The next edition of the Main Innovation Call is to open on 4 April 2024. This year’s call will be focused on three topics: Public Transport, Urban Logistics, and Electrification of Transport and Alternative Fuels. The call is for SMEs, universities, research and technology organisations, or large businesses, established in a Member State of the European Union, and/or in a third country associated with Horizon Europe.
The Call information sessions will be taking place from 15-18 April. Please register via our matchmaking platform B2Match here. As all proposals must be composed of at least three independent legal entities established in two different EU Member States, the B2Match platform not only offers the opportunity to register for the call information webinars but also to pitch and showcase your ideas, book 1:1 meetings with other participants and exchange complementary capabilities.
Information sessions will be held focusing on submission guidance, EIT rules, proposal writing, financial sustainability, and the evaluation process. The B2Match platform will remain active for viewing potential project partners and for networking until the end of June 2024.
Information sessions
- Innovation Call Information Session: Innovation Call strategic focus, scope and call requirements, evaluation process. 15 April 2024, 10.00 – 11.00 CET
- Meet the Cities: city presentations on priority areas, and discussion on how cities and industry can work together in the Call for Innovation. 17 April 2024, 10:00 – 11:30 CET
- Guidance to applicants: Introduction to the proposal submission tool. 17 April 2024, 14.30-15.30 CET
- Commercialisation and Financial Sustainability: understand the commercial and financial return requirements and options. 18 April 2024, 10.00 – 11.00 CET
- Intellectual Property: 18 April 2024, 14.30 – 15.30 CET
Additionally, one information session for each of the 3 topics that form the focus for the Innovation Call for Proposals, will be held and cover discussion on the area, idea pitches from a range of exciting innovative organisations, and Q&A.
- Public Transport: 15 April 2024, 14.30-16.00 CET
- Urban Logistics: 16 April 2024, 10:00 – 11:30 CET
- Electrification and Alternative Fuels: 16 April 2024, 14:30 – 16:00 CET
A look into previous projects
The 12 projects selected from the previous Main Innovation Call have been underway since January. Of the 12 projects, 5 are focused on the future mobility challenge area, 4 on mobility and energy, and 3 on sustainable city logistics. Learn more about our projects running this year:
Future Mobility
SCREEN: Smart cycling infrastructure assessment
SCREEN aims to revolutionise cycling infrastructure assessment. The project aims to assess the current state of cycling infrastructure, identify areas for improvement, and provide actionable advice to enhance the cycling experience. Analysing 100+ attributes, it assesses the road safety risk, environment, and cycling experience. Combining bike-mounted AI machine vision technologies with data from connected logistics vehicles and cars, SCREEN will give a unique multidimensional understanding of cyclist risk.
Partners: Factual (Lead), Social Tech Projects Aps, Vianova
Countries: Spain, Denmark, France
GreenMob: Multimodal journey planner for sustainable travel
This project aims to address urban mobility challenges by promoting sustainable transport options and reducing CO2 emissions produced by motorised trips. GreenMob will develop a journey planner that integrates various modes of transport, providing information on routes, schedules, fares, and updates in real-time, as well as an innovative integration of a CO2 monitoring tool. The CO2 monitoring tool automatically recognises the mode of transport used and calculates emissions allowing consumers to make informed decisions.
Partners: CARNET – UPC Technology Center (Lead), Instant System, DKV Debrecen Exclusive Transport Company Ltd., Srl Societa Benefit, Viladecans City Council, Start Romagna Spa, City of Cesena
Countries: Spain, France, Hungary, Italy
AI4LIFE: AI-based smart and safe intersections for improved quality of life for urban citizens
Intersections, as key bottlenecks in cities and prone to fatal accidents, play a very important environmental, economic, and social role in urban environments. The goal of this project is to build an integrated AI-based smart intersection management system. The system will reduce congestion and thus GhG emissions, time wasted in traffic, accidents, and increase the quality of life of citizens. The solution will be validated in 2 pilot cities: Istanbul and Jena.
Partners: City of Istanbul, ISBAK Istanbul IT and Smart City Technologies Inc., Kentyou (Lead), City Jena
Countries: Türkiye, France, Germany
Urban Mobility Flows: Public transit analytics and mobility flows platform
This project will use cutting-edge technology for modal split analytics, based on anonymised telco datasets. This technology will enable cities, transit agencies, and public transport operators to study the geospatial and temporal characteristics of various mobility flows. It will provide users with a complex understanding of the complete demand and supply for mobility services across their governing territory.
Partners: THEOREMUS (Lead), Municipality of Ajka, DKV Debrecen Exclusive Transport Company Ltd., Sofia Urban Mobility Centre
Countries: Bulgaria, Hungary
Parkedbyme: Revolutionising sustainable urban transportation with precise micromobility parking
PARKEDBYME is a project dedicated to enhancing sustainable city transport and optimising public space utilisation. Its mission is to provide an innovative solution that enables precise parking of shared bicycles, e-bikes, and e-scooters within designated city areas. By focusing on high accuracy and efficiency, it aims to revolutionise the way micromobility vehicles are parked, delivering exceptional value to both users and city authorities. The project will undergo testing in Madrid and Prague.
