EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology

What EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology does

EIT Urban Mobility is a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) operating under the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), headquartered in Barcelona with five regional Innovation Hubs across Munich (Central), Prague (East), Copenhagen (North), Amsterdam (West), and Barcelona (South), plus an EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) presence in additional countries including a 2026 expansion into Albania, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Founded in 2019, the organization functions as a publicly funded ecosystem coordinator rather than a traditional product company, intermediating between European municipalities, mobility startups and SMEs, universities, research institutes, and large enterprises to accelerate sustainable urban mobility solutions. It claims to operate Europe's largest urban mobility innovation community, with 270+ partner organizations, 1,200+ stakeholders across Europe, pilots executed in 185+ cities since 2020, and 500+ startups supported cumulatively (140+ currently in active portfolio).

The organization's core product surface comprises four digital platforms: the Knowledge Hub for studies and reports; the Mobility Marketplace for startup-to-buyer product visibility; the EIT Label platform for monitoring educational course design and student progress; and the Mobility Innovators network for community engagement. Beyond these platforms, EIT Urban Mobility runs a Master School with three double-degree tracks (Sustainable Urban Mobility Transitions, Smart Mobility Data Science & Analytics, and Business Engineering in Urban Mobility) coordinated through KTH Royal Institute of Technology, an annual Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress flagship event, six-month Market Readiness Accelerator programs offering €30,000 in support services plus €2,500 grants, and a portfolio of strategic innovation projects in areas including hydrogen bus retrofit (HERO), tram ADAS (ARISE/TRACE), urban logistics hubs (LogE-Hubs, NIMBLE, MUDAV), autonomous buses (InterAct, U-SAVE), battery disassembly (R3 Robotics), and emissions monitoring (DAVER). The €9 million first tranche of the Strategic Innovation Open Call in 2025 illustrates the funding scale flowing through the organization.

Revenue mechanics are entirely non-commercial: EIT Urban Mobility is co-funded by the European Union under the EIT framework, with the legal entity EIT KIC Urban Mobility S.L.U. (Spanish company number B67513630) and a non-profit foundation in Barcelona as core operating vehicles, alongside wholly-owned regional Innovation Hub entities in Germany, Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The organization distributes grants and equity-adjacent investments to startups, partners with cities and operators to host pilots, and supports education programs through KTH and partner universities. Customer segments include cities and public administrations (primary), startups and SMEs (primary), research institutes and universities, large enterprises, students and professionals, and NGOs. Go-to-market is community-led match-and-connect rather than sales-led, anchored on EU regulatory alignment and program-based grant funding.

Name

EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology

Legal name

EIT KIC Urban Mobility S.L.U.

Website

https://eiturbanmobility.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

EIT Urban Mobility is an EU-funded Knowledge and Innovation Community headquartered in Barcelona with five regional hubs across Europe. It connects cities, startups, universities, and enterprises to accelerate sustainable urban mobility through grants, accelerators, education programs, and innovation projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Mobility Innovation Ecosystem Services

NAICS

Other Support Activities for Transportation (4889)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Active Transportation & Micromobility Infrastructure (Bike/Ped Networks, Shared Mobility Programs) (BPAIALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Urban Micro-Mobility & Courier Routing (Bike/Scooter) (TLAEAGAL), Micromobility & Bike Parking Infrastructure (Bike Racks/Lockers, Scooter Corrals) (TLAJAIAJ)

Keywords

• Urban mobility innovation
• Startup accelerator programmes
• Mobility ecosystem services
• Education and training
• Innovation project funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. EU/EIT Grant Funding: EIT Urban Mobility is co-funded by the European Union and operates as a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) under the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Primary funding comes from EU sources and is distributed to support mobility innovation projects, startups, education programs, and partner activities across Europe.
2. Innovation Project Funding: Provides funding, grants, and investment support to startups and innovation projects through accelerator programs, open calls, and strategic innovation initiatives. The organization has distributed €9 million in funding to 8 strategic innovation projects and supports 140+ startups in its portfolio.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

EIT Urban Mobility operates as a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) under the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, functioning as Europe's largest urban mobility innovation ecosystem. It matches and connects cities, universities, research institutes, large enterprises, SMEs, startups, and NGOs; delivers master's programmes and training; funds and supports innovation projects and startups through accelerator programmes and open calls; and operates digital platforms (Knowledge Hub, Mobility Marketplace, Mobility Innovators, EIT Label) that enable knowledge sharing, partner engagement, and market access for sustainable urban mobility solutions.

