Are you passionate about transforming urban mobility and building sustainable cities? Do you want to turn innovative ideas into viable business solutions that make a real impact? Join the Cargo Bike Business Models Summer School, an intensive, hands-on programme delivered by Ghent University and the Technical University of Berlin.
Over two immersive weeks in Ghent and Berlin, participants will tackle real urban mobility and logistics challenges and learn how to design user-centred, sustainable cargo bike solutions. Through fieldwork, expert-led lectures, workshops, and site visits, you will gain practical experience in problem discovery, solution design, and business model development. Working in international, multidisciplinary teams, you will develop entrepreneurial, leadership, and innovation skills while assessing environmental, social, and economic impacts of cargo bike solutions. By the end of the programme, you will have created a complete, scalable cargo bike business concept and contributed to shaping cleaner, more liveable European cities.
Don’t miss this opportunity to drive meaningful change and advance your career in urban mobility!
Introduction
While sustainable urban mobility is increasingly discussed, the potential of cargo bikes as a systemic solution for cities remains underexploited. Although cargo bikes are recognised as a clean and space-efficient alternative to vans and cars for last-mile logistics, local commerce, and services, their adoption is still limited. Many promising initiatives struggle to move beyond pilot phases due to gaps in applied knowledge, entrepreneurial skills, and the ability to integrate solutions into broader urban mobility systems.
Cities are beginning to prioritise sustainable logistics, yet significant challenges persist. Beyond technical feasibility, successful cargo bike solutions must respond to diverse user needs such as affordability, safety, convenience, and accessibility, while aligning with local regulations, spatial constraints, and policy frameworks. Too often, solutions fail to balance environmental, social, and economic impacts or to coordinate effectively between municipalities, businesses, NGOs, and citizens.
Through this Summer School, we aim to bridge these gaps by equipping participants with the skills and experience needed to transform real urban challenges into viable, scalable cargo bike business models. By combining hands-on fieldwork, interdisciplinary learning, and engagement with practice in Ghent and Berlin, the programme supports the development of innovative solutions that contribute to cleaner, more liveable, and people-centred cities.
Contents & methods
During the Summer School, participants will work closely with academic experts, industry practitioners, and city representatives to develop sustainable cargo bike solutions for urban mobility and logistics challenges. The programme combines applied research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, enabling participants to translate real-world urban problems into viable business models that deliver environmental, social, and economic value. Emphasis is placed on hands-on collaboration, with participants working in international, multidisciplinary teams to address challenges identified in close interaction with local stakeholders in Ghent and Berlin.
The Summer School offers an immersive and practice-oriented learning experience through expert-led lectures, workshops, field visits, and guided teamwork. Participants engage in in-situ research, analyse existing cargo bike initiatives, and apply design thinking and systemic innovation methodologies to develop user-centred solutions. Throughout the programme, teams receive mentoring and feedback from experts to refine their concepts. The programme culminates in intermediate and final jury presentations, where participants present their problem analysis, solutions, business models, and impact assessments, receiving structured feedback to support further development.
The main goals that will be covered are:
- Understanding urban mobility and logistics challenges and the role of cargo bikes within wider urban systems;
- Translating real city-specific problems into innovative, user-centred cargo bike services or products;
- Developing viable and scalable business models using tools such as the Business Model Canvas and Impact Circle;
- Assessing environmental, social, and economic impacts to support sustainable decision-making.
All lecture and classroom materials are included, and upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate of participation, signed by the EIT Urban Mobility.
Is this Summer School right for you?
This Summer School is for those passionate about urban mobility, whether you're a master student, PhD student, or an experienced professional. Our programme welcomes diverse backgrounds, from technical fields like engineering and computer science to social sciences such as sociology, urban planning, and policy.
If you’re genuinely interested in the Summer School but uncertain about how well you fit into the program, we encourage you to reach out to us. We’d be happy to discuss your background, interests, and goals to help determine how you can make the most of this opportunity. Together, we can explore how the program aligns with your aspirations and ensure a valuable experience for you.
