The Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress (TMWC), co-organised by Fira de Barcelona and EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the EU, celebrated its fourth edition, welcoming over 25,000 attendees from 130 countries.
The event gathered influential leaders and organisations in sustainable urban mobility, alongside key actors of the mobility ecosystem such as UPC Technology Centre, CARNET, City of Munich, University of Tartu, Roma Servizi per la Mobilità, Aalto University, Wolt, City of Helsinki, Riga City Council, Eindhoven University of Technology, University College London, City of Hasselt, and Smart Dublin. With over 1,100 exhibitors and numerous cities participating, the congress fostered vital dialogues among policymakers, industry leaders, startups, and city representatives.
“Europe is at a pivotal point for sustainable urban mobility,” said Maria Tsavachidis, CEO of EIT Urban Mobility and President of the Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress Advisory Board, reflecting on the outcomes of this year’s congress. “The presentation of our latest study at Tomorrow.Mobility emphasises that reaching EU Green Deal targets will demand €1.5 trillion in sustainable mobility investments by 2050, focusing on public transport upgrades, shared mobility, and low-emission zones. The insights shared by city representatives and industry leaders at this year’s congress underscore the essential role of collaboration to drive forward the technologies and partnerships that will transform urban mobility, reduce emissions by 55% by 2030, and build a healthier, low-emission future for our cities.”
€1.5 trillion in sustainable mobility investments are needed by 2050
TMWC hosted the presentation of EIT Urban Mobility’s new study, “Costs and benefits of the urban mobility transition,” which outlines a roadmap for achieving EU Green Deal objectives. The study indicates that European cities will require €1.5 trillion in sustainable mobility investments by 2050 to meet emissions targets.
Recommendations include prioritising public transport enhancements, shared mobility solutions, and implementing low-emission zones, which could increase public transport ridership by 7% and reduce private car trips by up to 16% by 2030.
The findings underscore that achieving a 55% reduction in transport emissions by 2030 – aligned with the EU’s Green Deal goals – necessitates both technological innovation and behavioural change among urban residents. More information is available regarding the study: Costs and benefits of the urban mobility transition.
Innovation playground: showcasing transformative startups
The Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress featured an Innovation Playground area, showcasing dynamic startups in urban mobility across Europe. Italian-based Arxax is transforming transportation with a digitally connected network of low-carbon refuelling stations for heavy-duty vehicles, leveraging Big Data and IoT to support the green transition. Spanish startup Bia Power integrates renewable energy into the grid, linking its variable supply with the flexible capacity of electric vehicles. While Dreamwaves, a Portuguese-Austrian startup providing audio-augmented reality navigation for individuals with disabilities presented its field experience from the Vienna metro.
From smart bike parking by Don Cicleto in Spain to Nabogo ApS’s carpooling integration with public transport in Denmark, the Innovation Playground exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit driving sustainable mobility. These startups illustrate how technology and creativity can tackle pressing urban challenges, paving the way for greener, more efficient transportation systems throughout Europe.
Spotlight on new technologies
This year, TMWC highlighted the progress and challenges in the electric vehicle sector. Research by EIT Urban Mobility and EIT InnoEnergy shows that reallocating just 2-3% of Europe’s planned battery production could power 25 million light electric vehicles by 2030, potentially reducing CO₂ emissions by 30 million tonnes. More information regarding this study: Leveraging the EU battery production to achieve net-zero with light electric vehicles.
Autonomous technologies and the role of AI in enhancing mobility took centre stage in this year’s edition. Drawing insights from around the globe, the discussions acknowledged challenges such as a fragmented digital market and competition for talent. However, Europe’s robust industrial base and expertise in AI offer a strong foundation for growth.
The Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress showcased a line-up of keynote speakers, including Sascha Pallenberg, Head of Digital Transformation at Daimler AG; award-winning inventor Ruth Amos; an award-winning inventor and engineer and public sector innovation expert; Rikesh Shah, head of the UK’s Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre; and Olivier François, a key figure in managing projects at Île-de-France Mobilités with a presentation of what happened during the Olympics in terms of mobility. Their insights into urban mobility innovation provided invaluable perspectives for attendees, emphasising the importance of collaboration and forward-thinking solutions in the industry.
