What is the mission of EIT Urban Mobility?
Our mission is to accelerate the mobility transition in Europe’s cities. Since 2019, we have been bringing innovation to urban areas in a targeted manner in order to create livable cities. To this end, we support pilot projects, of which we have already implemented over 330 in more than 150 cities, we are involved in European initiatives such as 100 Climate Cities and the New European Bauhaus, and we invest in market-oriented solutions from European start-ups.
©EIT Urban Mobility
How do you work with cities?
Working with them, we identify the key challenges and bring together suitable partners through matchmaking – from start-ups to internationally established companies. Some solutions can be implemented in the short term, while others take up to two years to develop. The goal is always a market-ready solution that offers cities real added value. However, we do not fund research, but come into play where research projects usually end and the results unfortunately often fall into the famous Valley of Death. We try to bridge this valley.
©EIT Urban Mobility
How do you find and support start-ups?
We have a clear set of criteria and support start-ups that share our mission of creating more livable urban spaces and that are working to build new markets. This means we connect them across Europe, often with cities. We involve them in projects and give them visibility. We are also particularly committed to promoting female founders, for example through the Women in Mobility project. We also offer various training courses – such as in entrepreneurship – and master’s programs for students. In addition, there are programs and training opportunities for doctoral students and professionals, including in cooperation with universities such as the Technical University of Munich and the Technical University of Berlin. The resulting networks and potential start-ups also add value.
What challenges do you encounter in the collaboration between different players?
Cooperation between administrations and companies can be complicated – in some cases, we have to bring together very different mindsets – but that is precisely our expertise. Added to this are changes in government, bureaucratic processes, and changing contacts. Another hurdle is active citizen participation – it is crucial, but difficult to achieve.
So it’s also about process optimization?
We support cities and partners throughout the entire project, for example in formulating the problem and the associated solution, freeing up personnel resources and simplifying communication. Companies also benefit because the collaboration gives them a better understanding of the logic of municipal administration. There are differences, particularly in terms of speed: While companies can usually make flexible decisions, cities are often bound by complex procedures. Even when pilot projects were successful, there is therefore no guarantee that the solution will be adopted.
How important are the areas of construction, energy and health for your work?
Construction and mobility are closely linked because space is scarce in cities. New concepts are needed here to make public spaces more livable. Mobility also overlaps with energy and health issues – for example, in the areas of drive systems and air quality. The goal is always to improve quality of life for citizens.
Is improving quality of life your mission?
Yes. The challenges of space shortages, poor air quality, and traffic are similar in many cities. Our EU-funded projects are designed to create tangible added value for local people. We also attach great importance to ensuring that the solutions developed can be used throughout Europe. The focus is on improving urban living conditions.
In addition to cooperation with cities, there are other levels of administration in Germany. How does this influence your work?
Traffic regulations are set by the federal government, which limits the scope of action available to cities. Nevertheless, there are possibilities – such as speed limits when air pollution is high – if cities take decisive action. Overall, the interaction between local authorities, federal states and the federal government is much more complex than in other countries due to overlapping responsibilities and financial flows. Anyone initiating projects in Germany also has to talk to more ministries than, say, colleagues in the Netherlands. Added to this is the influence of the automotive industry, which is undergoing transformation and shapes political processes.
What would help to overcome these obstacles?
Cities need leaders with courage and assertiveness. Since national and local government majorities often diverge, allies are also important. When cities exchange projects and solutions, they make faster progress. Cities learn best from other cities. In our City Club, for example, our founding cities and current project partners exchange ideas. In addition, there are special interest groups on topics such as logistics, data or energy for experts from municipal bodies and companies.
What is your strategy for the next five to ten years?
Our social mission remains the transformation of urban mobility. The challenge lies in scaling good solutions. Added to this is the political issue of citizen participation: without people’s acceptance and commitment, transformations are difficult to implement. Local authorities need skills and expertise to implement pilot projects in a solution-oriented manner and make meaningful use of the available data. Companies and start-ups, on the other hand, need real-world laboratories to further develop innovative solutions – through European cooperation, this creates a win-win situation that benefits everyone.
EIT Urban Mobility was founded in 2019 as an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an EU institution. Its mission is to accelerate the transition to sustainable urban mobility by providing established companies, start-ups, universities, research institutes and the public sector with access to markets, talent, funding and knowledge.