ArtMED Partners Gather in Postojna to Shape the Future of Smart Mobility in the Euro-MED Area
Postojna, Slovenia – 13–14 October 2025.
The ArtMED consortium met in Postojna for an in-person meeting hosted by the Municipality of Postojna and AV Living Labs. The event brought together project partners from across Europe to review ongoing progress, plan upcoming activities, and explore future opportunities for collaboration beyond the project’s lifetime.
Advancing the ArtMED Book
A central focus of the meeting was the upcoming ArtMED Book, which will compile the project’s knowledge and case studies on Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) and Automated Mobility on Demand (AMOD) across the Mediterranean.
Partners discussed the editorial structure, content focus, and submission timeline. Each chapter explores different dimensions of mobility innovation-from European public policies and social implications to local pilot experiences and digital tools such as the .MOBI platform. The book, to be published by Springer, aims to make the project’s insights accessible to both policy and research audiences.
Sharing Experiences through the “World Caffè”
An engaging World Caffè session encouraged open dialogue around local pilots, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration.
Key discussion points included:
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The gap between pilot implementation and large-scale deployment due to funding and governance challenges;
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The role of data spaces and shared platforms in enabling interoperability and innovation;
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The importance of cross-sectoral collaboration among citizens, public authorities, and service providers.
Partners from Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, and Greece shared lessons learned from their local activities, including strategies to improve financial sustainability, user engagement, and rural mobility inclusion.
Insights from the Postojna Pilot
The consortium had the opportunity to experience the Postojna DRT pilot firsthand during a study visit. The pilot, jointly developed by the Municipality of Postojna and AV Living Labs, has provided more than 630 rides to 48 active users, showcasing the benefits of flexible transport in low-demand, rural areas.
User feedback highlighted high satisfaction, especially among parents and elderly users. Planned improvements include introducing same-day ride scheduling and dial-a-call booking to enhance accessibility.
Looking Ahead
The meeting concluded with strategic discussions on the final project event and post-project cooperation. In addition, the consortium reaffirmed its commitment to exploring new collaborative projects, particularly around data sharing, interoperability, and sustainable mobility models. The Postojna meeting reinforced ArtMED’s collaborative spirit and its vision for more inclusive, connected, and data-driven transport systems across the Euro-MED region.
