SINFONICA produced one of the most comprehensive surveys on public perceptions of Cooperative, Connected, and Automated Mobility (CCAM)—over 4,400 responses across Europe—and advanced urban mobility simulations using MATSim. These results reveal valuable insights into how society perceives and might adopt future mobility solutions.

Representing ULTIMO, Stéphanie Chuah from Open Geneva underlined the importance of connecting these scientific insights with real citizen engagement. “Numbers and simulations are crucial,” she explained, “but unless we bring them back to the people, we risk designing systems that are technically brilliant but socially disconnected.”

Open Geneva highlighted how SINFONICA’s outputs can be directly valorized through our hackathons, where citizens, experts, and policymakers co-create ideas and test new approaches together. “Hackathons are not just about coding or prototyping,” Stéphanie said. “They are about bringing very different people around the same table to imagine what kind of public services they want for their city. In doing so, we build a shared understanding, —and that is the starting point of social consensus.”

She emphasized that this form of participation is essential for shaping the future of mobility. “If CCAM is to become a trusted public service, we need to involve citizens early and often. Hackathons help reveal concerns, negotiate trade-offs, and surface creative solutions that experts alone might not see. This is how we transform research insights into policies and services that people will actually use and support.”

Looking ahead, the European Commission (DG RTD) has announced that Future Urban and Mobility Systems initiatives will begin large-scale implementation in 2026. This opens new opportunities for projects like ULTIMO that test deployment strategies, foster citizen engagement, and stimulate innovation. “This is where we can make a real difference,” Stéphanie concluded. “ ULTIMO is rolling AVs that provide door-to-door and on-demand services that will be integrated into public transportation systems. By valorizing past work and enabling participatory foresight, Open Geneva helps ensure that Europe’s mobility systems are not only innovative, but also responsible, inclusive, and truly embraced by society.”