17–18 October 2025 | Modena, Italy
Partners from the TRACE project — Comune di Modena, ISIG (Istituto di Sociologia Internazionale di Gorizia), and URBICO — actively participated in the Smart Life Festival 2025, held in Modena on 17–18 October.
Dedicated to digital innovation and technology, the Smart Life Festival is a key annual event fostering dialogue between citizens, institutions, and experts. This year’s edition offered TRACE partners a valuable opportunity to present the project’s objectives and activities, strengthen local engagement, and promote innovative and inclusive approaches to sustainable urban mobility.
Workshops: Dialogue Between Institutions and Citizens
As part of the Festival programme, TRACE partners organised and contributed to two key workshops focusing on the future of mobility and logistics.
- Workshop with Stakeholders – “Mobilità e logistica del futuro, tra innovazione, sostenibilità e accessibilità” (17 October 2025)
Over 13 representatives from local and regional organisations took part in an interactive session to discuss the opportunities and challenges of technological innovation in mobility and logistics. Building on synergies between the TRACE and DIVERSIFY-CCAM projects, participants analysed data collected in Modena on citizens’ mobility needs and perceptions, including their level of trust in autonomous systems. The workshop encouraged joint reflection on how innovation can enhance sustainability and accessibility in urban transport and delivery systems.
- Workshop with Citizens – “Muoversi nel futuro: innovazioni e connessioni per una mobilità sostenibile e inclusiva” (18 October 2025)
This public session gathered more than 30 citizens, families, and students — particularly from Modena’s Sacca neighbourhood — to exchange ideas about the role of new technologies in shaping everyday mobility. Through a participatory format, the workshop invited residents to share their experiences, expectations, and concerns regarding autonomous mobility solutions, fostering a shared vision of inclusive and intelligent transport systems.
Promoting Citizen Engagement and Innovation
Throughout the Festival, TRACE partners actively promoted the citizens’ survey developed under Task 2.3 of the project, aimed at understanding perceptions and expectations towards innovative and autonomous mobility solutions. Flyers, stickers, neck warmers, and other TRACE-branded gadgets were distributed to engage participants and encourage survey participation.
In addition, the TRACE demonstration bike, developed for the Italian pilot, circulated through the streets of Modena during both festival days. The bike attracted great interest from visitors and residents, offering a tangible example of how connected delivery systems can be integrated into everyday urban life.
Strengthening Local Dialogue for Sustainable Mobility
The participation of TRACE partners at the Smart Life Festival 2025 significantly contributed to raising awareness about the project’s goals and results, reinforcing cooperation between institutions, experts, and citizens, and enhancing public engagement in sustainable and inclusive mobility.
Through interactive workshops, field demonstrations, and direct exchanges with the public, TRACE continues to advance its mission to promote intelligent, accessible, and community-oriented mobility solutions tailored to the real needs of urban environments.
