From French carpooling to Viennese audio navigation to a Swiss digital twin: on 19 September, Turin presents the results of the European MoTO project as part of European Mobility Week. The MoTO project is supported by EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
Turin confirms its role as a city capable of attracting international companies and technologies. Just over twelve months after its launch, the European project MoTO: a Turin living lab for a new inclusive, shared and digital mobility, funded by EIT Urban Mobility and coordinated by Fondazione Piemonte Innova with the support of the City of Turin and the ToMove living lab, marks the end of its first year by sharing with the public the results of three innovative trials that have helped transform the city into a European laboratory for the mobility of the future.
The MoTO Pilot Event, scheduled for 19 September 2025 at CTE Next – Casa delle Tecnologie Emergenti (Corso Unione Sovietica 216, Turin) and part of the official European Mobility Week program, will be the closing moment of the project and will offer exclusive insights into the solutions tested in the city.
In just one year, three companies from different European countries have “landed” in Turin to test their technologies in real-life conditions:
- Karos Mobility, a French scale-up already active in numerous European cities, launched a corporate carpooling service (smart shared commuting among colleagues from the same company/organization) in collaboration with three major local entities – ASL Piemonte, City of Turin, CSI Piemonte. The service has already recorded over 2,000 shared trips by more than 800 Turin users, integrating with public transport and reducing both emissions and traffic.
- Dreamwaves, a young Viennese company specializing in augmented audio for urban navigation, tested its WaveInOut app with visually impaired users and local associations. The app transforms sound signals into a continuous, hands-free guide for moving around the city. Originally designed for people with visual impairments, the system can also be useful for anyone who wants to navigate without constantly looking at a screen. With access to traffic light data, the app is now preparing for even more personalized routes.
- Transcality, a Zurich-based start-up, developed a digital twin of the city – a virtual replica of a 0.6 km² urban area to monitor traffic. Validated by major Turin research centers – 5T, Fondazione Links, Politecnico di Torino – the model can already simulate roadworks, events or speed limit changes to support predictive traffic planning and reduce environmental impact.
The event will also feature Laura Val, Project Officer at EIT Urban Mobility, who will bring the European perspective to Turin and highlight the city’s role within the innovation network. Her presence not only confirms EIT’s support for the MoTO project but also celebrates Turin as a model of urban experimentation for other European cities eager to accelerate towards more sustainable, inclusive and digital mobility.
“With MoTO we have shown how Turin can serve as a real-world testing ground for technologies and companies from all over Europe,” said Chiara Foglietta, Councillor for Mobility and Ecological Transition of the City of Turin. “Welcoming international scale-ups and start-ups means not only testing innovative solutions but also strengthening Turin’s position as an attractive city and a laboratory of talent, technology and sustainability.”
On 19 September, MoTO will host a European delegation from EIT Urban Mobility and invited guests, giving them the opportunity to meet the project’s key players, discover the results of the trials in advance, and attend exclusive demonstrations of the technologies tested in the city. Without revealing everything that will take place, the event promises an immersive experience that shows how Turin is becoming not only a laboratory but also a magnet for companies and talent committed to reshaping the mobility of the future.
