projects 
SMART catalyzes and collaborates in a number of “Living Labs”, or demonstration projects, in communities and regions around the world. Living Labs are developed not only to understand and address the sustainable transportation challenges and opportunities of particular communities. They also provide frameworks for developing new research, business models, innovations, collaborations, and educational and skills development opportunities that can be adapted and applied elsewhere. SMART projects concentrate on one or more of SMART’s five areas of special focus. SMART’s collaborative approach is summarized in a recent Primer: CONNECTING (AND TRANSFORMING) THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION: A Brief and Practical PRIMER for Implementing Sustainable Door-to-Door Transportation Systems in Communities and Regions.
Collaborative projects and Living Labs both emerge from and inform SMART research and education efforts, and are currently underway or being explored in:
INDIA
• Chennai
• Cochin
• Bangalore
• Delhi
SOUTH AFRICA
• Cape Town
SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA
• Brazil
• Mexico City
EUROPE
• Lisbon, Portugal
• Cascais, Portugal
• Warsaw Poland
NORTH AMERICA
• Michigan: Connect and Prosper
• Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Chicago, Illinois
• Corvallis, Oregon
• Honolulu, Hawaii
• Los Angeles, California
• Mystic, Connecticut
• Pasadena, California
• Portland, Oregon
• Richmond, Virginia
• Seattle, Washington
• Toronto, Ontario Canada
• Washington DC
• Wilsonville, Oregon DC
NOTE: This area of the website is currently being updated. Watch for additional project descriptions and links.
SMART’s projects are undertaken in partnership and with the support of Ford Motor Company, as well as with a range of business leaders, public officials, community and non-governmental groups, and research partners. Over the past year, the network of SMART collaborations has been supported and expanded with the support of the FIA Foundation through the development of the Connecting and Transforming Primer and SMART’s Blog.
SMART projects complement and build on existing local and regional efforts being undertaken by governments, NGO’s, businesses, and academic institutions. They fill a gap by focusing on:
• “connecting the dots” to support seamless, multi-modal (and safe and affordable) door to door trips for all transport users. In particular they focus on New Mobility Hub networks, IT innovations and enhancements, service innovations, urban planning and design for accessibility and livability, innovative financing and policies, marketing sustainable transportation / New Mobility, and other integrative approaches.
• catalyzing private sector partnerships for innovation (“Public Private Innovation”) in integrated urban mobility. These partnerships support the development of a vital New Mobility industry. By innovating to provide integrated sustainable transportation solutions, this emerging multi-sector industry can help to address local transport challenges while at the same time offering new business and employment opportunities locally and globally.
• collaborative research opportunities that help to accelerate the deployment of New Mobility and accessibility innovation
• educational opportunities that build new skills and on-the-ground experience and capacity related to integrated sustainable transportation systems
SMART projects have generally evolved through positive connections with people in city regions or communities where there is a need for better transportation and an opportunity to explore innovations collaboratively. For more information on the evolution and activities of SMART collaborative projects (living labs), see Connecting and Transforming the Future of Transportation. If you are interested in exploring a SMART collaboration in your region or community, please contact Susan Zielinski at susanz@umich.edu.
