Connecting Europe Days 2026

AMS Institute is the joint research institute of Wageningen University & Research (WUR), TU Delft, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Based in Amsterdam and closely collaborating with the City of Amsterdam, the institute is uniquely positioned to proper innovative solutions for urban challenges worldwide: to re-invent cities. With more than 1.000 public and private partners, the institute conducts cutting-edge research, offers educational programs (including the in-house joint degree master MSc MADE), and fosters startups to create sustainable and livable urban environments that benefit both society and the economy.

AMS Institute covers critical topics like mobility, energy, digitalisation, climate resilience, circularity, and food. Its transdisciplinary approach to research and innovation brings together world-class experts from different fields to solve complex problems in a real-world setting. The institute uses the city of Amsterdam as a unique testing ground for urban innovation and experimentation in which researchers, students, designers, and entrepreneurs work closely with stakeholders and problem owners to test, develop and create solutions for urban challenges in Amsterdam and cities worldwide.

Zoev City stands for ‘Carefree Solution for Electric Transport in the city’. We provide sustainable transportation of goods over water in busy city centers. With our floating hubs with 80 tons of cargo space and light electric vehicles, we can reach any address in the city center. On the way back, the HUB also takes waste out of the city; our sustainable giants naturally don’t sail back empty. Zoev City transports with maximum efficiency and minimal impact on people and the environment.

The local council of Yvelines is in the western part of the Paris region. It is made up of 262 rural, peri-urban and urban administrative districts (cities) and extends over 2,284.4 km² for 1,438,266 inhabitants. It has responsibility for social action welfare (child, disabled and older people), education (management of lower secondary school buildings), management of departmental roads, sustainable town and country planning, fire safety. Some competences are shared with other public authorities: tourism, environment, culture and access to technology.

Regarding transport infrastructures, the territory is crossed by 1,577 kilometers of departmental roads, as well as by 8 railway lines and numerous cycling routes. The local council contributes to the development and safety of departmental roads, the reinforcement of the attractiveness of public transport, a more efficient organisation of modal shift, and accompanies the expected changes in mobility behaviour and usage. It conducts a proactive policy so as to develop soft traffic and promote the use of alternative means of transport to the car.

Lorem

Founded in 1224, the University of Naples Federico II (UNINA) is the oldest secular university in the world and one of the largest in Europe with 90,000 students (2022). UNINA has 26 different faculties, from engineering to architecture, from medicine to law, from humanities to biology. The Department of Civil Engineering has been recognized as a Department of Excellence for the quality of its research.

The University of Malta (UOM) traces its origins to the founding of the Collegium Melitense by the Jesuits in 1592. The College was raised to University status by Grand Master Manoel Pinto de Fonseca in 1769. Situated at Msida, it is the highest teaching institution of the State by which it is mainly financed and is open to all those who have the requisite qualifications. Over the past few years, the University has reviewed its structures in order to be in line with the Bologna process. Conscious of its public role, the University strives to create courses which are relevant and timely in response to the national, regional and international needs. The supreme governing bodies of the University are the Council and the Senate.The University has been involved as coordinator and partner in numerous EU funded projects under various Programmes including FP5/6/7, Horizon 2020, Lifelong Learning Programme, Culture 2000, Tempus, Erasmus+, INTERREG EU-MED-ITALIA MALTA-ENPI CBC MED and various other international and national programmes and initiatives.

The University is also represented in a number of European and international University networks and groups. University of Malta (UM) is the sole public and highest teaching institution in Malta, with its structures being in line with the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education area. UM has a 400-year history and there are over 11,500 students including 1,000 foreign/exchange students from nearly 92 different countries, following full-time or part-time degree and diploma courses. Around 3,500 students graduate each year. UM is comprised of 14 Faculties and several other campuses: at Valletta, Marsaxlokk and Gozo. As of 2020, the UM employed a total of 2,848 employees including academics, administrative, technical and industrial staff (1,885 on a full-time basis and 963 on a part-time basis).

The Chair of Traffic Engineering and Control of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has extensive expertise in the development, testing, and evaluation of innovative, multimodal measures to influence traffic and mobility in urban areas. The Chair is integrated into the Department of Mobility Systems Engineering in the TUM School of Engineering and Design, one of the most prestigious engineering schools in Europe. The topics of the chair are addressed in five research groups: Test Fields and Simulators, Public Transport Systems, Traffic Flow Fundamentals, Traffic Control, and On-Demand Mobility.

The Chair of Traffic Engineering at TUM has extensive experience in the fields of traffic simulation and on-demand mobility services through numerous research projects. In recent years, the Python-based software framework FleetPy has been developed for the simulation of on-demand (autonomous) fleets. The chair has already successfully carried out numerous projects within Europe-wide cooperations with public authorities, research institutions, and private sector companies.

The Delft University of Technology is the oldest and largest Dutch public technical university, located in Delft, Netherlands. As of 2022, it is ranked by QS World University Rankings among the top 10 Engineering and Technology universities in the world. With eight faculties and numerous research institutes, it has more than 26,000 students (undergraduate and postgraduate), 3,000 doctoral candidates, and 4,000 employees (teaching, research, support and management staff).
The Department of Transport & Planning, which is part of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, is a global leader in transport science and engineering, providing top-level education and world-class scientific research to develop knowledge and tools for sustainable and resilient multimodal transport systems for people and goods.

