perceive this imbalance as a weakness.”

Burø added, “the tech sector in Denmark has been working for the past 30 years on the assumption that we have achieved gender equality […] which is not true […].” He cautioned against reducing diversity to a tool for competitive advantage, stressing that diversity should be valued not only for its instrumental benefits but also for its inherent value in promoting justice.

Key factors for supporting women in the sector

Supporting women at critical points in their careers is essential to keep them in the pipeline, especially when they experience scepticism.

Hedda Heyerdahl, Founder, CBDO and Board Member of Bikeloop, explained, “as a woman, you meet scepticism and are often underestimated. You [as a woman] have to know twice as much as a man when you walk into a room. You have to deliver your knowledge and be the best in your field because they will test your skills.”

Therefore, Klintgaard Korać emphasised the importance of empowering women by giving them responsibility and enabling them to voice their opinions. “Then they climb the ladder much faster instead of being held back.”

Burø highlighted structural barriers, noting how ingrained images of who is a “legitimate” member of the workforce continue to shape perceptions and opportunities. For example, when reviewing CVs in an application process, it’s important to critically examine what is seen as important. “If you don’t reflect critically on what you value, you often end up just valuing what used to be the dominant value, which often coincides with male priorities, as the field [the tech sector] has traditionally been male-dominated,” added Burø.

Fragranes Clemmesen emphasised the importance of mentorship for women in the technology sector, so they can learn and have role models to follow.

Changes needed to achieve gender equality

Heyerdahl called for more success stories to inspire other women in the sector. Klintgaard Korać believes that management levels should recognise the importance of gender balance, not out of obligation, but because of the clear advantages it offers to organisations.

Burø urged that organisational culture be closely examined. “Culture is one of the hardest things to change. But it’s also one of the things that makes the biggest difference in terms of creating spaces that are welcoming and valuing the right things.”

“Listen carefully, challenge assumptions and never accept being underestimated,” added Heyerdahl.

This webinar is co-organised by EIT Urban Mobility, Trivector Traffic and TECH NORDIC ADVOCATES. You can find the recording of the webinar here.

The Women in Nordic ITS 2 (WIN-ITS 2) project is co-funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers, EIT Urban Mobility, Trivector Traffic, ITS Estonia, ITS Finland, ITS Iceland and ITS Norway.

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Since 2020, EIT Urban Mobility has benefited from a place-based support of different regional hubs across Europe, previously known as EIT RIS Hubs. From 2025 onwards, they are rebranded as EIT Urban Mobility Representatives in their respective countries. These appointed entities represent our KIC and their mission is to connect their local ecosystem to our programmes and partnership. EIT Urban Mobility has recently selected 10 Country Representatives, who will deliver activities to support our Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) strategy in the selected regions and countries in all fields of activity. These representatives will play a key role in enlarging the network, scouting and supporting new talents or startups, and deploying new mobility solutions. They will also help integrate potential new partners and stakeholders from their local innovation ecosystem in our EIT Urban Mobility activities. 

Get to know our urban mobility representatives

More than 20 entities compose the 10 RIS representative consortia that will support our mission across Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia, Cyprus & Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Romania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, and Türkiye. At the same time, these entities are also partners of EIT Urban Mobility and have deep knowledge of our ecosystem. 

The EIT Urban Mobility Croatia Representative: 

Will cover both Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina and Slovenia. We are pleased to be working with  Invento Capital Partners as leaders of the consortia, supported by Fablab, that will cover Bosnia and Hercegovina, a RIS eligible country as of January 2025.  

The EIT Urban Mobility Greece Representative: 

In Greece we also have entities that previously have worked with us: Euroconsultants and CERTH, with the addition of Aethon Engineering, and together they will represent Greece and Cyprus. 

The EIT Urban Mobility Hungary Representative: 

Another well-known partner is Greenbrother, who will continue to be our appointed entity in Hungary, together with Őrhegyi Consulting. 

The EIT Urban Mobility Latvia Representative: 

Moving to the Baltics, in Latvia our representatives will remain: Vefresh and RTU will continue to be our counterparts. By the end of the year, we will also have an additional Country Representative in Lithuania. 

