thinkport VIENNA 2021+

The city as a space for innovation - innovation for more space in the city: the volume of traffic in metropolises is being shaped by increasing digitalisation, changing consumer behaviour, the growth in online retail and the resulting increase in delivery traffic. This development affects the environment and thus the quality of life of residents. Accordingly, urban delivery traffic is becoming the focus of attention and interest. Innovative solutions must be oriented towards customer wishes, urban parameters and sustainability goals. Trends and developments have a significant influence on the volume of traffic and thus on the burden of greenhouse gas emissions in cities. As broad as the subject area is, as diverse are the solutions in international comparison. There is no one concept, different approaches are needed: Companies, universities, start-ups, logistics service providers and businesses, often work together on innovative concepts. What is needed are concrete solutions that fit the framework conditions of a city. There is a need for strategies and solutions to make urban logistics efficient, sustainable and socially acceptable. Everyone bears responsibility and cooperation is the key: it will be tight in urban areas if more and more people have to move and be supplied in limited space. A purely technological solution will sometimes not be enough. A mixture of new technologies, multifunctional infrastructures and awareness of logistics among consumers is needed. All stakeholders are needed when it comes to new solutions. Visions and goals need to be operationalised at regional and local level: An objective consideration of all the facts (7 April 2021 World Water Day, shift 75% of inland freight transported on roads to rail and inland waterways, more than 75% live in cities in the EU, number of inhabitants in Vienna has increased by 13% since 2010, 95 million parcels were delivered in Vienna in 2019, etc.) makes it clear that a course must be set at all relevant decision-making levels and that the desired goals must be achieved.