Volvo Research and Educational Foundations

In less than one generation, three-quarters of the world’s population will be living in cities and urban areas. This will create challenges within transport and mobility which have to be met.
Key questions relating to transport and mobility go far beyond vehicle design. To create an attractive and sustainable urban living space, transport and traffic systems have to be co-optimized with other urban service and supply systems in order to meet transportation and mobility needs. If mankind’s prosperity is to be sustained, it is essential to identify the need for transport and mobility and to create appropriate solutions to meet these needs.

Democracy requires the mobility needs of individuals to be successfully met – as well as the needs of those who cannot afford extended mobility using private means and the needs of the growing number of disabled people. Transport and mobility needs have to be met with a minimum of environmental impact.

The Volvo Foundation’s above-mentioned aim is to support the development of knowledge and expertise within the fields that are needed to improve transport and mobility and to enhance sustainable cities and urban life. This conference on future urban transport will benchmark the development level aims of the Volvo Foundations.