Emerging technological trajectories and new mobility solutions. A large-scale investigation on transport-related innovative start-ups and implications for policy

Innovation in the transport industry is expected from the integration of new technologies and the development of new concepts of mobility. The current transport landscape is experiencing radical changes, as witnessed by the emergence of a multitude of new applications, business models and specialisations, as well as by the entry of new players. The purpose of the paper is to provide a large-scale investigation of technological trajectories and new mobility solutions outlined by start-ups and young companies in the global transport industry. The paper employs network analysis to detect productive and innovative activities of firms founded between 2001 and 2016. Our findings highlight that three clusters of interconnected technologies and transport-related solutions are emerging: new cars prototypes and alternative vehicles prompt innovation in autonomous driving; technologies for transport sharing and public transit data analysis stimulate new solutions in urban livability; management systems, platform development and vehicle-optimization technologies bring innovative specializations in the integrated logistics services. Results provide policy-makers, venture capitalists, as well as open innovation teams in large corporations, with quantitative and relevant findings on transport-related innovative solutions. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd