JRC Report examines the societal priorities shaping European transport research and innovation
The successful transformation of Europe’s transport systems depends on more than technological progress. Safety, accessibility, public acceptance and the evolving needs of citizens are equally important to ensure that new mobility solutions deliver meaningful benefits to society. A new report from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) examines how these societal dimensions have been addressed in European transport research and innovation over the past decade.
The report, Societal Aspects of Transport in Research and Innovation in Europe 2026, analyses 146 EU-funded projects launched between 2015 and 2025 under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. It reviews seven societal dimensions of transport: transport poverty, safety, travel experience, health, human-machine interaction, technology acceptance, and jobs and skills.
Source : TRIMIS
Key conclusions
Transport poverty – The report recommends establishing a permanent observatory for gender-based mobility, better integrating children’s perspectives into transport planning, and developing more assistive and universally accessible technologies for people with disabilities or limited digital skills.
Safety – The report calls for a shift from isolated technical solutions towards integrated, adaptive and human-centred approaches, supported by behavioural simulation tools and updated safety testing protocols.
Health – The report recommends developing mitigation strategies tailored to local contexts and high-risk areas, paying greater attention to behavioural factors, strengthening citizen engagement and introducing targeted technologies and stricter measures to protect vulnerable groups.
Human-machine interaction (HMI) – The report identifies the need for more adaptable real-time interactions and better-calibrated trust, alongside updated certification protocols, greater integration of cognitive science into automation design, and improved use of haptic and auditory cues.
Technology acceptance – The work on acceptance was mostly focused on two technologies: drones and CCAM. Projects examined factors such as safety, HMI, noise and visual pollution, as well as emotional and cultural influences. The report highlights the need for comprehensive impact assessments to support the integration of these technologies into urban mobility strategies. It points to the potential of emotionally intelligent systems and immersive human-centred design to improve acceptance.
Travel experience – The conclusions highlight the need for more specific methods to assess noise according to its source and for greater use of solutions to make travel time on sustainable transport modes more valuable. The impact of travel experience on transport choices also requires further investigation.
Jobs and skills – The conclusions emphasise the need for coordinated action between policymakers, education providers and industry to manage the transitions. Key priorities include reskilling and upskilling, appropriate legal frameworks, policy roadmaps and short-, medium-, long-term planning that can adapt to evolving professional roles.
