Project purpose and Description
The overarching aim of UAM Plazza Accelerator is to accelerate at least 10 startups annually from across Europe to support the growth of promising and innovative start-ups in the different topics related to urban air mobility focusing on active mobility, sustainable logistics and mobility, clean energy and new public realm to answer new increasing demand, create walkable, lively urban environments and to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Brought by a multidisciplinary consortium that combines urban mobility knowledge, business creation expertise and aerospace know-how and contacts, CARNET, Toulouse Metropole and Aerospace Valley; UAM Plazza Accelerator program will offer a unique opportunity to shape the future of flying within cities.
Objectives and Outcomes
The outcome expected from the UAM Plazza Accelerator is that at least 10 startups accompanied have matured go-to-market strategy, product roadmap and investment readiness. Annual demo day and the internal event will be organized to facilitate dialogue between startups, investors, cities, academia and citizens. Further, 46 member cities of UIC2, our international sister cities as well as startups across Europe will be invited during the various demo days that will be organized.
UAM Plazza Accelerator will have a long-term social and environmental impact and meet EIT Urban Mobility’s Core Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG3 (Good Health & Well-Being); SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy); SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth); SDG9 (Industry; Innovation and Infrastructure); SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG13 (Climate Action).
SDG3 & SDG11 – UAM development will help Toulouse Metropole to deploy emergency medical drone logistics under the VILAGIL project as well as other logistics solutions. UAM Plazza Accelerator will leverage the quality of life in cities with the safest and cleanest solutions, perfectly in line with the strategies already launched to promote a healthy lifestyle in cities by creating walkable, enjoyable and lively urban environments and increasing flexibility and resilience of cities.
SDG7 & SDG13 – Hydrogen and Electric Energy use for VTOL development and operation will help European cities to meet their Paris climate change agreement. The expected environmental impact for UAM Plazza Accelerator is also to reduce emissions of air pollutants and decrease emissions by accelerating startups in clean energy and environmentally friendly solutions.
SDG8 & SDG9 – UAM Plazza Accelerator will also create valuable synergies and business opportunities between the startups, the end-users and the cities which will lead to actual business contracts, the expansion of the organizations involved and the creation of new jobs in the startups or cities.
