The first two workshops of the Horizon Europe project metaCCAZE were recently organised by the Ministry for Transport Infrastructure and Public Works, the Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development at the University of Malta and Malta Public Transport to gather valuable input and feedback from stakeholders on the testing of an autonomous, on-demand electric bus across Malta and Gozo. These workshops, held on 11 and 13 November, took place at the Citadel in Gozo and Ħad-Dingli in Malta with support from the Ministry for Gozo and The Western Regional Council, and provided the opportunity to engage with key stakeholders and explore the potential of autonomous electric transport in Malta, fostering a collaborative environment for discussing its local implementation and the challenges and opportunities it presents.
Following a short presentation of the project, stakeholders participated in a structured feedback session using the innovative "mini-dialogues" methodology. This approach aimed to facilitate in-depth conversations on the specific needs and concerns of different stakeholders, gaining insights on real-world challenges, potential barriers, and community expectations.
Attendees included representatives from public entities and academia, private business, operators, NGOs and citizen groups, ensuring a well-rounded perspective. By engaging participants through these dialogues, the workshops aimed to capture the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of each group, fostering a shared understanding of how autonomous, on-demand electric buses could be trialed locally. These insights will play a crucial role in refining the project’s approach and ensuring its alignment with local needs and conditions.
More information is available on the website.