Product overview

EIT Urban Mobility is an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology operating as Europe's largest urban mobility innovation ecosystem. The organization offers a multi-faceted portfolio combining education (Master School with three degree tracks: Sustainable Urban Mobility Transitions, Smart Mobility Data Science & Analytics, and Business Engineering in Urban Mobility), startup acceleration (Market Readiness Accelerators with €30,000 support and €2,500 grants), knowledge sharing (Knowledge Hub with reports and studies), investment portfolio (140+ supported startups), and event platforms (Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress). The ecosystem includes web platforms for community engagement (Mobility Innovators, Mobility Marketplace, EIT Label for course monitoring) and funds strategic innovation projects including AI-powered technologies like OTIV.TWO tram assistance systems, GreenRipple digital twins, and R3 Robotics battery disassembly platforms. The organization connects cities, universities, companies, and startups across Europe through five Innovation Hubs to accelerate sustainable urban mobility transformation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EIT Urban Mobility Master School Two-year master's programme with double degrees offered in cooperation with leading European universities, providing EIT Label Certificate across three tracks: Sustainable Urban Mobility Transitions, Smart Mobility Data Science & Analytics, and Business Engineering in Urban Mobility. Coordinated by KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, with 80 new students enrolled in October 2024 cohort.
• Market Readiness Accelerators Six-month accelerator programmes for early-stage mobility startups offering €30,000 in support services plus €2,500 grants, mentorship, and access to the EIT Urban Mobility network. Delivered in three thematic areas: Future Mobility, Inclusive Mobility, and Smart Mobility.
• Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress Annual world congress for urban mobility innovation bringing together EU's mobility ecosystem to discuss sustainable mobility solutions and showcase innovations.
• Knowledge Hub Europe's leading innovation community forum for urban mobility research, hosting studies, reports, and business plans to address sustainable mobility knowledge gaps.
• Mobility Marketplace Digital platform connecting mobility startups and SMEs with cities and industry partners, enabling market expansion and partnership opportunities for sustainable mobility solutions.
• Mobility Innovators Platform Network platform connecting mobility innovators across Europe to collaborate, share knowledge, and access funding opportunities.
• Startup Portfolio Investment Programme Investment portfolio of 140+ sustainable urban mobility startups supported with funding, coaching, and market expansion opportunities through accelerator and scale-up programmes.
• EIT Label Platform Educational certification platform for monitoring the design of mobility innovation and entrepreneurship courses, tracking student progress, and awarding EIT Label certificates to qualifying programmes.
• Strategic Innovation Open Call Structured open call for innovation projects providing funding, grants, and investment support across urban logistics, public transport, mobility data management, mobility and health, and electrification sectors, with €9M distributed to first-cut-off winners.

Named customers17 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability23 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

