Opportunity: 40,000 euros for mobility start-ups

Start your journey to sustainable urban mobility: RAPTOR offers startups and SMEs the chance to test their solutions in 13 different cities with 40,000 euros.

Startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the mobility sector have the chance to test their innovative ideas in 13 international cities. The EU-funded RAPTOR program is accepting applications until May 6.

The Rapid Applications for Transport (RAPTOR) program of the European Initiative for Urban Mobility (EIT Urban Mobility) is currently inviting start-ups and SMEs to submit innovative project proposals. This is the fourth year of the program, which is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

The main objective of RAPTOR is to promote sustainable urban mobility across Europe. It offers European startups and SMEs the opportunity to work directly with cities and offer innovative solutions that go beyond traditional approaches to tackling urban mobility challenges.

Diverse projects selected: 13 international cities as test environments

Over the past few months, projects from 13 countries have been selected to address various urban mobility issues. These include improvements to road safety in Ireland, the expansion of pedestrian infrastructure in Portugal and the promotion of active mobility for senior citizens in Romania. Companies can choose the project that best fits their offering and submit their proposals by May 6, 2024, 5 p.m. CET. The winners will receive EUR 40,000 to test their solutions on site in the selected city for five months.

Successful participants have good prospects for the long term, as almost three quarters of the companies continue their collaboration with the cities beyond the five-month pilot period. Some even receive additional follow-up investment from EIT Urban Mobility.

RAPTOR program shows impact

Since the RAPTOR program was launched three years ago, 31 pilot projects have already been implemented in 24 cities in 17 countries. Winners in recent years have proven the program's potential for success, such as the startup Nudgd, which won an award for its project to promote sustainable routes to school in Sweden.

Adriana Diaz, Interim Director of Innovation at EIT Urban Mobility, emphasizes the agility of the program and its transformative impact. She explains: "RAPTOR gives European startups and SMEs the opportunity to work directly with cities and offer innovative solutions that go beyond traditional approaches to urban mobility challenges. "For more information and to apply, please visit the official RAPTOR project website.