projects 
SMART catalyzes and collaborates through a growing number of “Living Labs”, or collaborative on the ground 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 4-step 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
CHINA
• Bejing
• Chengdu
• Shanghai
PHILIPPINES
• Manila
SOUTH AFRICA
• Cape Town
SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA
• Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
• Santa Barbara D’Oueste, Brazil
• Conchall, Brazil
• Jaguariuna, Brazil
• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Mexico City, Mexico
EUROPE
• Lisbon, Portugal
NORTH AMERICA
• Michigan: Connect and Prosper
• Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Corvallis, Oregon
• Detroit, Michigan
• Fairfax, Virginia
• Greenville, South Carolina
• Honolulu, Hawaii
• Lansing, Michigan
• Los Angeles, California
• Mystic, Connecticut
• Pasadena, California
• Pickens, South Carolina
• Portland, Oregon
• Richmond, Virginia
• Seattle, Washington
• Spartanburg, South Carolina
• Toronto, Ontario Canada
• Washington DC
• Wilsonville, Oregon
NOTE: This area of the website is currently being updated. Watch for revised 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. Recently the Beijing and Detroit work has been supported by the Alcoa Foundation, and the Manila work has been supported by the Rockfeller Foundation. The network of SMART collaborations has also recently been enriched 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 or The New Mobility Grid, 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 regions or communities where there is a need for better transportation and an opportunity to explore innovations collaboratively. For more information on the 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.
