Call for Proposals: Urban Mobility Explained (UMX) Funding Program

The UMX Open Call is designed to improve skills and knowledge in urban mobility by funding innovative training and capacity-building programmes.

It focuses on:

• Strengthening urban mobility expertise at city and local levels
• Supporting systemic transformation for liveable cities
• Developing high-quality professional training programmes
• Promoting lifelong learning in mobility innovation
• Encouraging entrepreneurship in urban mobility
• Supporting scalable and financially sustainable learning models

The initiative is implemented by EIT Urban Mobility as part of its broader mission to transform urban transport systems.

Funding Details

• Total indicative budget: €2–4 million
• Maximum funding per proposal: €700,000
• Additional incentive: Reduced membership fees for new members receiving under €30,000 EIT funding

Funding supports:

• Training programme development
• Course delivery and scaling
• Curriculum design and internationalisation
• Innovation and entrepreneurship education in mobility

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• SMEs
• Universities
• Research and technology organisations
• Cities and public authorities
• Large enterprises

Eligibility extends to:

• EU Member States
• Countries associated with Horizon Europe

Both single-entity and multi-partner proposals are allowed.

Key Requirements

Pan-European Dimension (for mono or single-country proposals)

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Cross-country participation in course design or delivery
• Diverse instructors and teaching staff from multiple countries
• Use of case studies from different European contexts
• Plans to replicate courses across cities or regions

Quality and Sustainability Expectations

Proposals must show:

• Long-term financial sustainability
• Strong replication potential
• High-quality learning design
• Alignment with urban mobility transformation goals

EIT Label Alignment

• Courses are encouraged to align with EIT Label certification standards where applicable

Priority Focus Areas

The programme supports training initiatives that:

• Close urban mobility skills gaps
• Improve city-level transport planning capabilities
• Strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship in mobility
• Support climate-friendly and sustainable transport systems
• Enable knowledge transfer across European cities
• Promote scalable education models

Expected Outcomes

Projects funded under this call should:

• Improve mobility workforce skills across Europe
• Increase adoption of innovative urban transport solutions
• Create replicable training models for multiple regions
• Strengthen collaboration between cities, academia, and industry
• Support long-term transformation of urban mobility systems

How to Apply

Applicants should:

1. Identify a mobility training or capacity-building gap
2. Design a scalable and sustainable learning programme
3. Include partners from multiple countries where possible
4. Ensure alignment with EIT Urban Mobility objectives
5. Demonstrate financial sustainability and impact potential
6. Submit proposal through official application channels

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting locally focused training without European dimension
• Weak scalability or replication strategy
• Lack of financial sustainability planning
• Insufficient industry or academic collaboration
• Poor alignment with urban mobility transformation goals

FAQ

Who is funding the programme?

The initiative is funded by EIT Urban Mobility.

What is the total funding available?

Between €2 million and €4 million across all projects.

What is the maximum funding per project?

Up to €700,000.

Who can apply?

SMEs, universities, cities, research organisations, and large companies in EU or Horizon Europe-associated countries.

Is multi-country participation required?

Not always, but mono-country proposals must demonstrate a strong pan-European dimension.

Conclusion

The UMX Open Call from EIT Urban Mobility provides significant funding to develop scalable, high-quality urban mobility training programmes across Europe. By promoting innovation, cross-border collaboration, and sustainable learning models, the initiative aims to strengthen the skills ecosystem needed to build more liveable and resilient cities.