NWO Smart Urban Region Future (SURF) 2016-2020
Cycling booms in many Dutch cities. Smart cycling innovations promise to increase cycling’s modal share in the (peri-) urban transport system even further, but little is understood of their impact or cost and benefit. The Smart Cycling Futures (SCF) program investigates how smart cycling innovations – including ICT-enabled cycling innovations, infrastructures, and social innovations like new business models – contribute to more resilient and livable Dutch urban regions. Cycling innovations benefit urban regions in terms of accessibility, equality, health, livability, and decreasing CO2-emissions when socially Smart Urban Regions of the Future (SURF) 7 well embedded. The SCF research project runs urban living labs in close collaboration with key stakeholders to develop transdisciplinary insights in the conditions needed for upscaling smart-cycling initiatives urban regions. Sub-programs focus on institutional dynamics, entrepreneurial strategies, governance, and the socio-spatial conditions for smart cycling. The research program brings together four Dutch regions through academic institutions (three general and one applied-science universities); governmental authorities (urban and regional); and market players (innovative entrepreneurs). Together, they answer practice-based questions in a transdisciplinary and problem-oriented fashion. Research in the four regions generates both region-specific and universally applicable findings. Finally, SCF uses its strong research-practice network around cycling to co-create the research and run an outreach program.

TU Eindhoven Team
Ruth Oldenziel, Frank Schipper, and Matthew Bruno (TIS History Division at School of Innovation Sciences); Pieter van Wesemael, Sukanya Krishnamurthy, George Liu (Urbanism Division at the School of the Built Environment)

Collaboration
Academic Partners Universiteit van Utrecht (PI); Universiteit van Amsterdam; Hogeschool Windesheim
Public Partners: Cities of Eindhoven, Utrecht Amsterdam, and Zwolle; Urban Region Amsterdam; Provinces of Brabant, Utrecht, and Overijssel.
Business Partners (in kind): startups

Outcomes TU Eindhoven
Matthew Bruno, PhD Governance (TIS) How can governance innovation be developed to bridge the needs of policymakers and users? What is the role of multi-level governance structure in supporting the new technologies and ICT of smart cycling futures?

George Liu, PhD Urban Forms (Built Environment): How can urban planning and design strategies support the transition from urban and regional infrastructures from auto mobility towards smart cycling futures? What are long-term urban design challenges to better integrate cycling infrastructures with users’ needs and lifestyles?

Living Lab in collaboration with the City of Eindhoven, Province of Brabant, and startups.