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EIT Urban Mobility Türkiye Representative - Urban Mobility Disruptor Entrepreneurship Program
From Research to Real-World Impact in Urban Mobility
ACADEMICS, RESEARCHERS & SCIENCE-BASED INNOVATORS! START YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY TODAY
Urban Mobility Disruptor is a Europe-wide program helping researchers, academics, and early-stage innovators turn breakthrough ideas into entrepreneurial success. Moreover, it supports solutions for smarter, cleaner, and more connected cities. Whether you’re developing new technologies or pioneering mobility concepts, the program equips you with the mindset, skills, and network to move from the lab to the market and drive sustainable urban mobility.
Applications Closed
About Urban Mobility Disruptor
Urban mobility is rapidly evolving, driven by sustainability, technology, and the need for smarter cities. Yet many researchers face challenges in commercializing their innovative solutions. The Urban Mobility Disruptor bridges this gap, helping researchers navigate commercialization pathways, connect with stakeholders, and discover opportunities in Europe’s thriving urban mobility ecosystem.
The Urban Mobility Disruptor program helps researchers and innovators transform urban mobility research into market-ready solutions. Through engaging roadshows, bootcamps, and research-to-market journeys, participants gain an entrepreneurial mindset and connect with Europe’s urban mobility ecosystem.
Funded by EIT Urban Mobility, the program is free for selected participants. In addition, it focuses on supporting researchers from EIT RIS countries through a structured, three-stage journey — from building an entrepreneurial mindset to validating market fit and engaging with industry partners.
WHY JOIN?
- Gain entrepreneurial skills in entrepreneurship and innovation tailored to academia and researchers
- Learn how to validate your technology’s market potential
- Engage in one-on-one mentoring with industry experts
- Discover real-world piloting and funding opportunities
- Connect with Europe’s leading urban mobility ecosystem. Pitch to cities, corporates, and investors
- Engage with experts and peers driving the future of smart city mobility
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
- Researchers and tech transfer professionals working on urban mobility innovation
- PhD candidates, postdocs, and professors exploring technology commercialization
- Academic teams with innovations in urban mobility, engineering, sustainability, or smart cities
- Priority given to applicants from EIT RIS countries.
- No startup is required — just your research and ambition.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN?
- A validated business case for your research
- Practical entrepreneurial skills
- Connections with EIT Urban Mobility funding programs and pilot partners
- Exposure to the European innovation ecosystem
- Certification of participation (for Bootcamp & Market Discovery Journey)
- For the top 15 teams: a chance to pitch at the Final Demo Day in Lisbon, Portugal
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
ATTEND A ROADSHOW
The Roadshow offers a sneak peek into the entrepreneurial mindset, giving you the chance to explore how innovation can help amplify the impact of your research. It’s designed to equip you with the key concepts and motivation to start your innovation journey and find how the impact of your work can go beyond the lab.
You’ll also discover how the Urban Mobility Disruptor Program can help take you further — providing tools, mentors, and pathways to turn your ideas into action and scale your innovation.
Attend one of our Roadshow events — online or in person — between April and July 2025. Each session lasts approximately three hours and offers an engaging introduction to the Urban Mobility Disruptor journey.
- Meet researchers who’ve made the leap into entrepreneurship
- Learn how the program works and what you can gain
- Explore how your research could lead to real-world impact
It’s your first step from lab to market. Whether you’re working on sustainable urban transport, smart city technologies, or mobility-as-a-service, this program helps turn your research into impactful solutions.
URBAN MOBILITY DISRUPTOR – ROADSHOW SCHEDULE
South East Europe
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovakia, and Türkiye.
- Istanbul / In-person May 21, 2025 at 13:00 -16:00 TR @Fark Labs 42 Maslak
South West Europe
Croatia, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain.
- Lisbon / In-person June 30, 2025 at 14.00 – 16.30 @Técnico Innovation Center
- Online session Coming Soon!
North East Europe
Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine.
- Sibiu / In-person April 15, 2025
- Online session June 10, 2025 at 13:00 CET
URBAN MOBILITY DISRUPTOR PROGRAM TIMELINE & STRUCTURE
Phase 1: Bootcamp
September 2025 | Online
A 12-hour bootcamp delivered across four live sessions over three weeks. This online training covers market research, IP strategy, funding pathways, communication, and pitch development, helping researchers think and act like entrepreneurs. By the end of the bootcamp, you will not only sharpen your (non-scientific) pitch but also identify potential target markets, gain entrepreneurial skills, tools for navigating the research-to-market journey and draft a clear roadmap to validate your market fit.
Phase 2: Market Discovery Journey
October – November 2025 | Online
The top 15 teams selected from the Bootcamp phase will join a guided market discovery journey, working with mentors and industry stakeholders to validate their solutions, discover pilot opportunities, and prepare for commercialization. This process helps transform promising research into viable products or services, aligning with European priorities for sustainable urban transport innovation. This phase is focused on refining their value proposition and testing market fit.
