GOLIA: Governing, Optimising and Leveraging Innovations proActively for shaping future-proof holistic mobility system through data-driven and social optimum-led model

GOLIA is a Horizon Europe project whose mission is to create an inclusive, adaptive, and socially optimised urban mobility system through a new governance model integrating technological, social and legal innovations.

The project aims to shift the focus of mobility planning from purely economic considerations to a more holistic approach that incorporates social well-being, accessibility and sustainability. A key part of this approach is developing the Social Optimum Mobility Index (SOMI), which will support dynamic, data-driven decision-making across urban transport systems.

Objectives

Develop and validate SOMI to assess and guide mobility decisions based on indicators such as social support, health, equity, and environmental impact.

Facilitate data sharing and system integration through a suite of digital modules (GO-DATA, GO-INFO, GO-KNOW, GO-WISDOM) to enable collaborative governance.

Promote inclusive policymaking by involving citizens and stakeholders through structured engagement methodologies.

Create governance models that are resilient to disruptions and political shifts to ensure long-term sustainability.

Support replication and capacity building across follower cities and broader European communities through structured training, knowledge sharing, and policy recommendations.

Living Labs

GOLIA will pilot its innovative framework in three Partner Cities:

Florence (Italy): The focus here is on enhancing urban logistics, active mobility and accessibility through mixed-use urban spaces, mobility hubs and stakeholder engagement with local communities including vulnerable groups.

Antwerp (Belgium): The aim is to scale up multimodal route planners and increase the uptake of active and shared mobility by co-designing inclusive digital tools through participatory processes.

Plzeň (Czech Republic): Testing transition strategies to reduce car dependency by linking mobility planning with broader urban development and Integrated Territorial Investment frameworks.

These Living Labs will serve as testbeds for the SOMI model and the GO-X digital modules, demonstrating how cities can integrate social and digital dimensions into sustainable mobility planning.

Additionally, three Follower Cities: Marseille-Provence (France), Glasgow (UK), and Riga (Latvia) will engage in peer learning activities to replicate successful strategies. This will be supported by study visits, stakeholder mapping, and tailored replication roadmaps.

Expected outcomes

A validated SOMI framework integrated into city planning processes.
Enhanced tools for inclusive, data-driven urban mobility governance.

Increased collaboration between public and private actors involved in mobility and freight planning.

Concrete replication roadmaps for follower cities and a handbook for wider EU-level guidance.

Strengthened capacities of European cities to co-develop policies aligned with the EU Green Deal and Sustainable Development Goals.

ALICE’s role in the GOLIA project

ALICE contributes its expertise in logistics innovation across several strategic areas of the project:

Setting the scene: Supporting the identification of freight mobility needs in the initial mapping of city users’ attitudes and ecosystem requirements.

Roadmaps and transferability: Leading the task of co-developing public-private collaboration strategies to enhance integrated freight and passenger planning. Contributing to the Smart Mobility Governance Handbook.

Building the GOLIA community: Actively participating in the Impact Creation Board (ICB) and contributing to knowledge sharing and training activities. Supporting dissemination and communication through established networks.

Empowering the GOLIA community: Enabling replication of GOLIA outcomes by connecting with other EU projects and initiatives and contributing to the project’s dissemination and exploitation planning.

Additional information

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/golia/
Project Manager at ALICE: Marion Cottet

Consortium members

With 21 partners representing cities, research organisations, industry stakeholders, and associations, GOLIA builds a comprehensive platform for reshaping urban mobility through innovation, collaboration, and social inclusion.

ALICE members in the consortium

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101201950. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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