ePIcenter will create an interoperable cloud-based ecosystem of user-friendly extensible Artificial Intelligence-based logistics software solutions and supporting methodologies that will enable all players in global trade and international authorities to co-operate with ports, logistics companies and shippers, and to react in an agile way to volatile political and market changes and to major climate shifts impacting traditional freight routes. This will address the ever-increasing expectations of 21st century consumers for cheaper and more readily available goods and bring in Innovations in transport, such as hyperloops, autonomous/robotic systems (e.g. “T-pods”) and new last-mile solutions as well as technological initiatives such as blockchain, increased digitalisation, single windows, EGNOS positional precision and the Copernicus Earth Observation Programme. ePIcenter thus addresses MG-2-9-2019 of H2020 Mobility for Growth “InCo Flagship on Integrated multimodal, low-emission freight transport systems and logistics”, particularly in what refers to new logistics concepts, new disruptive technologies, new trade routes (including arctic routes and new Silk routes) and multimodal transfer zones. ePIcenter will speed up the path to a Physical Internet and will benefit peripheral regions and landlocked developing countries. ePIcenter will reduce fuel usage (and corresponding emissions) by 10-25%, lead to greater utilisation of greener modes of transport reducing long distance movements by trucks by 20-25% and ensure a smoother profile of arrivals at ports which will reduce congestion and waiting/turnaround times.

A consortium led by 3 municipalities (pilot cities) committed to zero emissions city logistics (Bremen, Mechelen, Groningen) has joined forces with logistics stakeholders, both established (e.g. UPS) and new comers (e.g. ViaVan) as well as leading academic institutions in EU to accelerate the deployment of novel, feasible, shared and ZE solutions addressing major upcoming challenges generated by the rising on-demand economy in future urban logistics. To do so, the ULaaDS project will work on 3 key focus pillars: i) co-creation process to model future on-demand scenarios for urban logistics and definition of relevant ULaaDS delivery solutions through novel toolkit; ii) deployment of 2 ULaaDS solutions co-created (combining new delivery vehicles and novel horizontal collaboration models) through a total of 6 multistakeholder research trials in the 3 pilot cities; iii) assessment of feasible value cases towards urban planning integration (SUMP/SULP). The ULaaDS solutions will be designed complying with a framework of requirements highly aligned with the call topic and ETP ALICE research priorities. The 3 pilot cities propose 2 preliminary ULaaDS solutions building upon their SotA activities solutions to be further concretised through first project pillar: 1) modular innovative cargobikes operated by crowdsourced couriers to enhance logistics efficiency and multimodality in city centres; 2) integration of urban dual transport services (high on-demand distribution requirements of small goods with on-demand shared personal transport - eVans offering pooling for cargo, semiAGVs, public transport) Finally, ULaaDS also involves 4 other satellite cities (Rome, Edinburgh, L’Hospitalet, Bergen) which will also apply the novel toolkit created in ULaaDS as well as the overall project methodology to co-create additional ULaaDS solutions relevant to their cities as well as outlines for potential research trials. ULaaaDS is a project proposal part of ETP ALICE Liaison program.