Wednesday, May 20th, 2026
Budapest / Angers, 20 May 2026
NetZeroCities and the Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe (ALICE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a strategic collaboration to accelerate innovation in urban logistics and support European cities on their pathway to climate neutrality. NetZeroCities manages the platform for the EU Cities Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030”.
The agreement was formally signed during the Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2026, marking an important milestone in aligning logistics innovation with the objectives of the EU Cities Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030”.
Urban logistics plays a central role in improving urban liveability, and enabling sustainable economic activity in cities. Through this partnership, NetZeroCities and ALICE will support Mission Cities in deploying innovative logistics solutions that contribute directly to climate neutrality goals.
The collaboration focuses on translating logistics innovation into real urban implementation. Key cooperation areas include:
ALICE will mobilise its innovation ecosystem to connect city needs with innovations emerging from its membership and European research and innovation projects.
The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a long-term framework for collaboration, enabling continuous alignment between city climate ambitions and logistics innovation. Together, NetZeroCities and ALICE aim to ensure that European cities will benefit from innovative urban logistics solutions that accelerate climate neutrality, improve urban liveability, and support sustainable economic growth.
Wolfgang Backhaus – Managing Director of Rupprecht Consult, Thematic Champion for Urban Mobility in NetZeroCities, said:
“ The path to climate-neutral urban mobility remains one of the greatest challenges for the Mission Cities in achieving their targets by 2030. Urban logistics presents a particular challenge in this regard, as the introduction of solutions depends to a significant extent on cooperation with private-sector stakeholders. Future cooperation with the ALICE platform therefore holds enormous potential for bringing the Mission Cities closer to the urban logistics sector, with a perspective to discussing and testing joint solutions for climate-neutral urban logistics.”
Fernando Liesa, Secretary General of ALICE, added:
“Urban logistics is the lifeblood of a city’s economy and citizens’ wellbeing and one of the fastest pathways to climate neutrality. By bringing city authorities and logistics companies together, we can build climate‑neutral cities that deliver better services while scaling new business models and innovations.”
NetZeroCities supports the EU Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030,” helping cities overcome structural, financial, and governance barriers to climate neutrality through systemic innovation, citizen engagement, and investment support.
The Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe (ALICE) is the European Technology Platform for logistics, driving research, innovation, and market deployment toward zero-emission, digital, and efficient supply chains in Europe.