Open Laboratory for Inclusive Mobility
Mobility is one of the most important pillars of healthy societies as it plays a central role in enabling social participation. The individual’s ability to move freely and independently is essential for maintaining social relationships, accessing education and employment, obtaining goods and services, and participating in community life.
In this way, mobility is not only a practical necessity but also a key enabler of inclusion and quality of life.
Project OLIM aims to work towards inclusive mobility for people with physical or mental disabilities, as well as specific user groups such as senior citizens and children.
An open innovation laboratory is established at THI which allows us to apply participatory methods to gain a deeper understanding of the specific needs, challenges, and potentials these groups experience in relation to existing and emerging mobility systems.
Through a combination of co-creative workshops, expert interviews, and public transfer events, the project investigates how inclusive mobility concepts can promote equal participation in society. It focuses on identifying barriers in current mobility solutions, analyzing the impact of different disabilities on mobility behavior, and assessing future technical opportunities and risks.
Based on these insights, interaction concepts and functional prototypes are developed and tested together with the target groups. Selected solutions are implemented and evaluated in real-world settings in Ingolstadt to assess their practical relevance and usability.
Accompanying public communication efforts and scientific publications aim to increase awareness of the mobility-related challenges faced by people with disabilities and to promote inclusive innovation more broadly.
The project places particular emphasis on ensuring continuous barrier-free access—both to the laboratory itself and to all participation formats—through measures such as the inclusion of sign language interpreters.
Project Objectives:
- Implementation of several workshops, focus groups and transfer formats per year
- Linking and active exchange with networks/associations for people with disabilities in Ingolstadt
- Implementation of developed solutions in Ingolstadt/region 10
Employees: Carina Manger, Anna Preiwisch
Project Duration
October 2024 – March 2026
Project Lead
- Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI)
Project Supporters
- Klinikum Ingolstadt – Zentrum für psychische Gesundheit
- Inklusionsrat – Stadt Ingolstadt
- IFG Ingolstadt
Granted Fund
179.693,69€
Funding
- BMBF, DATIpilot funding line, Innovation Sprint Module 1 (FKZ: 03DPS1284)
