Current and previous research projects

Current and some previous research projects at Verne are presented below. Updated 26th May 2025.

Sustainable logistics, emissions reporting and electric trucks

  • MADLESS – an EU NetZeroCities project focuses on zero emission city logistics. Runs up to 9/2026.
  • SECHA – a Business Finland funded project, concentrating on electric truck and car scenarios and charging infrastructure. Runs up to 1/2027.
  • SIX HOVE – a Traficom funded project promoting the use of electric vehicles. Runs up to 9/2025. https://www.six.fi/heavy-on-road

Sustainable mobility, modal shift and electric cars

  • ChiFamTravel – a project funded by Research Council of Finland promoting sustainable modes among children and families. Runs up to 8/2028.
  • DeMo – a Business Finland funded project, developing regional traffic models and an emissions scenario tool, Runs up to 10/2025.
  • ECADEC – a Business Finland project focusing on electric vehicle charging in energy communities. Runs up to 10/2026.
  • FinnCycle – a project funded by thirteen Finnish cities. The aim is to improve the conditions for cycling in Finnish cities and to increase the modal share of cycling. The project is divided into the following four research modules: cycling infrastructure, cycling-friendly transport network, year-round cycling and cycling-friendly transport policy. The project seeks best practices for promoting cycling in European cycling cities, e.g. from the Netherlands and Denmark. Runs up to 6/2025. https://www.tuni.fi/fi/tutkimus/finncycle
  • SmartRail3 – a Business Finland project studying the effects of tram on citizens and businesses. Runs up to 5/2026.

Automated public transport

  • EMBRACER (intErconnecting MoBility acRoss europeAn CitiEs and subuRbs) is a region-driven Interreg Europe project where seven underserved regions aim to integrate public transport with informal modes (cycling, ride-hailing, shared mobility, on-demand transport, and autonomous shuttles) to achieve seamless, climate-resilient intermodal mobility. This initiative addresses the mobility challenges faced by peripheral and rural communities, where limited connectivity and infrastructure reduce access to essential opportunities like employment and education. The project unites experts from Portugal, Italy, Romania, Slovenia, Germany, Lithuania, Finland, and Ireland to co-create replicable mobility solutions.
  • Transport Research Centre Verne, as an advisory partner, provides expertise in various areas such as first and last mile services, public transport operations, shared connected and autonomous mobility, and Mobility as a Service (MaaS). Verne also supports Lithuania’s City of Vilnius in planning and implementing a joint pilot action, drawing on the Tampere test bed experience. Runs up to 5/2027. https://www.interregeurope.eu/embracer
  • metaCCAZE – a Horizon Europe project in which Verne is inter alia supporting operating automated buses. Runs up to 12/2027. https://www.metaccaze-project.eu/

 

Some previous research projects

Digitalisationautomation and electrification as driving forces of everyday mobility

‘Digitalisation, automation and electrification as driving forces of everyday mobility’ -project aimed to explore the possibilities of these megatrends to change everyday mobility and to identify opportunities to direct the development towards aspired future in which the transport system supports social, economic and environmental wellbeing. The project was funded by Kone Foundation.

SeCLog

The SeCLog project (Smart electric City Logistic) is developed and evaluated solutions based on electric utility vehicles (electric buses, electric distribution vehicles) to meet the challenges of climate change in urban logistics, especially in Tampere Region. The project examined the potential and feasibility of electric utility vehicles and other intelligent solutions in urban logistics. The project was funded by the Council of Tampere Region (European Regional Development Fund).

Smart Rail

Smart Rail ecosystem, a co-innovation project aimed at improving the competitiveness of Finnish companies’ products and services, especially in the international market. The main themes of the Smart Rail project were impact assessment in business and transport systems, proactive situational awareness and user-driven solutions. The role of Transport Research Centre Verne, together with VTT, was to carry out an impact assessment of the Smart Rail ecosystem and to figure out future solutions for feeder traffic.

Towards Carbon Neutral Municipalities and Regions (CANEMURE)

‘Towards Carbon Neutral Municipalities and Regions’ project was a six-year project for implementing Finnish climate policy, funded by the EU Life programme. The project promoted regional climate work and concrete measures through expert guidance. Transport Research Centre Verne provided expert guidance on smart low-carbon mobility.