Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1516944
13 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 6 MARCH 2024 NEWS A project to transform the fleet of vessels operating be- tween Malta and Gozo to run on hydrogen has been named the best out of nine proposals put forward by students dur- ing the EXCEL Winter School 2024. The school, attended by more than 40 students from five countries across Europe, had the specific purpose of find- ing solutions to urban mobili- ty challenges identified by the Gozo Regional Development Authority. Organised by EIT Urban Mo- bility, an initiative of the Eu- ropean Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the EU, in collaboration with MCAST, Cleantech Bul- garia, and Project Aegle Foun- dation, the final pitching event of the EXCEL Winter School was judged by a panel includ- ing representatives from the Gozo Regional Development Authority, Transport Malta, Bajada Lyons Group, Super- Charger Ventures and the Gozo Tourism Association. The event was also attended by Clint Camilleri, Minister of Gozo and Planning. Other proposals which re- ceived recognition at the end of the weeklong initiative also focussed on making the ferry journey between Malta and Gozo more sustainable. These included electric fer- ries and ways to introduce more renewable energy into the fleet. Students also focussed on how to make mobility with- in Gozo easier and more sus- tainable through new routes and a better mix of transport incorporating smaller buses, bicycles and the introduction of a waterbus service between Marsalforn, Xlendi and Mgarr Harbour. Diana Miceli, EIT Communi- ty RIS Hub Malta Officer said, "Huge congratulations to Sus- tainable Innovators, the win- ners of this year's challenge and to all the participants who put forward such great ideas which can have a real impact on making urban mobility in Gozo and between Malta and Gozo better and more sustain- able. Bringing together such a diverse group of students to focus on specific challenges is a wonderful experience for them but also highlights the practical benefits of encour- aging innovation. We look for- ward to repeating the success of the EXCEL Winter School in the future and to seeing some of the ideas put forward taken on by the relevant au- thorities." Pelin Uner, Project Lead of EXCEL Winter School from MCAST, highlighted the suc- cess of this year's programme, emphasising the significant impact of challenge-led learn- ing on fostering innovation. "In collaboration with EIT Urban Mobility Master School, MCAST remains dedi- cated to pioneering education- al approaches that empower students to tackle real-world issues, particularly in sus- tainable urban mobility. The students' proposals for Gozo demonstrate the effectiveness of blending academic rigor with practical problem-solv- ing. MCAST is committed to nurturing innovative thinking in fields like urban mobility, aiming to equip future leaders with the skills and mindset for positive community change. Examples such as the hydro- gen-powered ferries showcase how challenge-based learning leads to impactful, sustaina- ble solutions. MCAST looks forward to continuing this journey, fostering the next generation of urban mobility innovators," she said. The Excel Winter School in Gozo has been part of the EIT Urban Mobility Winters School Series designed for Bachelor students within the urban mobility field from RIS (Regional Innovation Scheme) countries. Other two winter schools were: Innov4Mobility Winter School, celebrated in Aveiro, Portugal, and performed to- gether with BGI and Techni- cal University of Berlin, and WINSCOOL Winter School, that was held in Tartu, Estonia by Kimitsk B.V. and University of Tartu. All the winter schools share a common mission: to empower the next generation of lead- ers in urban mobility with the knowledge, skills and mindset to drive positive change. EIT Urban Mobility EIT Urban Mobility, an initi- ative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the Europe- an Union, aims to accelerate solutions and the transition towards a user-centric, inte- grated and truly multimodal transport system. As the leading European in- novation community for urban mobility, EIT Urban Mobility works to avoid fragmentation by facilitating collaboration between cities, industry, aca- demia, research and innova- tion to solve the most pressing mobility challenges of cities. Using cities as living labs, its industry, research and univer- sity partners will demonstrate how new technologies can work to solve real problems in real cities by transporting peo- ple, goods and waste in smart- er ways. Students' hydrogen ferry proposal wins Gozo urban mobility challenge Sustainable Innovators – winners of the EXCEL Winter School 2024 "Bringing together such a diverse group of students to focus on specif ic challenges is a wonderful experience for them but also highlights the practical benef its of encouraging innovation"