Since the conceptualization of MaaS (Mobility as a Service) in 2015, the market has gradually understood the need for connected mobility solutions, capturing the value represented by services oriented towards a more sustainable, digital, and efficient mobility.

While it is commonly believed that public institutions should lead MaaS initiatives to ensure impartial results, there are multiple models and implementation approaches. The crucial factor is transparency in revealing the source of the provided information.

In this article, we explain how public-private collaborations drive successful MaaS implementations and share some success stories Meep has been involved in.

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The Key to Innovative Mobility Initiatives

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One of the main challenges for effective operation of MaaS or any connected mobility solution in a city is public-private collaboration.

Despite differences in stakeholders' strategies and business models, seeking synergies and collaboration points can pave the way for a smarter, more efficient, and sustainable future of mobility.

By joining forces, the public and private sectors can overcome challenges and deliver integrated solutions that enhance citizens' quality of life, propelling us toward a connected mobility future.

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Public-Private Collaborations as a Path to Create Value

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Currently, mobility is in constant innovation, driven by both private companies and public entities. However, the asynchrony of paces can lead to delays in materializing certain advances.

This reality has spurred a growing number of public-private collaboration projects, aiming to implement disruptive solutions. One notable example is the collaboration between the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Ormazabal, a leading Basque company in technological solutions for the electrical distribution sector.

This funding has been a significant step in promoting innovation and sustainability in the electrical distribution sector, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable energy transition in Europe.

We are convinced that the coming years will mark a milestone in such collaborations, bringing tremendous benefits to society under proper supervision and resource allocation.

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Examples of Public-Private Collaboration in Mobility

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Testing public-private collaborations is key to launching disruptive mobility solutions that have a positive impact on citizens. Here are some demonstrations of this:

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Seville: Meep Sevilla by Globalvia

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To tackle the new mobility challenge in the city of Seville, a new Mobility as a Service (MaaS) solution was launched in October 2020, born out of the public-private collaboration of three entities: Globalvia, the Metro de Sevilla, and Meep.

The integration of interurban transport and the Metro de Sevilla, in collaboration with the Sevilla Transport Consortium and Globalvia, respectively, along with the involvement of the Seville City Council, ensured much of the success of this project.

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The MaaS solution, presented as a mobile application under the name Meep Sevilla By Globalvia, aimed to integrate all city transportation modes into a single application, creating a flexible, personalized, and integrated transport ecosystem, promoting a cleaner, less congested, and more sustainable environment in the city of Seville.

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Zaragoza: ZUM, Spain's First MaaS Solution

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Zaragoza Urban Mobility (ZUM) was a pilot Mobility as a Service (MaaS) project in the form of a mobile application that integrated Zaragoza's main urban transport modes.

Developed through Meep's technology, this platform was launched in March 2021 by Avanza, one of Spain's leading passenger transport operators, and supported by the Zaragoza City Council. This represents an example of public-private collaboration to improve the city's mobility ecosystem, encouraging sustainable transportation modes and leveraging existing infrastructure.

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"City councils have to try out solutions, they have to be brave and innovative and promote public-private collaborations. Creating controlled test environments where certain technology-based companies can test their solutions will facilitate adoption and create new forms of collaboration."

_{Guillermo Campoamor, CEO and Co-founder of Meep}

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These collaborations, if adequately monitored and sufficiently resourced, can generate significant benefits for society.

Experts and analysts agree that 2024 will be exciting for connected mobility and other sector trends. Amid an economic cycle shift, we will witness movements that will shape the direction of the coming decades toward the desired goal of connected, sustainable, accessible, and more livable cities.

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The projects in which Meep has already worked with public organizations demonstrate the potential of these alliances. Therefore, our aim is to continue offering digital mobility solutions in more cities willing to foster mobility innovation initiatives.

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