42 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEIT Urban Mobility operates as a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) under the EIT, Europe's largest innovation network. This parent relationship provides core funding, strategic direction, and connects EIT UM to the broader EIT Community of KICs across various innovation domains.
• City of ZaragozacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey pilot city for multiple projects including U-SAVE emergency drone flight (Europe's first urban demonstration), ARISE tram safety pilots with OTIV, and Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress hosting.
• City of BarcelonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner city for DAVER emissions monitoring pilots, HERO hydrogen retrofit project, and home to Innovation Hub South. DAVER project pilot location analyzing 100,000+ vehicles.
• City of Greater Manchester/TfGMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in RAPTOR programme piloting Moonbility's GreenRipple digital twin platform, supporting Bee Network integration of bus services. Pilot location for InterAct autonomous bus project.
• City of BragacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner implementing multiple EIT UM-backed pilots: BICIFICATION cycling gamification, Standtrack logistics, NIMBLE last-mile delivery, and LogE-Hubs urban logistics hub optimization. Used as living lab for mobility innovation.
• De Lijn (Flemish public transport)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlemish bus and tram operator piloting OTIV.TWO ADAS system in Antwerp, contributing to TRACE project for enhanced tram safety. Partner in ARISE and TRACE projects for safety improvement.
• Transportes Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain public transport operator in Barcelona, partner in HERO hydrogen retrofit project converting diesel minibuses to hydrogen fuel cell for historic centre operations to meet 2030 zero-emission fleet targets.
• Transport for LondonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipant in Non-Exhaust Emissions roundtable alongside C40, Greater London Authority, Berlin, Brussels, Munich, and Flanders, working on NEE mitigation strategies.
• KTH Royal Institute of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentrally manages EIT Urban Mobility Master School, coordinating delivery across partner universities. Home of Head of Master School Prof. Dr. Giovanni Circella.
• ALICE (Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean logistics association collaborating with LogE-Hubs project, ensuring alignment with European Commission Expert Group on Urban Mobility recommendations.
• C40 Cities Climate Leadership GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of large cities committed to climate action, strategic partner in LogE-Hubs and non-exhaust emissions initiatives, fostering awareness of urban mobility innovations.
• POLIS NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean cities and regions working on transport and mobility innovation, strategic partner supporting LogE-Hubs project and urban logistics initiatives.
• OTIVmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian technology company developing OTIV.TWO advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) for trams, reducing accidents by up to 20%. Partner in ARISE and TRACE projects.
• MoonbilitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon-based startup developing GreenRipple multimodal digital twin for transport disruption monitoring. Supported through RAPTOR programme, piloting with TfGM.
• EVARMmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish company specializing in hydrogen fuel cell powertrain conversion, project coordinator for HERO hydrogen retrofit minibus project, developing 100 kW PEM fuel cell system.
• EKPO Fuel Cell TechnologiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman fuel cell technology provider, developed 100 kW PEM fuel cell for HERO project in cooperation with EVARM. Fastest fuel cell system development timeline achieved at 12 months.
• Applied AutonomymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian company led by CEO Olav Madland, providing expertise in automated mobility. Key partner in InterAct project for eHMI development on autonomous buses.
• Dutch Automated MobilitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed InterAct project, managed by Ahmed Hashish, developed external human-machine interface (eHMI) for fully autonomous bus fleets enabling communication with road users.
• ADASTECmajorTechnology or IntegrationTurkish technology company developing full-size autonomous bus technology, partner in InterAct project with Project Manager Oğuzhan Topgöç.
• Vy BussmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian bus operator operating autonomous bus in Stavanger since 2022, partner in InterAct project for autonomous bus deployment and testing.
• RAPTOR Programme PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgramme connecting cities with startups through innovation pilots, including Moonbility/GreenRipple in Greater Manchester and Sanka Cycle/BOB in Nantes, with participation from Humankind for citizen engagement.
• Humankind AgencymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban change agency leading citizen engagement methodologies across RAPTOR and InterAct projects, combining social science, behavioural insights, and participatory design.
• Urban RadarmajorTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for LogE-Hubs project, providing digital platform for dynamic planning of logistics hubs, piloting in Las Rozas de Madrid and Braga.
• Smart PointmajorTechnology or IntegrationPartner in NIMBLE project, providing smart locker solutions for centralized last-mile delivery to small stores, piloted in Esplugues de Llobregat and Braga.
• CARNET (Fundació Centre d'Innovació i Tecnologia de la UPC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch center of Technical University of Catalonia, partner in NIMBLE project, TRACE project lead for PantoTech initiative, and EVOSS project consortium member.
• EHangmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChinese eVTOL manufacturer whose EH216 aircraft was used for Europe's first emergency drone flight in Zaragoza under U-SAVE project, demonstrating urban air mobility potential.
• ANRA TechnologiesmajorTechnology or IntegrationFirst company certified as U-space Service Provider (USSP) by EASA, developed cloud-based platform for U-SAVE project drone traffic management in Zaragoza.
• ALIA (Aragon Logistics Cluster)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed U-SAVE emergency drone project, coordinating international consortium including EHang, ANRA Technologies, Skycorps Technologies, and Estonian Aviation Academy.
• Imperial College LondonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in Non-Exhaust Emissions roundtable, contributing expertise on vehicle emissions measurement and monitoring alongside Tallano Technologies and The Tyre Collective.
• Fortum Battery RecyclingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor integrated battery recycler working with R3 Robotics to deploy automated dismantling technology at industrial scale across European battery recycling value chain.
• Kale AImajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner for CARGOBIKE-SCALE project, building AI infrastructure for scaling cargo bike logistics across Europe with pilots in Brussels, Paris, London, and Barcelona.
• FACTUALmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner for DAVER project, developing autonomous remote sensing for vehicle emissions and noise monitoring, pilot cities Barcelona, Thessaloniki, Groningen.
• LOXOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss autonomous vehicle company leading MUDAV project, deploying Level 4 autonomous delivery fleets in Zurich and Bochum using LOXO Delta 3.5-ton electric vehicles.
• Planzer TransportmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss logistics operator, partner in MUDAV project for autonomous parcel delivery piloting with LOXO in Bern.
• REWE DigitalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman retailer digital arm, partner in MUDAV project for autonomous online grocery delivery piloting in Germany.
• Technical University of BerlinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner for PantoTech project, developing AI-driven predictive maintenance platform for tram and metro catenary monitoring, pilots in Prague, Debrecen, Istanbul, Konya.
• Riga Technical UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in HYBUHTRAIN project for hydrogen-battery hybrid train retrofit kit, building on HYIPTRAIN hydrogen ICE train demonstration.
• DIGASmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner for HYBUHTRAIN project, developing hydrogen internal combustion engine and battery plug-in hybrid train retrofit kit for diesel multiple units.
• ProperGatemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner for PGfor_Resilient_Cities project, developing intelligent cloud-based platform for dynamic concrete delivery optimization, piloting in Poland and Ukraine.
• TranscalitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in TWINOPT project, delivering real-time operational digital twins for traffic management, piloting in Jesi, Cambridgeshire, and Antalya.
• BYCSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch cycling organization, partner in TandEM Women in Cycling programme addressing gender gap in cycling across EU, supporting 46 women directly since 2022.
• Cycling Industries EuropemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Bike-Sharing ROI study with Ernst & Young (EY), providing data-driven evidence of economic, social, and environmental value of bike-sharing schemes.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EIT Climate-KIC: Sister Knowledge and Innovation Community under the same EIT parent, focused on climate innovation. Directly comparable institutional structure, co-funding model, accelerator programs, and pan-European hub network, operating from the same EU budget envelope.
• EIT InnoEnergy: EIT KIC dedicated to sustainable energy, with similar structure of pan-European offices, portfolio company support, and EU co-funding. Comparable scope as a sister KIC under the same European Institute of Innovation and Technology framework.