The EIT Urban Mobility Malta Representative: 

In Malta, the setup is also renewed: PAF will lead the representation, together again with MCAST and Valleta Design Cluster.  

The EIT Urban Mobility Poland Representative: 

In Poland we have a new consortia composed by Create Hub, Polish New Mobility Association (PSNM) and Cracow University of Technology. 

The EIT Urban Mobility Portugal Representative: 

 Our partner BGI will be the urban mobility representative for Portugal. 

The EIT Urban Mobility Romania Representative: 

In Romania Iceberg+ will continue to be our lead entity, together with a new partner: Activize.  

The EIT Urban Mobility Slovakia Representative: 

In Slovakia, the innovation advisory firm CIVITTA also continues as our representative,  

The EIT Urban Mobility Türkiye Representative: 

Farklabs and Sabanci University, will remain as our ambassadors in Türkiye. 

These country representatives will operate under the umbrella EIT Community Hubs. Since 2023, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology has been rolling out a framework to establish EIT Community Hubs across all EIT RIS eligible countries and territories (2021- 2024) by the end of 2025.  

What’s changed? 

These EIT Community Hubs, represented by an EIT Community Officer (ECO), differ from the EIT KIC Country Representatives, since they serve as a one-stop-shop for the entire EIT Community. The EIT Community Hubs provide local innovators with a centralised source of information on all services and opportunities provided by the entire EIT Community, locally. They are a shared resource that serves as a gateway to all EIT KICs, attracting and engaging an increasing number of participants into EIT Community activities and each KICs’ programmes. The Hubs will bring together all the KIC-related offices, including our Country RIS Representatives and National Contact Points (NCP) under one single innovation community. This way, EIT Urban Mobility also benefits from a place-based support in countries where we don’t have our own RIS Representative, like Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia or Ukraine.  

For more information on where to find an EIT Community Hub in your country, check this website. 

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Marc Rozendal takes over the leadership of EIT Urban Mobility from Mika Rytkönen, who has served as interim CEO for the past four months. Rozendal’s appointment comes after an extensive search process, and he will lead the organisation as it continues to drive innovation and sustainability within Europe’s urban transport sector.

With a strong background in mobility, transport and business transformation, Marc brings his extensive experience to his new role. He has held senior leadership positions in both corporate and startup environments, having previously served as the managing director for the UK at the ride-hailing scale-up Ola, and as CEO of Cab Guru, a transportation technology startup. In the Netherlands, Rozendal has worked at several key companies in the public transport sector, including Transdev Nederland, Connexxion (a part of Transdev), and Dutch Railways.

Commenting on his appointment, Marc Rozendal said: “EIT Urban Mobility is a unique organisation, playing a key role in shaping the future of mobility across Europe. I look forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to this position and to work at the European scale to advance sustainable urban transport solutions.”

Marc Rozendal holds three Bachelor’s degrees, a BSc in Engineering, Business Administration and Management from Aeres University of Applied Sciences Dronten. Prior to that, he studied Business Management at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht and Management, Economics and Law at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.

EIT Urban Mobility extends its gratitude to Mika Rytkönen, who has served as interim CEO over the past four months, for his dedication and leadership during this period. With Marc Rozendal now at the helm, the organisation moves into a new chapter, focused on accelerating innovation and advancing sustainable urban mobility across Europe.

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Who should apply? 

Mobility sector: Startups operating in key sectors such as public transport, shared mobility, logistics & freight, road safety, smart infrastructure, and sustainable energy solutions. Startups should offer practical, adaptable solutions that are not overly complex or infrastructure-heavy, with a focus on areas like micromobility, EV infrastructure, last-mile logistics, workplace mobility and mobility-as-a-service (MaaS). 

Stage: Eligible startups should be at early-stage (minimum TRL5), growth-stage, or scale-up level, ideally with a tested prototype or prior validation in another market. Strong candidates will have a clear market fit, a unique value proposition and experience deploying successful pilots, making them well-positioned for startup expansion in new regions.

Success factors: Key success factors include a highly capable and committed team, openness to collaboration and a willingness to adapt solutions to local market needs. Startups should be ready to engage with public and private stakeholders, participate in pilot opportunities and leverage networking support for business development and startup expansion. 

