EIT Urban Mobility Honors Zeabuz as Winner of the Special Category at EU Start-up Prize for Mobility

EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the EU, has awarded Zeabuz, a pioneering start-up from Trondheim, Norway, the prestigious Special Category Prize on Urban Mobility for their exceptional contribution to the future of sustainable transportation.

The award was presented at a prestigious event, within the European Parliament, that featured a high-level panel, including notable industry leaders such as Kris Peeters, Vice President of the European Investment Bank, Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market, Clément Beaune, Minister Delegate for Transport of France, Thierry Guimbaud, General Director of VNF, Maria Tsavachidis, CEO of EIT Urban Mobility, and Giorgio Travaini, Executive Director ad interim at Europe’s Rail. The event centered around the critical theme of “The Road towards a European Start-up Continent.'” (See the online streaming of the event)

Zeabuz, initially a spin-off from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), has created a name for itself by championing scalable and efficient autonomous inland waterway transport, exemplifying their commitment to pioneering ground-breaking solutions in the field of urban mobility. The company’s mission to tap into the largely unexplored market for inland waterway transport has garnered significant attention from both national and international investors, validating the reality of their vision. Zeabuz’s pioneering work in developing the world’s first commercial autonomous urban passenger ferry, named Zeam, has demonstrated the potential for significant environmental impact by reducing traffic congestion, emissions, and noise pollution. The company’s commitment to sustainable solutions through the use of electric and solar-powered ferries is a testament to their dedication to a cleaner and greener urban transportation landscape.

Speaking at the event, Maria Tsavachidis, CEO of EIT Urban Mobility emphasized the significance of Zeabuz’s approach in not just providing solutions but also reframing the challenges within the urban mobility space. The organisation highlighted the critical need for innovative solutions to enhance transportation sustainability and efficiency in Europe and globally. Zeabuz’s remarkable strides in revolutionising waterborne mobility have positioned them as a catalyst for change within the industry.

On top of this, EIT Urban Mobility is proud to announce that a start-up from its portfolio, Nudgd, has won the award of Female Entrepreneur of the year. Nudgd is a SaaS Platform using behavioural science to establish climate friendly habits by switching from cars to active mobility and public transportation. CEO and Founder of Nudgd, Katharina Paoli Brunat, the awardee, is a Swedish entrepreneur with a passion for sustainable business and sustainable lifestyle. Katharina is well experienced in implementing nudging and behavioural impact projects for both municipal authorities and companies. She will be a speaker at the upcoming Tomorrow Mobility World Congress, an event co-organised by EIT Urban Mobility and Fira de Barcelona, on the 7-9 of November in Barcelona.