Observing, learning and connecting in Gothenburg

September 30 2025, Jurgen Rutgers, director TripService

What the Connekt study trip taught us about smart mobility in Sweden.

In mid-September, I joined the Connekt study trip to Gothenburg, Sweden, on behalf of TripService. Together with representatives from NDW, Rijkswaterstaat, and the Province of Gelderland, we spent three days exploring how Sweden is advancing smart mobility, digitalisation, and collaboration within the mobility ecosystem.

Sweden is making tangible progress. This was evident, for example, at Västtrafik, where an autonomous shuttle bus is already a visible part of the streetscape. Not science fiction, but a practical pilot with realistic ambitions. The visit to Lindholmen Science Park was also inspiring. With programmes like Drive Sweden, AI Sweden, and MobilityXlab, you see how government, academia, and business are innovating together – for instance, in areas like digital twins and AI applications.

At the same time, it was clear that Sweden grapples with the same challenges we do: organising sustainable urban logistics, engaging end-users, and managing data and governance. That shared experience makes knowledge exchange even more valuable.

For us, the true strength of this trip was in the conversations. By combining in-depth site visits – to World of Volvo, Business Region Göteborg, and Ericsson – with time for dialogue among peers, we gained new depth. Not earth-shattering revelations, but meaningful confirmations, fresh perspectives, and tangible opportunities for collaboration.

🔗 Curious about the role of digital platforms and real-time data in urban mobility? Let’s connect and contact us.