VM Interview EIT Urban Mobility: "We need a radically new paradigm for urban mobility"

VM: What role does EIT Urban Mobility play in sustainable (urban) mobility in Europe?

Judith O'Meara: EIT Urban Mobility, an instrument of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), is the largest European innovation community for urban mobility in cities. Since January 2019, we have been working to positively change the way people move in cities to make them more livable. As such, we work together on traffic strategies and mobility plans at EU, national, and local levels with the aim of having a positive impact on the environment and quality of life.

Given the enormous speed and scale required for the transition to sustainable urban mobility, no organization can innovate alone. What is lacking in Europe is not so much excellence in research but the implementation of this excellence in entrepreneurship, innovative solutions, and new ventures. Thus, we enable the partners in our community to accelerate the transition to a decarbonized urban transportation system.

• First, we bring together and connect organizations from industry, research, academia, and the public sector to develop new solutions that lead to behavioral changes.
• Second, we bring talent into the economy by educating and engaging the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators in urban mobility through university degrees and professional courses.
• Third, we bring innovations to market by introducing and testing market-ready solutions in cities across Europe, as they are often slow to be adopted.
• And finally, we support and invest in startups to bring them to market maturity. (By the way, we were recognized by Dealroom as the number 1 investor in the mobility sector in Europe in 2023, as we have invested in 127 of the most promising startups from 29 countries, 43% of which are led by women.)

VM: Are there any outstanding successes or projects that have already established themselves in the market?

JM: Since 2020, EIT Urban Mobility has supported more than 140 innovation projects, and over 100 new solutions have been brought to market. An outstanding example from Germany is a project for digital delivery zones in Stuttgart, which aims to use technology to manage commercial traffic more efficiently to account for the growing number of goods transport vehicles in the city. The "Smart Loading Zones" platform was developed, allowing delivery service providers to check parking conditions in real time. It also provided valuable insights for other German cities facing similar challenges, such as Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Bonn.

This is the kind of success that EIT Urban Mobility strives for, where project results can be used for cross-city exchange and will form a standard for future approaches.

VM: What about individual mobility?

JM: Another solution comes from the French startup Karos Mobility. Karos Mobility is revolutionizing the formation of carpools for daily commuting. This is an important issue, especially since carpooling is not yet very widespread in Germany. The startup has developed an app, tested in the Spanish city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, that connects drivers with passengers traveling in the same direction. This initiative provides a sustainable solution for rural and suburban areas where driving one's own car often seems to be the only option.

To date, the app has enabled more than 8 million rides, leading to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. Since its launch in France in 2014, Karos Mobility has expanded to other countries, including Germany, where it operates under the brand goFLUX.

VM: Which current projects in Germany stand out?

JM: An interesting example of an ongoing project in Germany is the Micromobility Grid Solutions (MiGriS) led by the Technical University of Berlin. The current problem is the lack of standardization of battery packs and the difficulties in their removal and replacement. The proposed solution is to introduce integrable battery and vehicle stations as well as modular and circular battery systems.

They aim to improve mobility options for underserved communities, such as those in semi-rural and rural regions.

The first tests will take place in Berlin to ensure operational feasibility, while the pilot projects with the city of Antalya (Turkey) and the city of Dugopolje (Croatia) aim to demonstrate scalability and commercial feasibility with different test scenarios and user groups. Additionally, crash courses for battery repair and vehicle maintenance, as well as an artificial reality tool, will be developed. 

VM: What is more important at EIT Mobility: financial support or access to the network?

JM: We offer our partners both financial support and access to our European network. First, we provide targeted financial support through our various calls for proposals on urban mobility priorities. Throughout the year, we issue several calls for proposals to support the trial of new solutions that are close to market launch. Some of these calls are specifically aimed at SMEs or startups.

All our calls aim to find solutions to the mobility challenges our cities face daily. Since 2020, 250 pilot projects have been carried out in more than 110 European cities.

Second, our network offers invaluable opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and access to expertise among businesses, universities, and cities – the essence of what we call the "knowledge triangle."

From 49 founding partners, our community has grown to over 250 partners, and we work with a larger ecosystem of more than 950 stakeholders. What sets us apart from other programs is our approach where all four sectors actively participate in our activities. This combination of targeted funding and a strong network sets us apart and enhances the value we offer to our partners.

VM: What criteria must a startup meet to be included in the funding, and how is this verified?

JM: EIT Urban Mobility is dedicated to accelerating the shift towards a sustainable urban mobility mix by supporting impact-driven startups, primarily in the early or pre-Seed / Seed stages. We are looking for teams focused on innovative solutions that enhance the sustainability, efficiency, safety, and inclusivity of the mobility and transport sector. This is achieved through strategic investments, tailored support programs, and fostering collaboration between startups, industry players, and cities. Furthermore, we place a strong emphasis on diversity, seeking diverse teams with complementary skills and a clear focus on sustainability.

Our selection process generally comprises two stages: first, an online assessment based on the pitch deck and relevant questions, followed by an investment committee consisting of a group of internal and external experts who bring a broad spectrum of expertise from industry and venture capital sectors.

Both stages involve a thorough due diligence process to identify diverse teams with different perspectives and expertise, ensuring that supported startups are well-equipped to address the multifaceted challenges of urban mobility and to make significant impacts in the areas they serve.

Since the founding of EIT Urban Mobility, we have supported more than 350 startups and invested in 127 from 29 countries, with approximately 44% of our teams being diversely led. In Germany, we work closely with leading startup centers such as UnternehmerTUM and Plug & Play Germany.

VM: You deal a lot with innovations and startups. Yet, CO2 emissions in the EU are also at record levels, investments in the oil and gas industry are still by far the highest, and after the Russian attack on Ukraine, many countries are incentivizing fossil fuels. What makes you hopeful that "Fit for 55" will work across the EU?

JM: It is undoubtedly true that CO2 emissions in the EU have reached concerning levels, and ongoing challenges such as continued investments in fossil fuels and geopolitical tensions impact energy policy. However, there are compelling reasons to remain hopeful about the effectiveness of the "Fit for 55" initiatives in the EU.

• Firstly, it is important to acknowledge the EU's commitment to climate protection. The "Fit for 55" framework sets ambitious targets, including a 55% reduction in emissions by 2023 and the determination to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040. These targets underscore the EU's determination to pursue a sustainable path.

To achieve this, we need to adopt a new paradigm that involves a radical change in how we move and live in cities.

• There are already many innovative solutions for sustainable urban mobility, although they often spread slowly. The role of EIT Urban Mobility as Europe’s leading network for urban mobility innovations is to promote adoption and accelerate this transformation.

VM: Economy and ecology do not necessarily have to contradict each other, do they?

JM: Investments in sustainable mobility are not only an environmental mandate, but they also need to make economic sense. Recent studies, such as our analysis on the costs and benefits of the mobility transition in cities, show that cities prioritizing sustainable urban mobility can reap significant economic benefits, with potential net gains of up to €128 per citizen per year.

This highlights the potential of green initiatives to foster both ecological and economic progress.

Moreover, numerous EU, national, and regional programs actively support this transition through investments in research, innovation, and technology development. These initiatives are crucial in accelerating the adoption of sustainable practices across various sectors – from transportation to energy generation.

The foundation for a more sustainable future is already being laid through concrete projects and initiatives.

The entire European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is, for example, at the forefront of innovation efforts in key areas such as climate, energy, digital transformation, and manufacturing. And finally, we are investing in the skills of the new generation in the field of sustainability.