Inclusive Mobility Cities Challenge opens for applications
Toyota Mobility Foundation and POLIS are launching the Inclusive Mobility Cities Challenge, a new multi-year European programme supporting cities in developing more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable mobility solutions.
The Challenge will work with three to five Champion Cities to address persistent mobility challenges that have not been sufficiently resolved through existing approaches.
Rather than focusing on routine projects, the programme is designed for cities facing a complex and persistent mobility challenge where previous efforts have not delivered the desired results. Selected cities will receive a combination of funding, technical expertise, and implementation support to help develop and put new approaches into practice.
Turning persistent challenges into lasting solutions
Mobility systems do not work equally well for everyone: barriers to accessing employment, education, healthcare, and social opportunities can be shaped by factors including age, gender, disability, location and socio-economic circumstances.
The Challenge aims to support cities in tackling these barriers through approaches that put the experiences and needs of affected communities at the centre.
Projects may explore challenges related to active mobility, public transport, shared and micromobility, behavioural change, road safety and security, among other areas.
The programme will support cities throughout the development and implementation of their projects, combining project funding, independent expertise, capacity-building, monitoring and evaluation, and peer learning. Projects can run for up to four years, creating space not only to test new approaches but also to build evidence, learn from implementation and explore how successful solutions could be sustained or replicated.
Who is the Challenge for?
The Challenge is open to eligible POLIS member cities and regions, as well as cities and regions with an existing relation with Toyota Mobility Foundation.
Applicants should be cities or functional urban areas with 100,000 to 1,000,000 inhabitants in the EU, UK, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland, among other eligibility requirements.
Three to five cities will ultimately be selected as Champion Cities, with pre-selected applicants expected to be notified in February 2027.
Applications open 12 October
The call for applications opens on 12 October 2026 and closes on 11 December 2026 at 23:59 CET.
POLIS members can find the full application guidance, eligibility requirements, selection criteria, and application documents in the Members’ Area.
Join the Info Session
Want to learn more about the Challenge before applying?
POLIS members can join the Inclusive Mobility Cities Challenge Info Session on Monday, 19 October, from 14:00 to 15:15 CET. The session will introduce the programme, explain what Champion Cities can expect, and provide an opportunity to learn more about the application process.