What can you get? 

Through the RIS Hub Network, as orchestrated by European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), selected startups will gain tailored support to do the following: 

• Establish a subsidiary in the target country. 
• Build local partnerships with key ecosystem players. 
• Join project consortia applying for national and European funding programmes.  
• Access investment opportunities with local investors. 

The programme offers a minimum two-month support period, with all activities to be completed by the end of December 2025. During this period, EIT Urban Mobility will facilitate matchmaking with expert partners based on each startup’s specific needs. 

Key partners helping you land 

With this initiative, selected startups have the opportunity to soft-land into the following countries with the following partners. 

Green Brother – Hungary 

A professional network for green tech and mobility innovators, helping startups enter domestic and international markets, secure investments, and reduce business risks. 

Valletta Design Cluster and Project Aegle Foundation (PAF) – Malta 

A collaborative hub for creative industries, supporting startups with product development, funding and strategic connections in design and innovation and a sustainable mobility NGO supporting traffic and environmental improvements through smart transport innovations. 

CreateHub – Poland  

A business development and funding expert, helping startups with fundraising, expansion and investor matchmaking. 

BGI – Portugal 

An accelerator providing global startups with knowledge, tools and networks to scale, leveraging deep US and European market expertise. 

Iceberg+ and Activize.tech – Romania 

A growth-focused incubator and accelerator, offering sustainable scaling solutions through interactive labs and ecosystem connections and a technology-driven platform helping startups in mobility and tech scale through mentorship, funding and strategic business optimization. 

Sounds good, what’s next? 

Great! This initiative is a unique opportunity to fast-track your expansion, gain access to expert support and unlock new business opportunities across Europe! 

If your startup is ready to expand into one of these markets, submit your expression of interest before 7 April, outlining your expectations and preferred destination.

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The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) continues to support innovation in Spain by opening a new EIT Community Hub to drive collaboration among leading business, education, and research organisations. This initiative aims to boost regional competitiveness and contribute to sustainable economic growth. The hub is a key component of the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (EIT RIS), designed to bridge Europe’s innovation gap.

The official launch event, co-organised by CDTI and the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities in Madrid, occurred last Thursday, 27 March 2025. It brought together high-level representatives from the European and Spanish innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems, reinforcing the importance of this initiative.

The new EIT Community Hub in Spain will represent all of EIT’s Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), with a strong focus on attracting and engaging a growing number of local participants in EIT Community activities. The hub will act as a centralised resource, offering innovators comprehensive information on EIT’s services and funding opportunities in the EIT Community Spain and across all EU Member States and Horizon Europe-associated countries. Additionally, it will strengthen EIT Community’s engagement with local authorities and key stakeholders while fostering new collaborative initiatives.

Speaking at the launch, EIT Director Martin Kern highlighted EIT’s impact in Spain, stating: “Between 2021 and 2023, the EIT has channeled €213 million into Spain, supporting 665 ventures that have launched 130 innovations. This new hub marks a significant milestone in furthering our mission to drive innovation across the region.”

Teresa Riesgo, Secretary General for Innovation, praised EIT’s initiative to set up a Hub in Spain, highlighting its importance in today’s complex business, technological, and social landscape. “These Hubs play a key role in fostering innovation by bringing together different sectors and regions, creating synergies, and encouraging collaboration. They strengthen our ability to tackle the challenges Europe faces today.”

José Moisés Martín Carretero shared “CDTI’s renewed commitment to EIT’s activities in Spain and more specifically to the initiative presented today”, since “both organisations have the common goal of promoting the advancement of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country”.

The event concluded with remarks from Lina Gálvez, Member of the European Parliament, following three panel discussions featuring representatives from EIT KICs and their Spanish partners. These discussions provided first-hand insights into successful collaborations, with the final panel showcasing strategic partnerships in the Canary Islands, a priority region for EIT under its Strategy for the Outermost Regions.

The launch of the EIT Community Hub in Spain is part of a broader effort to establish a stronger EIT presence across Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe. Similar hubs are being rolled out in over 20 countries to enhance regional innovation networks and expand access to EIT’s resources.

