RAPTOR 2024 kicks off in 13 European cities
Rapid environmental changes are impacting our cities and require rapid and innovative actions. The Rapid Applications for Transport (RAPTOR) Programme seeks to do just this via its open call for proposals.
The RAPTOR call for proposals matches European cities facing urban mobility challenges with start-ups with innovative mobility solutions. While each of the city challenges and proposed solutions are different, the common theme woven throughout is the urgency of the transition to more sustainable transport.
RAPTOR 2024 winners
EIT Urban Mobility is excited to announce the winners of the 2024 RAPTOR Competition. Over 180 applications were received for the 13 city challenges. Following a rigorous two-phase evaluation process, here are the 13 winners: Hilo, Rastel.io Solutions, Don Cicleto, DriveSimSolutions, Greenroads, Mapular, Dreamwaves, Nudgd, WISP Solutions, LOKI, GaiaHub, OrchyMG, and Floware.
Following the agile methodology of the programme, the projects kicked off in August and will run until December 2024. During these 5 months, winners will work closely with their respective city contact to develop and tailor their solutions to the city specific requirements. Then they will be tested and validated in real-life demonstrations.
The city challenges and innovative solutions for RAPTOR 2024
Bacău, Romania + Hilo
In Bacău, seniors (approximately 35 per cent of the population) face mobility challenges due to limitations of traditional transportation options, which often present limitations due to physical demands, accessibility issues, and affordability concerns. This, in turn, can lead to social isolation, reduced mobility, and negative impacts on physical and mental well-being. Despite developments in its cycling infrastructure there lacks a strong bike culture, and seniors might not possess the skills, confidence, or motivation to ride for transportation or recreation. Therefore, the city needs to find ways to encourage and support the elderly to use bikes, as well as to improve the quality and design of the bike infrastructure, to make it more accessible and convenient.
UK based start-up Hilo will work with the City of Bacau to improve the safety of elderly cyclists and boost their confidence using their Intelligent Road Illumination System (IRIS). IRIS offers 360-degree protection around the vehicle by projecting light onto the road surface and directionally from the front and rear. Using addressable LEDs controlled by a wireless-enabled module connected to a user’s device, IRIS receives input signals from various sensors, including AI image processing, steering, and braking. Should a vehicle or pedestrian come too close, IRIS will automatically flash intensely to warn the offending vehicle while alerting the rider through integrated camera feeds, audible alarms, and haptic feedback.
Brasov, Romania + Rastel.io Solutions
The historical centre of Brasov is under constant traffic congestion. Three main factors contribute to this situation: school mobility, delivery vehicles and tourists and local visitors searching for parking spots. Seeking to promote a more efficient and sustainable logistics model in the inner city, the municipality is committed to implementing solutions that reduce the contribution of delivery traffic to congestion and pollution within the historic centre.
Romanian start-up Rastel.io Solutions will pilot its automated e-cargo bike rental service, leveraging their existing smart and secure bike parking system that allows people to register and gain access to a fleet of e-cargo bikes to rent. The solution easily allows users to secure, monitor, and automatically give access to the e-cargo fleet as well as physical containers which offer protection against theft, vandalism, and bad weather conditions while also offering charging options.
Brussels Capital Region, Belgium + Don Cicleto
The new strategic Brussels Capital Region 2020 mobility plan, 'Good Move,' introduced the implementation of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs). The region has been divided into 50 different neighbourhoods where through traffic is discouraged and confined to the main axes, encouraging walking and micro-mobility within the LTN. The aim is to improve residents’ quality of life, road safety, and reduce car dependence in the city. The challenge is to provide a solution for logistics providers to maintain operational efficiency in LTNs, while fostering public support and optimisation of the LTNs.
Spanish start-up Don Cicleto will work to revolutionise last-mile delivery within Brussels’ Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) by installing strategically placed nano-hubs, to facilitate the rapid transition of goods from conventional delivery vehicles to cargo bikes, significantly reducing traffic congestion and emissions.
Fingal County, Ireland + DriveSimSolutions
Over the past few years, there has been an increase in the number of serious injuries and fatalities due to road collisions. To address this, the County is planning to implement School Streets/Quiet Streets in some areas. This approach allows residents and business owner to access residential/local streets but restricts other traffic, creating safer, cleaner, and more active travel friendly streets. To assess the impact of School Streets/Quiet Streets, Fingal County Council is interested in a solution to collect the data on traffic volume, patterns, movements, speed, parking, driving behaviour, modal share, air quality and noise pollution.
Belgian start-up DriveSimSolutions will pilot its solution that integrates drone technology and artificial intelligence to simultaneously observe various metrics like traffic volume, origins and destinations, all road user trajectories, speeds, modal share, air quality data, and even near-conflict detections. With the ability to conduct evaluations before, during, and after the intervention, this technology offers an efficient and replicable means of gathering data for assessing the effectiveness of school streets in promoting active travel and enhancing urban mobility.
RAPTOR 2025
If you are a city looking for a solution to a niche mobility challenge and are interested in becoming a part of RAPTOR for 2025, please complete an EoI form. Expressions of Interest close 15 October 2024.
RAPTOR Impact
To learn more about the results of RAPTOR in 2023, check out this impact story
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