Automation is reshaping the world around us, and the transport sector is no exception. With Connected, Cooperative, and Automated Mobility (CCAM) gaining momentum, the way we move goods and people is about to change forever. But as we welcome smarter, self-driving vehicles and interconnected transport systems, we also need to prepare for the challenges that come with this shift.

How will automation impact jobs in transport? What skills will be needed in the future? How can policymakers, businesses, and workers prepare for the transition? These are some of the big questions that the CCAM-ERAS project is tackling.

A Transport Revolution in the Making

For decades, the transport sector has relied on human drivers, logistics operators, and manual coordination. But with advancements in artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and digital infrastructure, we are on the brink of a transportation revolution. The potential benefits are enormous:

- Increased safety – reducing accidents caused by human error
- More efficiency – optimizing routes, traffic flow, and vehicle usage
- Lower environmental impact – enabling smarter, greener mobility solutions
- New job opportunities – in areas like AI-driven traffic management, remote vehicle supervision, and mobility-as-a-service

But with these benefits come disruptions. Automation could lead to job displacement in traditional roles, requiring workers to reskill for new careers. There’s also a need for policy frameworks that ensure a fair and sustainable transition for businesses, employees, and the economy.

The rapid emergence of Connected, Cooperative, and Automated Mobility (CCAM) technologies is poised to redefine the European transport sector and its socio-economic landscape. The CCAM-ERAS project—CCAM Employment Realisation through Acquisition of Skills—is at the forefront of efforts to navigate this transition, ensuring that Europe’s workforce and socio-economic systems are prepared to embrace the opportunities and mitigate the challenges brought by CCAM deployment.

What Is CCAM-ERAS About?

CCAM-ERAS is a ground breaking initiative that focuses on the intersection of CCAM technologies and their socio-economic impacts, particularly in terms of employment, skills, and equitable economic development. With over 11 million jobs tied to the transport sector in Europe, the introduction of CCAM has the potential to disrupt existing roles, create new opportunities, and alter skill demands across the industry.

The project seeks to understand these dynamics while developing innovative tools, strategies, and policies to guide stakeholders—ranging from policymakers to workers—through this transformation. Its ultimate goal is to ensure that CCAM contributes to a sustainable, inclusive, and forward-thinking labour market that benefits all Europeans.

What is CCAM-ERAS Doing?

CCAM-ERAS is a Horizon Europe project funded by the European Commission to anticipate, assess, and address the socio-economic effects of CCAM deployment. The project brings together experts in transport, economics, education, and policy-making to ensure Europe is prepared for the shift.

Project Objectives

The CCAM-ERAS project is driven by six core objectives, each designed to address critical aspects of the CCAM transition:

1. Analyse CCAM’s Employment Effects Across the Value Chain

The project aims to identify the jobs most likely to be impacted by CCAM deployment, from traditional roles such as drivers and maintenance workers to emerging positions in software development and data management. It will evaluate how these changes vary across transport modes, value chain segments, and regions, enabling policymakers to anticipate and respond to disruptions.

1. Assess the Socio-Economic Impacts on Different Groups and Regions

CCAM-ERAS will explore how CCAM affects different population groups—such as women, older workers, and those in rural areas—as well as regional economies. This ensures that the transition to CCAM supports diversity and inclusivity, avoiding disproportionate impacts on vulnerable groups.

1. Identify Skills Demands and Gaps

One of the project’s central goals is to map current and future skills requirements across the transport sector. CCAM-ERAS will assess emerging skills mismatches, providing insights into how education and training systems must adapt to prepare workers for new technologies and roles.

1. Develop Education and Training Plans

To address identified skills gaps, the project will design targeted education plans, vocational training schemes, and reskilling initiatives. These programs will focus on equipping workers with the technical and digital skills needed to thrive in a CCAM-enabled industry.

1. Create a Socio-Economic Roadmap

CCAM-ERAS will develop a roadmap that outlines short-, medium-, and long-term actions to ensure a fair and effective transition to CCAM. This roadmap will serve as a guide for policymakers and stakeholders, detailing pathways for fostering innovation, supporting workers, and maximising economic benefits.

1. Engage a Stakeholder Community

The project recognises that stakeholder engagement is essential to its success. By building a robust community of stakeholders—including policymakers, businesses, educators, and workers—CCAM-ERAS ensures that its outputs are informed by real-world needs and experiences, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. A key part of CCAM-ERAS is its interactive workshops, which provide a platform for industry experts, policymakers, researchers, and educators to exchange insights. These workshops are designed to:

- Present the latest research findings on CCAM’s impact on employment and skills.
- Engage stakeholders in discussions about policy options and workforce transition strategies.
- Explore real-world use cases, helping to develop targeted training and education programs.
- Foster collaboration between different sectors to ensure that the shift to automation is inclusive and beneficial for all.

By bringing together key players in transport, technology, and labor markets, these workshops play a crucial role in shaping policies and strategies for the automated mobility revolution.