For more information on the EIT Community and its initiatives, visit https://eit.europa.eu/.

If you’re interested in delving deeper into the EIT’s offerings and discovering how it can support you on your innovation or entrepreneurial journey, please reach out to the EIT Community HUB Spain: spain@eitcommunity.eu or follow the LinkedIn page and EIT-RIS country page.

About the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

The EIT Community is a collaborative network comprising the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s (EIT) long-term partnerships, known as Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). ​

These KICs drive systemic change in Europe and beyond, focusing on key areas such as climate change, energy, health, food, manufacturing, raw materials, digitalisation, urban mobility, culture and creativity. By harnessing the collective expertise of the KICs, the EIT Community initiatives power innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity in Europe. We believe we can foster a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable European economy for generations to come.

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At EIT Urban Mobility, we are already playing a key role in making this vision a reality. As Europe’s most active investor in mobility startups, we go beyond funding, offering tailored support, market access, and regulatory guidance to help startups grow. But creating the right conditions for innovation requires more than individual support; it demands systemic change.

That’s why we are also actively shaping the policies that will define the future of European startups. Through our contributions to key EU policies on public procurement and startup growth, we are advocating for a regulatory framework that reduces barriers, simplifies access to public contracts, and fosters an environment where innovation can thrive. By combining investment, strategic support, and policy engagement, we are helping to build a stronger, more competitive European startup ecosystem.

The Commission in action: consultations on Public Procurement and Startup & Scale-up Strategy 

Achieving this enhanced European startup ecosystem requires more than regulatory clarity. It demands investment, strategic support, and access to markets. Moreover, despite accounting for 14% of the EU’s GDP, public procurement remains largely inaccessible to startups. Reforming procurement rules can unlock one of the most powerful levers the EU has to accelerate innovation and economic growth.  

To support this shift, EIT Urban Mobility recently contributed to two key European Commission consultations on public procurement and startup growth:

• The implementation of an EU Startup and Scale-Up Strategy, advocating for better access to finance, regulatory harmonisation, and improved market access to enable European startups to compete on a global scale. Read our position here.
• The evaluation of the EU Public Procurement Directives, emphasising the need for simplified procedures, greater SME participation, and innovation-driven procurement policies. Public procurement remains one of the most powerful yet underutilised tools to support startups in scaling their solutions. Read our position here.

Beyond grants: The EIT model as Europe’s innovation engine 

Too often, startups have struggled to transition from research projects to commercially viable businesses. This is why the EIT model should be fully integrated into the EU’s Startup and Scale-up Strategy and the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10). Unlike the European Innovation Council (EIC), which primarily offers grants and equity, EIT’s Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) – including EIT Urban Mobility – focus on creating an ecosystem that provides startups with strategic support in finance, skills, market access, and regulatory navigation. 

This approach is already delivering results. EIT Urban Mobility has supported over 460 startups, investing more than €17 million in 132 ventures, even as venture capital funding for mobility startups declined by 30% in 2024. The secret lies in fostering long-term resilience rather than short-term grants. By linking startups with corporates, cities, and other public entities, EIT ensures that innovative solutions reach the market faster. Through real-world testbeds and living labs, entrepreneurs can refine and scale their products and services with direct user feedback. And by helping startups navigate the EU’s complex regulatory landscape, it removes one of the biggest barriers to growth. 

Public procurement: A missed opportunity for European startups (so far) 

One of the biggest barriers for mobility startups is access to public procurement opportunities. Despite representing a €2.4 trillion market in the EU, procurement processes often favour large, established players due to rigid eligibility requirements, complex documentation, and risk-averse evaluation criteria. As a result, many promising European startups either fail to scale or move to other more favourable environments, like the US.  

In its consultation response, EIT Urban Mobility highlighted key solutions to unlock procurement for startups. The EU should simplify tendering processes, lower administrative barriers, and integrate innovation-driven criteria into public contracts. Cities, which often drive demand for new mobility solutions, must have more flexibility to work with startups, whether through pre-commercial procurement, innovation partnerships, or outcome-based tendering. 