Partners: City of Prague, PowerHUB (Lead), Factual, Madrid City Council, Sparkpark
Countries: Czech Republic, Spain, Norway
Mobility & Energy
IMPULSE: Integrated management of e-buses power utilisation to lead sustainability and electrification
IMPULSE aims to optimise the management of e-bus fleets. The project will do this through a software capable of processing real-time data on batteries’ status, vehicles and charging stations used, planned routes and specific, and characteristics of the transport network. To assess the effectiveness of the solution, two pilot cases in the cities of Lisbon and Kadıköy will be carried out with two different uses cases on public transport fleets.
Partners: CARNET – UPC Technology Center (Lead), Carris, Municipality of Kadikoy, Realcity Its Kft.
Countries: Spain, Portugal, Türkiye, Hungary
H2_Dispenser: Green hydrogen decentralised production for enabling distributed, low cost, H2 cylinders dispenser and safe swopping station.
H2dispenser provides a patent solution that will from one side provide Green hydrogen produced through electrolysis by small PV installation, at industrial or energy community plants. On the other side, it will enable an easy cylinder swap refilling operation. H2dispenser is capable of filling small H2 cylinders offering a ready-to-go refilling solution for enabling small-size size H2vehicles. The solution will be tested in Modena and Thessaloniki.
Partners: Centre for Research & Technology Hellas, Energy and Sustainable Development Agency (Lead), Bosch VHIT, Major Development Agency Thessaloniki S.A. – Organization for Local Development, CTS H2
Countries: Italy, Greece
EVOSS: Electric vehicle charging with a robotic mobile rapid charger
EVOSS introduces an innovative Robotic Charging Device (RCD) equipped with a high-capacity battery and rapid charging plug that can provide flexible electric vehicle charging inside parking areas. The RCD can travel to the precise location where the EV is parked. The RCD optimises not only the charging process but also the use of the space by enabling parking sites to offer rapid charging solutions in every parking spot with zero infrastructure cost.
Partners: CARNET – UPC Technology Center, Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (Lead), Major Development Agency Thessaloniki S.A. – Organization for Local Development, Cityzone, Oto S.A. – Greece, Batteri
Countries: Israel, Spain, Greece
MiGriS: Micro mobility grid solutions: modular and circular battery and LEV systems
The MiGriS project aims to test sustainable and efficient urban mobility solutions through integrable battery and vehicle stations, as well as modular and circular battery systems. It combines microgrid charging stations, circular and modular swappable batteries, and bidirectional charging capabilities. The solution provides environmentally friendly transportation options, improves quality of life, and promotes social participation.
Partners: Technical University of Berlin (Lead), Municipality Of Dugopolje, nexus Institute, Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, Constin
Countries: Germany, Croatia, Türkiye
Sustainable City Logistics
NIMBLE: Nighttime and last-mile sustainable logistics for small stores
NIMBLE addresses the lack of solutions for logistics oriented towards small stores by defining a new, more efficient model of urban goods distribution. NIMBLE’s model is based on: 1) consolidating first-mile distribution to logistic stations inside the cities during nighttime. 2) improving the operation of logistics stations by equipping them with smart parcel lockers adapted to a B2B case. And 3) deploying a last-mile distribution model to small stores via sustainable light cargo vehicles that grant a favourable user experience.
Partners: CARNET – UPC Technology Center (Lead), Eurecat Foundation, Ayuntamiento De Esplugues De Llobregat, Braga Municipality, Smart Point
Countries: Spain, Portugal
GREEN DASH: Greening the last mile
This project aims to address the challenges faced by European cities and delivery companies in terms of air and noise pollution, congestion, and road accidents, caused by a rapid increase in e-commerce and last-mile deliveries. Green Dash seeks to meet the parcel and e-commerce market needs by way of delivery vehicle options that are sustainable, efficient, affordable, and easy to use.
Partners: VEFRESH (Lead) – Latvia, Riga City Council, Postnord, Sjsc “Latvijas Pasts”, Bruntor (Rhino R Sia)
Countries: Latvia, Sweden
StandTrack: Standard for the identification of parcels and tool to improve collaboration and interoperability in transport and distribution
The StandTrack project will further develop and test an intermodal solution for the identification and traceability of parcels and the communication between the agents involved in the transport of goods. The project aims to enhance the distribution of goods by improving interoperability, horizontal collaboration, and comprehensive traceability in the freight transportation chain.
Partners: City of Milan, MOVEN, Braga Municipality, Citylogin Iberica S.L., Empresa Municipal De Transportes De Madrid, t-box delivery & solutions SL, Citet (Lead)
Countries: Italy, Spain, Portugal
