On 7–8 May 2025, the city of Cesena, Italy, hosted the fifth GINEVRA Partner Meeting, bringing together project partners at a crucial moment in the lead-up to the project’s final implementation phase. The meeting provided an important space to review progress on autonomous vehicle (AV) pilots, refine governance and engagement strategies, and strengthen coordination ahead of upcoming demonstration activities.
From the perspective of ALDA+, the Cesena meeting highlighted once again the importance of connecting technological innovation with inclusive governance, effective communication, and local institutional capacity.
Advancing AV governance and preparing demonstrations
The first day of the meeting took place at the Comune di Cesena and focused on technical and strategic updates across GINEVRA’s core activities. Partners shared progress on demo site preparations in Cesena, Varaždin, and Bad Schönborn, with a dedicated coordination session moderated by TU Wien to align timelines and expectations for the upcoming implementation phase.
Discussions also covered advancements under Work Package 2, with partners exchanging insights from ongoing stakeholder and citizen engagement activities. These exchanges reinforced the project’s shared understanding that governance frameworks and public dialogue must evolve alongside technical development.
In this context, ALDA+ led a dedicated session on risk and emergency communication, underlining the role of clear, timely, and responsive messaging as autonomous mobility pilots move closer to real-world testing. The session emphasised that public trust, transparency, and preparedness are essential components of responsible innovation in urban mobility.
Transnational perspectives on autonomous mobility
The second day moved to the historic Biblioteca Malatestiana, a UNESCO-recognised cultural landmark that provided a symbolic backdrop for discussions on the relationship between heritage and innovation. The Transnational Seminar, titled “State of the Art and Perspectives for AV in Europe”, brought together contributions from TU Wien, inBlenda, and EMFIE, offering both European and global perspectives on regulatory frameworks, case studies, and future pathways for autonomous vehicle deployment.
The setting itself invited reflection on how cities can balance respect for historical identity with forward-looking urban transformation. A guided visit of the Biblioteca followed, reinforcing the meeting’s central theme: innovation is most sustainable when it is embedded within local context and shared values.
Moving towards final implementation
The Cesena Partner Meeting marked an important milestone as GINEVRA moves decisively into its final implementation phase. With demonstration activities approaching, the exchanges helped clarify roles, strengthen collaboration among partners, and align expectations on governance tools and capitalisation strategies.
For ALDA+, this phase is particularly significant in ensuring that project results translate into practical, accessible, and transferable governance solutions for local authorities across Central Europe. By integrating technical expertise with participatory approaches and strategic communication, GINEVRA continues to demonstrate how cities can responsibly manage the challenges and opportunities of autonomous mobility.
A warm thank you goes to the Comune di Cesena for hosting the meeting and providing an inspiring setting for dialogue, as well as to all project partners for their continued commitment and collaboration.