Phase 3: Final Pitch Event
November – December 2025 | In-Person in Lisbon, Portugal
A high-profile, in-person event where the finalist teams will pitch their innovations to an audience of city officials, investors, corporate partners, and the EIT Urban Mobility ecosystem. A launchpad for future growth and collaboration.
MEET THE DISRUPTORS
REAL RESEARCHERS REAL INNOVATION FROM LAB TO LAUNCH
Across Europe, researchers are redefining what’s possible. The UMDisruptor community is powered by academics who turned their expertise into entrepreneurial action — launching startups, scaling technologies, and reshaping the future of urban mobility and beyond.
Get to know the people proving that academic research doesn’t end with a paper — it starts a movement.
Prof. Özge Akbulut
Sabancı University – Founder, Surgitate
“Your research belongs in the world not just the journal. It’s not enough to publish. As scientists, we owe it to the public to turn knowledge into impact.”
Prof. Özge Akbulut is a materials scientist and professor at Sabancı University, with academic roots at MIT and Harvard. Her work spans biomedical devices and advanced manufacturing — all driven by one goal: turning science into real-world solutions.
She is the founder of Surgitate, a company producing realistic surgical training models used by medical professionals around the world. Her groundbreaking innovations have earned her recognition from the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT), including the prestigious RIS LEADERS award for her work in sustainable ceramics manufacturing.
Prof. Akbulut is proof that the lab is just the beginning — and that researchers can be some of the most powerful innovators of our time.
Focus Area
Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
Startup
Surgitate
Country
Türkiye
Dr. Clément Lemardelé
Co-founder, Vaive Logistics
Clément Lemardelé is a mobility and logistics expert with a PhD in logistics modeling and optimization from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). Holding a dual academic background in Civil Engineering from CentraleSupélec (France) and UPC, his research focuses on innovative last-mile delivery solutions—particularly integrating autonomous delivery robots with urban micro-hub networks.
As co-founder of Vaive Logistics, he is driving the development of sustainable last-mile delivery through automation and data-driven optimization. His expertise in technical innovation, project leadership, and strategic planning is central to the company’s growth and its mission to create real-world impact in the logistics sector.
Focus Area
Last-Mile Logistics
Startup
Vaive Logistics
Country
Spain
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Which countries are considered part of the EIT RIS (Regional Innovation Scheme)?
- EU Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia
- Horizon Europe Associated Countries: Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine
- Outermost Regions: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), The Azores and Madeira (Portugal), The Canary Islands (Spain)
Is there a prize for the winning team?
While the program does not offer a monetary prize, the top-performing team will receive expert support to apply for future opportunities within EIT Urban Mobility. This includes tailored guidance to navigate funding, piloting, and acceleration programs.
Do I need a startup to apply?
No. You do not need to have a registered company. This program is designed for researchers, academics, and innovators with promising projects, prototypes, or early-stage technologies.
Can I apply as a team?
Yes. Teams are welcome to apply. Each team should assign a lead applicant who will be the main point of contact.
What language will the program be delivered in?
The entire Urban Mobility Disruptor Program — including the Roadshow events, Bootcamp sessions, and Final Pitch Event — will be delivered in English.
Is the Urban Mobility Disruptor program free to attend?
Yes, the program is free for all selected participants. It is fully funded by EIT Urban Mobility and program partners. We just ask for your commitment and motivation.
How will my research and intellectual property be protected during the UMDisruptor Program?
Your research confidentiality is a priority. While you are free to choose what details you share during the program, all mentors collaborating with research teams in the UMDisruptor Program are required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to ensure your intellectual property remains protected.
Do I need a visa to participate in the in-person events?
Participants from outside the EU may require a visa to attend physical sessions. While the program does not facilitate visa applications directly, we will provide an official invitation letter confirming your selection and participation in the program, which you can include in your visa application.
Will I receive a certificate for participating?
Yes. Participants who complete the Bootcamp and/or Market Discovery Journey will receive a certificate of completion.
Are travel and accommodation costs covered for the final pitch event in Portugal?
Travel and accommodation costs for the final pitch event will be initially paid by the participants themselves but can be reimbursed based on eligibility. Specifically, five teams from each region will be selected to attend the final event in Lisbon, Portugal, and each of these teams will be reimbursed up to €500 in total (for economy-class travel and three-star hotel accommodation) upon presenting valid receipts.
In this program, regions are defined as follows:
- South West Europe: Croatia, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain
- South East Europe: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovakia, Türkiye
- North East Europe: Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Ukraine
Can I reapply if I’m not selected this year?
Yes. We encourage you to stay connected with us and apply again in future rounds. You can also follow our partner channels to explore other EIT Urban Mobility programs.
PROGRAM PARTNERS
Urban Mobility Disruptor program is funded by EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. EIT Urban Mobility acts to accelerate positive change on mobility to make urban spaces more liveable. Learn more: eiturbanmobility.eu