With the UAE hosting the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), the University of Birmingham is opening its Dubai campus to the global transport community to address the challenge of sustainable mobility.
The Mobility Futures Forum will take place on 7th-9th December and is free to attend. It is hosted by the University of Birmingham's Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) in collaboration with, Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) UK.
Clive Roberts, Professor of Railway Systems at the University of Birmingham, and Director of BCRRE said: “We are very excited about this event and the opportunity it will bring. The idea of opening our campus is to allow for industry, academia, and policymakers to be present under one roof when it comes to transport and mobility. There is much to do and no better way than to open the doors of our Dubai campus to provide a venue for collaborative opportunities, promote cross-fertilisation of activities and events and encourage conversations."
The three-day forum will see keynote speeches from industry heavyweights such as Heather Thompson, from the Institute for Transport and Development Policy, and representatives from the International Union of Railways (UIC), The World Bank, the Road and Transport Authority (RTA Dubai) and more.
We are very excited about this event and the opportunity it will bring. The idea of opening our campus is to allow for industry, academia, and policymakers to be present under one roof when it comes to transport and mobility.
Professor Clive Roberts, University of Birmingham
Attendees will be able to take part in discussions on a wide range of topics concerning the future of transport and mobility, including digitalisation for rail, making greener transport inclusive, implementing decarbonisation policies, and making infrastructure more environmentally friendly.
There will also be opportunities for networking and a focused event for young people to have their voices heard within the wider discussion of the future of transport.
Marc Ortmans, Chair of Global Entrepreneurship Network (UK), and co-founder of Startup Planet and LeZero Innovation Prize said: “GEN UK held its first Startup Planet conference at COP26 to enable the big conversation between net zero entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors. I am really excited that for COP28 we are co-hosting Mobility Futures Forum with the University of Birmingham Dubai.
“Our combined programme will bring together some of the world's leading voices for the first time to explore new ways for us to move and travel sustainably.
“We are also delighted to close the Forum with the first LeZero Innovation Prize awards when we will declare the global winner from a lineup of extraordinary net zero startup finalists from 5 countries”.
You can find out more about the Futures Mobility Forum, including updates to the programme here.
You can register for the free event here.
