We are happy to announce that three innovators from the EIT Urban Mobility ecosystem are official nominees for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s (EIT) 2026 EIT Awards.
The EIT Awards recognise outstanding innovators, entrepreneurs and teams from across the EIT Community whose work turns innovative ideas into solutions that address societal challenges and create positive impact. This year, nominees are competing across four categories: the EIT Changemaker Award, EIT Innovation Team Award, EIT Venture Award and EIT Public Award.
Three nominees are representing the EIT Urban Mobility ecosystem through their work to make urban mobility safer, more sustainable and more inclusive:
Elias Pajares has been nominated for the EIT Changemaker Award
The EIT Changemaker Award recognises leaders within the EIT Community whose activities and achievements have the potential to generate significant social impact.
Elias Pajares, founder of Plan4Better in Germany, is developing open-source tools for evidence-based urban and mobility planning. His journey began through the EIT Urban Mobility Doctoral Training Network, where he developed an entrepreneurial mindset and connected with a European community of researcher-entrepreneurs.
His research at the Technical University of Munich led to the development of the Geo Open Accessibility Tool (GOAT), which has since evolved from a research prototype into a professional planning platform used by cities, transport authorities and planning offices. By making accessibility analysis more accessible, Plan4Better helps public authorities understand how easily people can reach essential services, jobs, public transport and green spaces, supporting more equitable and sustainable urban planning.
“The EIT Urban Mobility Doctoral Training Network gave me what no PhD course could: a European peer network of researcher-entrepreneurs, the entrepreneurial mindset to turn a thesis into a business and the belief that mobility access is a social problem. The community continues to be a multiplier as we scale Plan4Better across Europe.”
Elias Pajares
Arxax has been nominated for the EIT Venture Award
The EIT Venture Award recognises startups addressing societal challenges and demonstrating strong growth potential.
Arxax, an Italian-founded company operating across Italy and the UK, is helping decarbonise European road transport by bringing digital payments, vehicle data, operational controls and emissions reporting together in one platform.
The company focuses on one of the most challenging areas of the mobility transition: road freight and logistics. By connecting fleets with refuelling and charging networks and supporting access to lower-emission fuels and electric mobility, Arxax helps operators make the transition to cleaner transport more practical and commercially viable.
Through EIT Urban Mobility, Arxax has gained access to mobility innovators, investors, cities and corporates across Europe, alongside support for commercial validation and pilot deployment. This includes its pilot with Autostrada del Brennero in Italy, supported through EIT Urban Mobility’s SME Market Expansion Call.
“Through the EIT Urban Mobility network, Arxax gained access to mobility innovators, investors, cities, corporates and sector experts across Europe, helping strengthen its credibility, refine its market positioning, and transition from concept to market-ready solution.” Elham Hassanzadeh, CEO
OTIV has been nominated for the EIT Innovation Team Award
The EIT Innovation Team Award celebrates diverse teams that develop unique products, services or processes with breakthrough potential.
OTIV, based in Belgium, led the ARISE Innovation Team, which brought together eight organisations across five European countries, combining rail automation, academic research and live tram operations.
The team developed OTIV.TWO, an AI-powered advanced driver assistance system that uses cameras and LiDAR to detect hazards and provide tram drivers with real-time alerts. Supported through the EIT Urban Mobility co-funded ARISE project, the technology was piloted in tram networks in Antwerp, Lisbon and Zaragoza, demonstrating how retrofit-ready technology can improve safety and efficiency in existing fleets. (EIT Urban Mobility)
The collaboration continues through TRACE, a follow-up EIT Urban Mobility project that takes the technology further. TRACE will validate enhanced capabilities including side and predictive collision avoidance, digital mapping and overspeed protection in Ghent, Karlsruhe and Rotterdam, covering more than 400,000 kilometres of operational data across 16 trams.
“EIT Urban Mobility’s support extended beyond co-funding. The EIT framework provided the structure that enabled a truly complementary consortium to form, collaborate, and deliver as a team.”
Marie Yahiaoui, Technical Project Manager, OTIV
The 2026 EIT Awards
The EIT Awards ceremony will take place on 2 December 2026 in Budapest, Hungary, bringing together innovators, policymakers, investors, higher education institutions, research organisations and members of the EIT Community. The event will also be available to follow online.
The winners of the three jury-selected categories will receive €50,000 for first place, €30,000 for second place and €20,000 for third place. The EIT Public Award will be decided through a public vote opening in November.
Stay tuned to discover this year’s winners and join us in celebrating the innovators helping shape Europe’s sustainable mobility future.
