Geopolitical competition and socioeconomic resilience in CCAM: an innovation and policy roadmap for EU leadership (CCAM Partnership)

What is this call about?

The topic funds one project that assesses Europe's global position in connected and automated mobility, develops future scenarios and quantifies socioeconomic effects. It also produces policy and business strategies for a resilient European market.

What does this call fund?

Scope

Connected, cooperative and automated mobility (CCAM) is a key area of global competition and one of the five pillars of the European Automotive Action Plan. Its deployment is shaped by geopolitical shifts, fast technology change and economic uncertainty. The topic assesses the global landscape of CCAM innovation, maps future pathways and develops evidence-based strategies for policymakers, businesses and investors. It implements the co-programmed European Partnership on CCAM.

Expected actions

Proposed actions are expected to address all of the following:

• A geopolitical and economic analysis of Europe's strategic position, identifying vulnerabilities, dependencies and opportunities in business models, supply chains, critical raw materials, technology, infrastructure, validation processes, safety benchmarks and pricing, using AI-driven analytics and innovation mapping, and assessing large-scale CCAM initiatives worldwide.
• Stakeholder-driven participatory future scenarios and transition pathways, built with foresight methods such as qualitative scenarios, horizon scanning and technology roadmapping, and validated iteratively through at least three Living Labs. The project should also define indicators of European added value and global market positioning.
• An assessment of the socioeconomic impacts of different deployment pathways, covering income, employment, regional convergence, productivity and equity, using integrated economic-transport modelling across Member States, Associated Countries, sectors and demographic groups.
• Policy recommendations, governance models and business strategies, stress tested under different future conditions, that strengthen leadership and resilience, reduce external dependencies, support SMEs and micro-enterprises, and recommend sectoral R&D priorities.

Expected outcomes

Results should include the assessments and scenarios above, a data-driven understanding of socioeconomic effects (including employment, growth, equity and transport poverty), robust governance and business strategies, and close coordination with the European Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Alliance. The topic requires social sciences and humanities expertise. Projects are expected to collaborate with the CCAM Technology Observatory, report to the CCAM Partnership in support of its indicators and apply the European Common Evaluation Methodology for CCAM. Activities are expected to reach technology readiness level 5-6 by the end of the project.

When is the deadline?

8 October 2026