Broad incumbents

• UITP (International Association of Public Transport): Global association of public transport authorities and operators, working at the intersection of policy and urban mobility. Comparable as a broader incumbent shaping urban mobility agenda and policy across European cities, but not an accelerator/KIC.
• ERTICO - ITS Europe: Public-private partnership for Intelligent Transport Systems in Europe, coordinating public/private stakeholders on mobility innovation. Comparable as an EU-anchored consortium supporting city-level deployment of mobility technology and policy.
• POLIS Network: European network of cities and regions working on transport innovation and urban logistics. EIT UM is already a POLIS partner; comparable as a city-facing mobility innovation intermediary with EU institutional links.
• Eurocities: Network of major European cities working on urban policy including mobility. Comparable as a city-member-driven organization with EU project participation and policy influence, though membership-association rather than accelerator.

Emerging players

• Climate-KIC Accelerator alumni ecosystem: Climate-KIC's accelerator program supports climate-focused startups with funding and mentorship similar to EIT UM's Market Readiness Accelerators. Directly comparable as a peer innovation-accelerator operating within the same EIT budget umbrella.
• MaaS Alliance: European public-private partnership promoting Mobility-as-a-Service. Comparable as a smaller-scale EU-anchored coalition facilitating mobility partnerships between operators, cities, and technology providers, with overlap on multimodal mobility topics.

Others

• FIWARE Foundation: EU-backed open-source platform organization enabling smart city and mobility data interoperability. Adjacent in that it provides enabling technology infrastructure EIT UM's portfolio companies (e.g., TWINOPT, GreenRipple) build on.

Regional players

• C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group: Global network of large cities committed to climate action; EIT UM cites C40 as a partner. Comparable as a city-led mobility/climate coalition but with global (non-European only) reach and grant-making operating model differs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/eiturbanmob
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnsVPKuZBK_UiZo0MOYNxXQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100064277995901&locale=eu_ES&_rdr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eit-urban-mobility
• Instagraminstagram.com/eiturbanmob

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments13 records

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Frequently asked questions about EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology