Representatives from 11 countries gathered in Malta for the annual EIT Urban Mobility RIS Summit, bringing together the RIS network and key national stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, showcase innovation and discuss the future of sustainable urban mobility.

The annual EIT Urban Mobility RIS Summit took place in Malta on 13 and 14 October, bringing together representatives from 11 countries participating in the Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) network. Hosted by Deep Tech Foundry, EIT Urban Mobility’s Country Representative in Malta, together with MCAST, this year’s edition combined the annual RIS Summit with a stakeholder-focused programme, creating opportunities for dialogue between RIS Representatives, policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers and innovation actors from Malta and across Europe.

Since 2020, Deep Tech Foundry and MCAST have represented EIT Urban Mobility in Malta, helping connect local stakeholders to European opportunities in innovation, entrepreneurship, education and sustainable mobility.

Malta: a growing innovation ecosystem facing mobility challenges

Malta provided a fitting backdrop for this year’s summit. Over the last decade, the country’s population increased from 449,635 residents in 2015 to 588,254 in 2025, representing growth of more than 30%. According to the National Statistics Office of Malta, this growth has been driven primarily by net migration, creating additional pressure on infrastructure and transport systems while reinforcing the need for innovative and sustainable mobility solutions.

Malta continues to strengthen its innovation ecosystem. In 2026, the country achieved Strong Innovator status for the first time in the European Innovation Scoreboard, performing above the EU average and ranking 12th among EU Member States. Malta’s growing engagement within the wider EIT Community is also reflected in recent results, with more than €3.4 million in EIT funding committed to Maltese entities since 2021, supporting innovation projects, startups and education initiatives. During the same period, EIT activities supported 31 ventures, brought three innovations to market, and provided entrepreneurial and deep-tech training to 759 participants in Malta.

Connecting European and Maltese stakeholders

Following the RIS Summit, participants joined the Demo Day & Matchmaking Mixer, which brought together representatives from government, academia, startups and innovation organisations.

The stakeholder event opened with a ministerial address by Chris Bonett, Malta’s Minister for Sustainable Mobility, who presented the country’s Malta in Motion vision and highlighted the role of innovation and international collaboration in shaping the future of Malta’s transport system.

Xjenza Malta presented the next stages of the EIT Regional Innovation Booster (EIT RIB) Malta Edition. Launched jointly by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and Xjenza Malta in 2026, the initiative supports high-potential Maltese startups and SMEs in their international expansion through mentoring, market-access support, investor exposure and dedicated financial support.

Participants also took part in an Innovation Exchange Panel hosted by the EIT Community Hub Malta, encouraging knowledge sharing and collaboration across the innovation ecosystem.

UrbanMinds showcases the impact of skills development

A key highlight of the programme was the presentation of results from UrbanMinds, an EIT Urban Mobility-funded project aimed at addressing skills gaps in the urban mobility sector.

Presented by Diane Muscat from the Ministry for Sustainable Mobility, a consortium partner in the project, the results demonstrated the impact of the Maltese pilot, which trained 64 participants, achieved 61% female participation, developed four new courses, and created a replicable UrbanMinds Toolbox for future skills-development initiatives.

The project showcased how investment in education and talent development can contribute to building stronger innovation ecosystems and supporting Europe’s mobility transition.

Showcasing innovation and entrepreneurship

Innovation and entrepreneurship remained at the centre of the programme through the Sustainable Mobility Mixer, which featured project showcases and startup pitches.

Participants learned about developments from the metaCCAZE project and initiatives led by HandsOn Systems. Startups including NEVAC, Bruntor, Greenroads and Recycllux also presented their solutions, highlighting the innovations emerging across the mobility sector.

The day concluded with a networking event hosted by the Malta Innovation Forum, creating opportunities for new partnerships and future collaboration among stakeholders from across Europe.

Experiencing mobility innovation first-hand in Gozo

Following the summit, participants travelled to Gozo to explore the autonomous bus pilot being deployed through the metaCCAZE project. Operated by Malta Public Transport in collaboration with the Ministry for Sustainable Mobility and the University of Malta, the pilot is testing autonomous and connected transport solutions in real-world conditions.

The visit provided a fitting conclusion to the summit, translating many of the themes discussed throughout the event into a real-world context. By bringing together RIS Representatives, policymakers, innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs, the Malta edition demonstrated the value of connecting European networks with local ecosystems to advance sustainable mobility and strengthen regional innovation across Europe.