Malta-Bulgaria project aims to train next generation of urban mobility innovators

A new Malta-Bulgaria initiative aimed at developing future talent in the urban mobility sector has officially launched, bringing together young people, industry experts, public entities and organisations to address transport-related challenges through innovation and collaboration.

The project, known as Urban Minds (Cultivating Future Innovators for Sustainable Urban Mobility), is co-funded by the European Union through EIT Urban Mobility and will run throughout 2026. It is being delivered by a consortium comprising Malta-based Deep Tech Foundry and the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works, together with Cleantech Bulgaria and the Sofia Urban Mobility Centre.

The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between young talent and the urban mobility sector at a time when cities across Europe are facing challenges such as congestion, pollution, ageing infrastructure and the need to transition towards more sustainable transport systems. According to the project partners, there is currently a shortage of skilled professionals equipped to help lead this transition.

Urban Minds targets individuals aged between 18 and 30 in Malta and Bulgaria who are studying or working in disciplines linked to urban mobility, including urban planning, geography and architecture. Participants will take part in practical learning experiences designed to develop technical, entrepreneurial and leadership skills while also building connections with organisations and professionals in the sector.

The programme is structured around four stages. The first consists of expert-led training in areas such as innovation, entrepreneurship, advocacy and urban mobility leadership. This will be followed by a “Manager-for-a-Week” programme, offering participants short experiential placements within host organisations in Malta and Bulgaria.

Public Demo Days will then be held during European Mobility Week in September, allowing participants to present solutions to urban mobility challenges. The programme will conclude with a cross-country Innovation Mobility Lab focused on collaboration and knowledge exchange between participants from both countries.

The consortium has announced that registrations are now open for pilot training sessions, which will be delivered virtually over four weeks between late May and mid-June. The courses will cover Mobility Data Spaces, Data Management and AI; Entrepreneurship and Impact; Sustainable Mobility, Policy and Urban Citizenship; and Leadership and Communication.

Participants interested in joining the training programme or applying for the experiential placement scheme can register here.

Urban Minds is supported by EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), which aims to accelerate the development of sustainable, integrated and user-centred urban transport solutions across Europe.