Now it is time to act 

With the Startup and Scale-up Strategy and the public procurement reform under review, the EU has the opportunity to build a truly unified innovation market. To ensure startups can scale, compete and drive impactful change across Europe, EIT Urban Mobility urges institutions to: 

1. Fully integrate the EIT model into FP10 to provide startups with sustained, strategic support beyond grants. 
2. Unlock the power of public procurement by reducing administrative barriers and prioritising innovation in tendering processes. 
3. Ensure regulatory harmonisation across the EU to make it easier for startups to scale beyond national borders.

By implementing these recommendations, the EU can unlock the full potential of its startup ecosystem, creating a future where mobility innovators thrive, cities adopt cutting-edge solutions, and Europe remains a global leader in sustainable transport. 

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A warm welcome for better mobility 

The Community Days 2025 kicked off with a welcome from Mika Rytkönen, Interim CEO at EIT Urban Mobility, who underscored the importance of collaboration and sustainability, stressing the significance of ensuring that the decisions we make today pave the way for a better tomorrow — not only for us but for future generations.  

Joining him was Dominik Krause, Vice Mayor of Munich, and Luca Perego, Head of Unit for Innovation at the European Commission. Each highlighted their commitment to sustainable mobility, stressing the need for collaborative leadership and ecosystems that allow startups to thrive, where processes are streamlined and obstacles are minimised. From Munich’s ambitious goal of reducing emissions to the European Commission’s strategies for a greener future, the message was clear: working together and thinking long-term is the only way forward in the fight for a sustainable urban future. 

Munich: a hub for collaboration and sustainability 

Munich is at the forefront of sustainable mobility. Georg Dunkel, Head of Munich’s Mobility Department, shared exciting developments in the city’s strategy, including the expansion of cycling highways, the addition of 200 new transport-sharing hubs, and the introduction of on-demand systems. Despite facing challenges like legal barriers and the need for more inclusive mobility, Munich continues to prioritise innovative solutions, such as Mobility as a Service (MaaS), autonomous driving, and emission-free logistics. 

Moreover, the city’s collaboration with UnternehmerTUM, Europe’s leading startup hub, at Munich Urban Colab is proving to be a game-changer. This space serves as a central hub fostering transparency, collaboration, and innovation in mobility solutions. Entrepreneurs, startups, and industry leaders come together here to drive sustainable solutions, making Munich a perfect example of how partnerships can shape the future of urban mobility. EIT Urban Mobility was pleased to have the opportunity to be hosted in this space for the event. 

Pitching sessions, collaborative discussions and the will of a better future 

The two-day event was packed with engaging content, including a keynote speech from Daria Krionos, CEO of the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies, and immersive walking and cycling tours showcasing mobility projects like the Viehhof Bike Logistic Hub, the first bicycle logistics centre opened by the City of Munich to promote various urban and environmentally friendly business models for cargo bike logistics.  

One of the highlights was the “Meet the Changemakers” pitch session, showcasing impactful startups from the EIT Urban Mobility Investment Portfolio. Notable pitches included Circu Li-ion, focusing on battery recycling, and Veomo, which offers real-time multimodal transport data for better integration of urban transport systems. Other pitches included Futurail’s autonomous rail systems, Walk15’s active mobility platform, and Bintel’s smart waste management solutions. 

However, it wasn’t just about showcasing innovation — Community Days 2025 also fostered collaborative discussions between cities, industry leaders, and academia. These sessions provided a platform to explore solutions for urban mobility challenges and identify new collaboration opportunities. The overarching message was clear: public-private collaboration and long-term partnerships are essential to drive impactful change in sustainable urban mobility. 

Looking ahead: after Community Days 2025 

The EIT Urban Mobility Community Days 2025 was an important step forward in building a strong network for better, sustainable urban mobility. As the event continues to grow, the EIT Urban Mobility community remains committed to fostering collaboration, breaking down silos, and driving impactful change. 

A special thank you to all of our partners, whose invaluable support made this event a tremendous success. Your contributions to building a stronger, more connected community are deeply appreciated. Together, we are paving the way for a more sustainable future. 

If you’re interested in joining this dynamic ecosystem and contributing to the future of urban mobility, explore how to become a partner or engage with the ongoing initiatives. 

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