Project purpose and Description

 

The overarching aim of “B612-UAM” 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, Ferrovial, TM and Aerospace Valley; B612-UAM program will offer a unique opportunity to shape the future of flying within cities.

B612-UAM program will be developed under the leadership of Toulouse Métropole (TM) because:

  1. TM has B612 Innovation Centre built with a budget of 80 million € in 2018 and currently running two aerospace acceleration programs named “COCKPIT” & “DISTRICT”
  2. B612-UAM accelerator also received a support letter from UIC2 which has 46 European cities as members
  3. TM has successfully nurtured startups like EASYMILE (Autonomous Vehicles) & HyperloopTT in its Francazal Living lab as well as used bilateral relations with for instance the City of Oslo to help EASYMILE to access Nordic living labs.
  4. Has an ongoing VILAGIL project (165 million Euros budget) under which a multi-modal mobility system will be deployed including UAM solutions and multi-energies station as a global future test-bed living lab

This new accelerator program will be developed in three phases as defined below:

  • Phase 1 (Y2022): “B612-UAM” – Acceleration Setup: Under the flagship acceleration program “B612” of TM, a dedicated UAM acceleration program will be defined, launched and hosted to engage a minimum of 10 startups in two batches. The selected startups will receive mentoring sessions from expert coaches to define their business plan, product development strategy, investment needs and go-to-market strategy. At the end of the first batch, a demo day will be planned where startups will get a chance to pitch in front of investors including EIT Urban Mobility community for investment purposes.
  • Phase 2 (Y2023): “Digital Acceleration” – In addition to Phase 1 activity, a dedicated digital methodology will be developed to facilitate the acceleration program for startups located remotely. Further, companies & investors will be invited to join this platform and evaluate, coach or invest in start-ups of their interest. Through “CHOOSE YOUR STARTUP” section, will provide an option for companies to sponsor the paid acceleration activity for any startup of their interest.
  • Phase3 (Y2024): “All in One” – In addition to Phase 1 & Phase 2, the TM multimodality test-bed will be opened for the companies to test and validate their system, citizen engagement will be also organized for feedback and regulator/policy maker interaction will be planned for startups.

 

Objectives and Outcomes

 

The outcome expected from the B612-UAM Acceleration program 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.

B612-UAM program 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. B612-UAM 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 B612-UAM is also to reduce emissions of air pollutants and decrease emissions by accelerating startups in clean energy and environmentally friendly solutions.

SDG8 & SDG9 – B612-UAM 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.