Key Outputs and Expected Achievements

CCAM-ERAS will deliver a suite of innovative tools and frameworks that address the challenges of CCAM adoption while creating opportunities for growth and innovation.

• Interactive Online Tool for Anticipating Employment Impacts

This tool will allow stakeholders to model and predict the effects of CCAM deployment on employment across different scenarios. It will provide insights into job displacement risks, emerging roles, and skills demands, empowering policymakers and businesses to make informed decisions about workforce planning.

• Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Model

A comprehensive model will evaluate the broader socio-economic impacts of CCAM, including effects on equity, regional development, and workforce diversity. This model will enable stakeholders to assess how CCAM contributes to or mitigates societal challenges such as inequality and regional disparities.

• Education and Training Programs

CCAM-ERAS will design modular education and training programs tailored to the needs of various workers and organisations. These programs will focus on technical, digital, and interdisciplinary skills, ensuring that the workforce is equipped to navigate the complexities of CCAM-enabled industries.

• Roadmap to support a smooth and equitable transition to CCAM

The roadmap will outline actionable recommendations for stakeholders to support a smooth and equitable transition to CCAM. It will address policy interventions, funding mechanisms, and collaboration strategies to align labour market transformations with the broader goals of sustainability, diversity, and economic growth.

• Innovation Radar

CCAM-ERAS will monitor technological developments and their implications for employment and skills. The innovation radar will provide stakeholders with up-to-date insights into emerging trends and opportunities, helping them stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.

• Policy and Stakeholder Guidance

The project will deliver tailored guidance for policymakers, educators, and industry leaders, ensuring that its findings translate into actionable changes. This includes recommendations on regulatory frameworks, funding priorities, and cross-sector collaborations.

 

By providing these tools and insights, CCAM-ERAS aims to leave a lasting legacy, empowering Europe to lead the way in CCAM adoption while ensuring that its workforce and society as a whole thrive in this new era of mobility.

A Strong Network of Partners

CCAM-ERAS is powered by a diverse and experienced consortium of partners from across Europe. The project brings together leading research institutions, industry associations, policy experts, and technology providers, including:

• MU Consult- Project leader, transport policy insights
• Panteia BV (NL) – Project coordination, research, and policy insights
• PAVE Europe  (BE) - Partner focusing on education related to automated vehicles
• CINOP BV (NL) – Skills development and vocational education expertise
• Cambridge Econometrics (BE) – Economic modeling and forecasting
• Economics & Data (DE)  – Research on labor market and socio-economic impact
• ITS Norway (NO) & SINTEF (NO) – Intelligent transport solutions and automation technologies
• MaaSLab (CY) – Development of cutting-edge solutions, platforms and studies for making the transport sector and cities sustainable and climate neutral.
• Rupprecht Consult (DE) – Urban mobility and innovation research
• WMG at The University of Warwick (UK) – Advanced research in automated mobility safety
• Blees Sp. Z o.o (PL) – Technology provider specializing in smart mobility solutions
• SwissRe (CH) – Insurance and risk assessment expertise for automated mobilityThese partners bring together expertise from different disciplines, ensuring that CCAM-ERAS addresses not only technological and economic factors but also social, educational, and regulatory challenges.

The Role of the Stakeholder Community

The engagement of stakeholders is not just a component of CCAM-ERAS—it is the backbone of the project’s approach. By involving a wide range of stakeholders, including industry representatives, educators, policymakers, and workers, the project ensures that its outputs are grounded in practical realities and address the needs of all affected groups.

Through workshops, focus groups, and consultations, stakeholders will play a vital role in shaping the project’s findings, validating its models, and co-creating solutions. Their feedback will ensure that the proposed recommendations are relevant, actionable, and widely adopted. Beyond the project’s duration, the stakeholder community will continue to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, supporting Europe’s ongoing transition to a CCAM-enabled future.

To become a valued member of the CCAM-ERAS stakeholder community, please use our online registration form here: https://qeurope.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0eWQD4w7p0d12se

A Future Built on Collaboration
The transition to automated mobility isn’t something that will happen overnight, nor can it be handled by a single sector alone. Policymakers, businesses, education providers, and workers all need to collaborate to make this shift equitable and beneficial.

CCAM-ERAS is not just about understanding the changes—it’s about shaping them. By proactively addressing the challenges and opportunities of automation, the project ensures that Europe leads the way in safe, sustainable, and inclusive transport innovation.

CCAM-ERAS is more than just a research project—it’s a strategic initiative that bridges the gap between technological innovation and socio-economic resilience. By addressing the complexities of CCAM deployment through a combination of data-driven insights, stakeholder collaboration, and actionable recommendations, the project ensures that Europe’s mobility sector remains a global leader while prioritising inclusivity, sustainability, and workforce readiness.

If you’re working in transport, technology, education, or policymaking, this is the time to get involved. The future of mobility is being built today—let’s make sure it’s a future that works for everyone.

Stay tuned for more monthly updates as CCAM-ERAS continues to drive the conversation on the future of transport.