The Logistics Innovation Summit 2025, held in Brussels on 23–24 October and organised by ALICE, brought together Europe’s leading stakeholders in freight transport innovation. Under the theme “Freight Transport and Logistic Innovation for a Competitive Europe,” the event highlighted the accelerating momentum behind green and digital transitions in urban logistics.
Yanying Li, Head of Programme, Knowledge Management and Urban Logistics Programme Manager at ALICE, talked to EU Urban Mobility Observatory about the Summit’s main outcomes. He highlighted the Summit’s role in driving both the green and digital transition.
The event showcased scalable low-emission logistics solutions and emphasised the growing importance of data sharing, co-designed systems, and shared access tools such as micro-hubs, parcel lockers, and dynamic curb booking.
One year after the Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM) issued its recommendations, several cities and businesses are already integrating them into local policy and funding frameworks. Pilots involving micro-hubs and multimodal nodes reflect solid progress, alongside advances in next-generation zero-emission vehicles. However, implementation remains uneven, particularly regarding awareness of e-commerce impacts across the EU.
Speakers stressed that persistent challenges—collaboration incentives, data interoperability, and the need for integrated physical and digital infrastructure—must be addressed to scale innovation. Cities also require more flexible regulations and space-management tools to support testing and deployment.
The reuse of underused urban spaces for logistics was highlighted as a key opportunity, though barriers such as land-use rules, fragmented ownership, and the need for digital integration remain significant.
Looking ahead, a strong pipeline of Horizon projects and new cooperation initiatives between ALICE, POLIS, and EPA signal growing momentum. Yet cities still need clearer metrics and business cases for micro-hubs, curb reallocation, and digital tools.
The Summit confirmed that Europe is increasingly ready for larger-scale, multi-city demonstrations—marking a decisive step toward cleaner, smarter, and more efficient urban logistics.
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