MIC-HUB launches the Move Observatory Award 2026

MIC-HUB’s City Futures Research Lab has long been committed to researching the relationship between mobility, cities and citizens. This year, it is launching the Move Observatory Award 2026, for which it will invite entries.

 

The call is open for Bachelor and Master degree theses, research projects and studies dedicated to the future of mobility. The award is designed to support and encourage the next generation of mobility thinkers.

 

The award recognises innovative work that addresses mobility as a technical, social and cultural challenge within the following areas:

1. Communication, Information and Service Integration

• Digital systems and integrated platforms for the coordination of transport services

• Communication and participation strategies to promote sustainable mobility behaviors

• Data governance, data justice, transparency, and the ethical use of data in mobility planning

• Education and training as tools for safety and inclusion.

 

2. Road Safety for Pedestrians and Vulnerable Users

• Strategies for 30 km/h Cities and speed reduction policies

• Integrated design for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and micro-mobility users

• Data analysis and usage for accident prevention and risk assessment

• Systemic approaches to safety: infrastructure, regulations, education, and communication

• Spatial justice and safety as common goods

 

3. Universal Accessibility and Equitable mobility

• Mobility as a right to access to essential urban services (health, education, work, culture)

• Investigation of mobility demand with reference to gender, physical, and social diversity

• Inclusive design and accessibility for people with disabilities, the elderly, and children

• Accessible tourism and sustainable experiential pathways

• Integrated infrastructure and multimodality for urban regeneration

• Urban vitality, public spaces, and psychophysical well-being in mobility systems

 

4. Innovative Technologies and Artificial Intelligence in Mobility Planning

• Applications of AI, simulation, and predictive models for road safety and flow analysis

• Urban Digital Twins and simulation models for participatory planning

• Sensors, IoT, and Big Data for the dynamic management of mobility and public space

• Ethics of models and data: what to measure, how to represent urban reality and social differences

• Technology and humanity: is it possible to design mobility without considering the human experience?

 

5. Ethical, Social and Cultural Dimensions of Mobility

• Interpreting mobility as a space for rights, relationships, and diversity

• Gender differences and intersectional perspectives in transport planning

• Psycho-physical well-being, time, and quality of life as indicators of mobility system effectiveness

• Cultural representations and narratives of safety and risk in urban space.

 

The award is open to projects developed in Italy or abroad between 1 January 2025 and 31 March 2026.

 

Submissions will be evaluated by a commission appointed by MIC-HUB with the aim of selecting the most successful entries for publication. During the selection process, priority will be given to innovative projects that demonstrate a strong alignment with the core mobility themes.

 

In addition, the top two selected works will receive a monetary prize:

1st prize: €1,000

2nd prize: €500

 

Applications must be submitted by 30 June 2026 to award@mic-hub.com.

The results will be announced in November 2026.

 

All submission requirements, formats and application instructions are available below.