On 7 May 2026, the third MOBILITIES Meet-Up brought together researchers, practitioners and public stakeholders to explore how data spaces can unlock new value for mobility innovation. Hosted by We Right Click and CARNET, the session focused on “From Data to Public Value: Unlocking Data Spaces for Mobility Innovation.”

Part of the MOBILITIES FOR EU capacity-building programme, the event highlighted how collaborative data ecosystems are becoming essential to support the development, evaluation and scaling of innovative mobility solutions. The project is currently testing 27 autonomous and electric solutions across European urban labs, working closely with cities and citizens to advance climate-neutral mobility.

Why Data Spaces Matter

Opening the session, Cristina Juarez Batlle, Chief Innovation Officer at CARNET, highlighted the growing complexity of mobility systems, driven by electrification, automation and digitalisation. In this context, data spaces offer a new model for collaboration, enabling stakeholders to share and use data securely while retaining control.

Jordi Paillissé Vilanova, researcher and data & digital innovation specialist at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), introduced the UPCxels platform as a practical example. Data spaces act as neutral environments where organisations can exchange data under clear legal frameworks and governance rules, supporting interoperability, trust and data sovereignty.

From Concept to Practice

The session showcased how this approach is already being applied through real-world use cases:

• MultiMO, presented by Mónica Aguilar Igartua, Full Professor at the UPC, focused on improving mobility in rural and peri-urban areas. Using more than 5,000 survey responses combined with socio-economic and transport data, the project provides tools such as GIS maps and analytical dashboards to support evidence-based planning.
• I-MovE, presented by Albert Borreguero Ruiz, Project Manager at CARNET, demonstrated how data spaces can optimise urban mobility services. By combining data from multiple sources—such as taxis, public transport, weather and events—the project enables demand prediction, operational optimisation and improved traffic and public transport management.

Enabling Data-Driven Public Value

Across all contributions, a clear message emerged: data spaces are not only a technical solution, but a governance model that enables trusted collaboration. By breaking down data silos and supporting interoperability, they allow cities and mobility providers to make better, data-informed decisions.

The discussion also pointed to future applications, including the integration of emergency services and more coordinated urban mobility planning.

What’s Next

The MOBILITIES Meet-Up series will continue with upcoming sessions on urban mobility strategies and implementation in cities, alongside further insights into the data spaces developed within the MOBILITIES FOR EU Project.