Bernadette Bergsma

Communications and EU Affairs Director, EIT Urban Mobility

Bernadette Bergsma holds the position of Director of Communications and EU Affairs at EIT Urban Mobility. She was involved in setting up EIT Urban Mobility since end 2016. Ms. Bergsma started her career in different positions related to marketing, communication, and European relations. For 10 years she worked for the city of Eindhoven at its EU Brussels office as EU Strategic Advisor, focusing mostly on the policy areas of mobility, smart cities and energy. She has significant experience in developing and coordinating EU R&I projects, and liaising with EU institutions, European networks and a wide range of international stakeholders.

Investing in Impact: Mobility Innovations for Resilient, Sustainable, and just Societies

As urban and regional mobility systems face mounting pressures—from climate change and air pollution to rising inequality and congestion—investing in impactful mobility innovations has never been more relevant.
This presentation will highlight how targeted investments in mobility solutions can deliver tangible benefits for communities, contributing to cities that are less polluted, more accessible, and affordable.
It will focus on multi-stakeholder collaboration, looking at the roles of cities, startups, established mobility companies, universities play in fostering innovations that align with societal goals. Particular emphasis will be placed on how these actors can join forces to bridge policy, research, and market-driven initiatives.
The presentation will offer a reflection about the importance of adopting a holistic approach to mobility innovation, highlighting the importance of equity, community engagement, and long-term value creation in both technological and non-technological innovation processes.
Lessons learned from the EIT Urban Mobility’s community will serve to illustrate how stakeholders can deploy pilot projects and direct investments and partnerships toward mobility innovations that directly contribute to societies that are more resilient, sustainable, and just.