On Wednesday and Thursday, October 23rd and 24th, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), together with the ERIS team of VUB TechTransfer and VUB Research, hosted the 2nd EUTOPIA Network Studio on Urban Mobility. This collaborative event, organized with our EUTOPIA alliance partners, the Technical University of Dresden (TUD) and the University of Warwick, brought together over 20 leading researchers to explore innovative solutions for the future of urban mobility.
The UK Embassy in Brussels provided the backdrop for the first day of the Network Studio, where researchers delivered dynamic pitches on various topics related to Urban Mobility. VUB's Vice-Rector of Innovation and Industry Relations, Peter Schelkens, opened the session by emphasizing the importance of European collaboration in creating a sustainable future, with sustainable transportation playing a critical role.
Throughout the afternoon, dived into the pitch sessions. Topics ranged from mathematical models for crowd dynamics and altruistic AI agents to procedure & network optimization in air transport. Between sessions, participants had the opportunity to connect during coffee breaks, fostering potential collaborations and partnerships.
The Network Studio aims to strengthen and promote European collaboration within the EUTOPIA alliance, particularly in the area of Urban Mobility. The support provided by research innovation offices is crucial to reach this goal. Our VUB ERIS team colleagues, Mohammad Boroun and Philippe Westbroek, shared insights on practical support and European funding opportunities for Urban Mobility.
On the second day, the researchers gathered at VUB’s Etterbeek campus, starting the morning with breakfast at the iconic Braem building. They then visited VUB’s Mobility, Logistics & Automotive Technology Research Centre (MOBI) and the chemistry lab (ALGC), gaining insights into the cutting-edge research taking place within the university.
This two-day Network Studio highlighted the importance of collaboration between European universities in addressing the challenges of Urban Mobility. With the continued support of initiatives like the EUTOPIA alliance and the efforts of VUB's ERIS team and VUB research, innovative research will continue to drive the development of sustainable urban transport solutions across Europe.