In recent weeks, the Diversify-CCAM project has been at the forefront of discussions on inclusive and human-centric connected and automated mobility (CCAM) across Europe, with consortium members participating in a range of sessions during EUCAD 2025 in Ispra, Italy, and the ITS European Congress in Seville, Spain.
Our attendance at these significant and influential events has allowed us to highlight and reiterate our commitment and approach to integrating cultural, geographical, and policy considerations into CCAM solutions.
At the EUCAD 2025 Conference in Ispra, Italy, Diversify-CCAM shared an exhibition stand with our sister project, CulturalRoad, combining resources and coming together in our collaborative efforts to make CCAM fair and accessible across regions. The conference gathered European and international policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers to discuss the deployment of CCAM solutions, many of whom were interested in the approach being taken through the Diversify-CCAM project and the interesting range of locations being analysed and represented.
A notable session featured Guido Di Pasquale from PAVE Europe, who represented Diversify-CCAM in a panel session titled "Human-centred CCAM: navigating user needs and policy goals to design CCAM for people and with people." This discussion emphasised the importance of designing CCAM systems that prioritise user needs and policy objectives.
The final day of EUCAD 2025 saw Project Coordinator Anna Anund from the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) participate in an exchange session on automated road transport between European and Japanese representatives. This session provided an opportunity to showcase the project's scope and explore future collaborations.
Central to Diversify-CCAM's mission is its Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB comprises industry experts, project partners, and representatives from various European pilot sites. Notably, it includes members like Takahiko Uchimura from the Mobility Innovation Alliance Japan, reflecting the project's commitment to global collaboration. We were delighted to be joined by Mr Uchimura during the Japan-EU exchange session, and look forward to our continued collaboration throughout the Diversify-CCAM project.
Reflecting on the trip to EUCAD, Harry Dobbs (Bax Innovation) shared:
“The opportunity to showcase the Diversify-CCAM project during EUCAD 2025 was a hugely valuable experience, with many thought-provoking and eye-opening conversations throughout the week. There is a real appetite within the community driving CCAM implementation to see our project succeed, and a deep-rooted interest in our impressive range of pilot activities and locations.”
The 16th ITS European Congress, held in Seville from 19 – 21 May served as a pivotal platform for the Diversify-CCAM project to share our vision for inclusive, human-centric CCAM. Engaging with a diverse audience of policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers allowed our project to be showcased to a range of influential figures in European CCAM.
Throughout the congress, Diversify-CCAM participated in multiple sessions that emphasised the project’s dedication to inclusivity in the rollout of CCAM solutions across Europe:
- Redefining User-Centric CCAM Innovation: Moderated by Nicola Hare from PAVE Europe, this panel featured insights from Scientific Coordinator Stella Nikolaou (CERTH), Jordi Martín Oriol (ATM), Suzanna Kraak (European Commission), and Freya Hofmann (HOLON). The discussion centered on placing human needs at the forefront of technological advancement in CCAM.
- What Could Inclusive, Diverse, Automated Public Transport Look Like?: Project Coordinator Anna Anund (VTI) contributed to this interactive session organised by ERTICO - ITS Europe, alongside partners from the CulturalRoad and SINFONICA projects. The session explored future infrastructure, in-vehicle design, policies, and projects for automated, road-based public transport systems.
- Integrating Diversity Factors in Mobility Data Collection and Analysis – The Baix Penedès Case Study: Natalia González Gallego (Applus+ IDIADA) presented findings from one of the project's pilot sites in Tarragona, Spain, focusing on cultural diversity in mobility behavior and CCAM acceptance.
- Exploring Cultural Diversity in Mobility Behavior and CCAM Acceptance: Despina Tsolissou (CERTH) hosted this session, co-authored with Stella Nikolaou (CERTH) and John Anderson (DLR), delving into the nuances of cultural diversity in mobility behaviors and the acceptance of CCAM technologies.
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Our attendance at the ITS European Congress highlighted several critical insights for the future of CCAM:
- Beyond Technology: There's a clear need to consider the societal impacts of CCAM, addressing diverse contexts across Europe, including urban and rural settings, and catering to various user groups.
- Living Labs and User Engagement: Diversify-CCAM's living labs are actively collecting input from users and citizens to assess CCAM integration in different public transport contexts. For instance, in Barcelona, diverse surveying methods ensure the local population's voices are heard.
- Inclusive Design: OEMs such as HOLON, are implementing user-centric designs in all phases, including testing with individuals with special needs, ensuring broader accessibility.
Reflecting on a successful few days in Seville, Diversify-CCAM Project Coordinator Anna Anund commented:
A lot of interesting presentations and discussions took place at the ITS-Europe Conference that help to shape our insights and understanding of the need for perspectives on cultural, geographical, and policy aspects for the future development and integration of CCAM solutions.
Congratulations and thanks to all project partners for showcasing and representing the project in recent weeks!
