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Physical Internet and the Key steps to Innovation-driven supply chain transformation towards Green, Affordable, scalable and collaborative Zero-EmIssions Freight Transport solutions

Project description

Greener freight through smarter logistics

Freight transport is one of Europe’s most polluting sectors, with fragmented networks and outdated systems hampering the shift to sustainability. The EU-funded IKIGAI project is supporting logistics actors through five innovative solutions that help companies share resources, reduce emissions and cut operational costs. The project develops common standards, pilots scalable technologies in real-world settings and encourages collaboration over competition. Central to this effort are the Physical Internet (PI) Norm, logistics readiness audits and a sector-wide governance structure known as the PI Coalition. These elements are integrated into the Golden Scale-up Package: a structured framework designed to support the adoption of these solutions across the industry and contribute to the development of a connected, compliant and zero-emission logistics ecosystem.

Objective

IKIGAI, inspired by the Japanese concept combining “iki” (meaning “alive”) and “gai” (meaning “worth”), aims to accelerate the realisation of the PI by 2040 and achieve decarbonised freight transport and logistics by 2050. The project focuses on the establishment of affordable, collaborative, and coordinated Systems of Logistics Networks across Europe. It promotes the adoption of open standardised processes to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions, aligning with the UN 2030 sustainable development agenda. IKIGAI will scale up five complementary and forward-looking Logistics Innovations (LIs) (advancing them from TRL5 to 8, looking also into other scalability aspects e.g. regulation, market and social), building collaboration on shared resources and capacity, respect, openness, transparency and trust: [LI1] Online and offline trustee matchmaking and volume pooling for electrification and increased intermodality, [LI2] eFTI compliance Collaborative Service Platform for SMEs, [LI3] Smart and synchromodal hubs for hyperconnected urban logistics, [LI4] Intelligent, standard end-to-end chain of custody for carbon emission calculation, [LI5] Open volume pooled governance for reusable standard modular boxes. Recognising that companies can better evolve collaboratively, aligning logistics and decarbonisation within a unified transition path, IKIGAI will drive the Twin Transition to net-zero logistics by mobilising an open and collaborative ecosystem of global supply chain players committed to systemic change. Beyond adopting the LIs and testing them in real-world pilots, IKIGAI will re-engineer supply chain logistics services (Sx) such as volume pooling/asset sharing, warehousing, freight forwarding/intermodality, cross-docking and last-mile delivery.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL5-2024-D6-01

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Coordinator

FIT CONSULTING SRL
Net EU contribution
€ 659 487,50
Address
VIA ACCIARESI PRIMO 8
00157 ROMA
Italy
SME
Yes
Region
Centro (IT) Lazio Roma
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost
€ 942 125,00

Participants (30)

Partners (1)