From Shared E-Mobility to Autonomous Vehicles: SMAPE Summer Academy in Belgium
From 2 to 4 June 2026, Regional Development Agency of the Ljubljana Urban Region (RRA LUR) took part in a three-day Summer Academy in Belgium, dedicated to reviewing the progress of project activities, exchanging experiences and exploring innovative solutions in the field of shared mobility.
Foto: RRA LUR
The last Summer Academy in the SMAPE project was hosted by POLIS in cooperation with Way To Go. The programme took participants through Ostend, Ghent, Bruges and Leuven, where presentations, workshops, site visits and peer exchanges offered insights into how cities and regions are integrating shared mobility with public transport, energy systems and emerging technologies.
In Ghent, a representative of the City of Ghent presented opportunities for linking transport and energy policies. Particular attention was given to vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which enables electric vehicles to interact with local energy systems.
Participants also visited the COPPER pilot project, implemented under the Interreg North Sea programme, which is testing solutions that connect electric mobility with the energy system. The example from Ghent demonstrated how the development of shared electric mobility can also contribute to the wider energy transition.
In Bruges, project partners focused on transport poverty and on how shared mobility can improve access to transport for more vulnerable groups of the population.
In cooperation with the Interreg Europe InMobility project, participants explored different approaches to making shared mobility more inclusive. During the workshop, they analysed the case of Bruges and discussed the importance of user information and awareness-raising, the affordability of services, and the appropriate design and placement of shared mobility systems.
The Summer Academy concluded with a presentation on the development of autonomous mobility. A representative of De Lijn presented the organisation’s vision and long-term strategy for the use of autonomous vehicles in Flanders, as well as ongoing pilot activities.
Participants also had the opportunity to see an autonomous vehicle – a bus currently being tested in Leuven – and to learn more about how autonomous public transport could complement existing transport networks in the future. The discussion also addressed challenges and policy considerations related to the introduction of new forms of mobility.
The knowledge and experience gained will feed into the final activities of the SMAPE project and support partners in further improving policies and measures in the field of shared mobility in their regions.