Information guide and programme
Stay tuned! The programme and guide will be available on this page as soon as they're ready. Check back soon for updates!
The agenda will follow this general structure:
Dates & locations
The Summer School will take place in the historic city of Ghent, Belgium, from 2 to 8 August 2026, and in the dynamic city of Berlin, from 8 to 15 August 2026.
Week 1: Ghent – Discover & Define the Problem
Week 1 in Ghent will be held in the Sint-Baafshuis, located right next to the Saint Bavo's Cathedral, in the heart of the historical city centre, in walkable distance from all major attractions in Ghent. This venue offers an ideal environment to stimulate exciting discussions and facilitate a collaborative learning experience.
Week 2: Berlin – Explore & Design
Week 2 in Berlin will be held at the EUREF Campus at TU Berlin. The campus hosts a mix of research institutions, companies, and start-ups and provides facilities suited for academic and collaborative activities. Its setting supports focused discussions, group work, and applied learning during the second week of the programme.
Fees
The registration fees cover not only the participation in the programme, but also the transportation from Ghent to Berlin, most meals, social activities, and much more. Participants remain responsible for covering their own travel costs to Ghent, Belgium, where the Summer School is held.
| Registration fees | Early bird 1 | Regular |
|---|---|---|
| Practitioners / Professionals | 1600 EURO | 1800 EURO |
| Regular students | 1150 EURO | 1300 EURO |
| EU students | 950 EURO | 1200 EURO |
| Not OECD countries students2 | 700 EURO | 950 EURO |
| TUB and UGent students | 350 EURO | 500 EURO |
| Extra for accommodation in Ghent (double shared room)3 | 500 EURO | 500 EURO |
| Extra for accommodation in Berlin (double shared room)4 | 350 EURO | 350 EURO |
- 1 Early bird deadline is on March 31, 2026.
- 2 Not OECD countries are eligible for the reduced fee. The full list of OECD can be found here.
- 3 The extra for accommodation fee in Ghent covers a shared double room with another participant, with breakfast and check-in on 2 August and check-out on 8 August.
- 4 The extra for accommodation fee in Berlin covers a shared double room with another participant, with breakfast and check-in on 8 August and check-out on 15 August.
How to apply
To apply for our summer school, simply complete this form by June 30, 2026. Please ensure you upload your CV and a short motivation letter to explain your interest in participating in the summer school along with the form. Please note that spots are limited, so we encourage you to secure your place soon.
For early bird fee benefits, register by March 31, 2026!
Note 1: Participants requiring a Schengen visa to travel to the EU should apply no later than April 15, 2026.
Note 2: For applications without accommodation, the registration deadline is more flexible, and late applicants could be still admitted if space in the summer school is still available. Contact the organisers by email if you want to apply after June 30.
Study credentials
The summer school has a value of 3 ECTS credits. To include the credits in the curriculum at the home institution, participants need an agreement with the responsible person at their university. A certificate of participation will be awarded at the end of the programme.
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:
Organizing team
- Giovanni Circella, Ghent University
- Massimo Moraglio, TU Berlin
- Nora Bonatz, TU Berlin
- María Alejandra Gaitán, Ghent University
- Frank Witlox, Ghent University
With the support of:
Social activities
Ghent toursAs part of the social activities of the Cargo Bike Business Models Summer School, participants will explore the vibrant city of Ghent, a hidden gem known for its blend of medieval history and modern energy. Participants will enjoy a relaxing boat tour along the city’s picturesque canals, offering a unique perspective of Ghent’s stunning architecture and charming streets. Also, participants will have the choice between walk and bike tours, which will provide a great opportunity to explore the city's transport infrastructure and discuss mobility challenges in their real-world context.
Necessary arrangements will be made to accommodate participants with reduced mobility.