Barcelona will host the new EU centre on urban mobility

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) – an independent body of the European Union set up in 2008 to boost innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe - has announced the winner of EIT Urban Mobility. MOBiLus, “Mobility for Liveable Urban Spaces”, is a consortium formed by 48 partners from 15 countries, whose leadership and headquarters will be located in Barcelona. From the Catalan capital, MOBiLus will lead the innovation in urban mobility in Europe over the next seven years.

The manager of Mobility and Infrastructures of the Municipality of Barcelona, Manel Valdés, celebrated the appointment and explained that this is recognition of the sustainable mobility policies that have been deployed by Barcelona.

EIT Urban Mobility has five strategic objectives:

• Enhance the value of urban spaces for the quality of life by re-shaping mobility.
• Promote innovation performance through education and training.
• Integrate user-centric mobility services and products.
• Foster the competitiveness of the European urban mobility business sector by accelerating market opportunities.
• Stimulate markets and behavioural change through regulation and stakeholder engagement.

The newly established research centre will receive approximately 1.6 billion euros over seven years. €400 million will be provided by the European funds and the remaining part will come from the participating partners.

As well as being the headquarters for the project, Barcelona will also be one of the five innovation hubs that, which are also located in Copenhagen (Denmark), Prague (Czech Republic), Munich (Germany), and Helmond (Netherlands). 

A number of goals have been set for 2026:

• 180 supported startups
• Educate 1450 graduates
• Free up road space in 90% of partner cities
• Launch 125 new products
• €38 million investment attracted by EIT ventures
• Increase shared mobility in all partner cities

Source: Story first published by El Paìs in December