TRT is an independent research and consulting firm specialised in transport and mobility planning, transport economics and modelling. The company’s headquarter is based in Milan with a branch office in Brussels. Established in 1992, TRT has earned a solid reputation in supporting public and private actors thanks to its professional and R&D activities in the fields of transport projects and policy assessment. TRT is, indeed, experienced in several and referenced professional services in the following main areas: strategic planning, urban mobility, research projects, feasibility studies, project assessment, transport demand analysis and forecast, logistics and freight transport, planning and regulating of public transport, energy and environment.

TRT has been active in research studies since its founding and has a long experience in participating to research programmes funded by the European Commission, from the fourth Framework Programme up to the new Horizon Europe. Research topics range from methodologies for the evaluation of transport projects, the development of innovative modelling tools, the analysis of energy efficiency of transport systems, the impact of new transport technologies, the promotion and evaluation of innovative mobility services (such as mobility as a service) and the mobility of women.

With reference to sustainable urban mobility, TRT has an extensive practice in providing guidance and support stakeholders from across CIVITAS initiatives. CIVITAS support action programmes foster knowledge transfer, dissemination of best practices and debate about innovative measures for sustainable urban mobility. Since 2008, TRT has been involved in different CIVITAS projects and currently in CIVITAS MUSE. Also, TRT is actively contributing to the EU Urban Mobility Observatory (former Eltis.org) and has participated in the drafting of both releases (2013 and 2019) of the European Guidelines for the drafting of SUMPs.

Technolution is an IT Systems engineering and integration company, with a presence in the Netherlands, Scandinavia and the US, and with a main mission to provide working solutions for clients using IT Technology. In the field of urban mobility, Technolution provides digital platforms and sensors for dynamic multimodal mobility management across (road-) networks for use in municipal, regional and national traffic management centres. With a continued mission to keep solving societal challenges using the latest technological capabilities, Technolution is an active partner in (international) Research and Development consortia over the different markets and sectors that Technolution operates in, ranging from Mobility and Energy to Cybersecurity and Space.

Townmaking is deeply concerned with urbanisation’s inability to address critical societal and environmental issues integrally. We address this by researching and developing societal assets that adress our Movements, Nutritions, Living and Livelihoods.

Tampere University is one of the most multidisciplinary universities in Finland. We bring together research and education in technology, health and society. The University is known for its excellence in teaching and research and it collaborates with hundreds of universities and organisations worldwide. Our community consists of 21,000 students and over 4,000 staff members from more than 80 countries.

The City of Tampere is the third largest city in Finland with 255,050 inhabitants (31.12.2023). Tampere is located in southern Finland,
between two large lakes, Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi. 

stadtraum, based in Berlin, Germany, is a leading smart city innovator, primarily distinguished by its software business unit dedicated to smart city solutions. This division focuses on developing advanced software platforms that facilitate data analysis and management, empowering urban centres to make informed decisions and improve the quality of life for their residents. 

While the company’s software solutions stand at the core of this project, stadtraum also operates as a planning office and an IoT hardware consultant. These complementary units enable the firm to offer a comprehensive suite of services — from strategic urban planning to the provision of essential IoT hardware — thereby supporting cities in becoming more efficient, sustainable, and interconnected.

Steinbeis Europa Zentrum (STEINBEIS) is an independent economic entity within the Steinbeis Foundation. It was founded in March 1990 as the operational unit of the Commissioner for Europe of Baden-Württemberg’s Minister of Economics. SEZ’s core activity is to promote European Research and Technology Development programmes and to support cross-border technology transfer.

STEINBEIS supports small and medium-sized enterprises on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Housing of Baden-Württemberg. At the same time, it supports Universities of Applied Sciences on behalf of the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg.

Moreover, STEINBEIS is involved in several EU-funded projects (more than 70 in 2023) as either partner or coordinator, taking over tasks related to dissemination, communication, exploitation or financial and administrative project management.

With around 76,600 employees at more than 1,850 locations in over 130 countries, DB Schenker is one of the world’s leading logistics providers. The company operates land, air, and ocean transportation services, and it also offers comprehensive solutions for logistics and global supply chain management from a single source.

Aiming for a sustainable future of the logistics industry, DB Schenker continuously invests in innovative transport solutions, renewable energies, and low-emission products for its customers.

Smart City System is a company from Fürth (Germany) with the vision of creating the ideal parking infrastructure for smart cities. The team develops reliable, low-maintenance individual parking space sensors produced in Germany that can be installed in a wide variety of car parks. Once installed, the occupancy status of the car parks can be monitored and controlled in real time using software applications.
At the same time, customers have the option of integrating the data into their own existing systems via interfaces at any time. More than 50,000 sensors have already been installed in Germany and Europe. For example, 25 P&R car parks with more than 2,000 parking spaces have been digitised with the Verkehrsverbund Oberelbe from Dresden. Smart City System sees itself as a full-service provider for its customers. From installation to operation and maintenance of the entire system, the team takes care of every step of the project.

REMOTED is an urban mobility venture revolutionising how we navigate in cities and campuses.

We operate shared, electric, and self-driving shuttles and buses to deliver complete turn-key solutions to markets with superior consumer experience.

We firmly believe streets are public spaces and belong to people. At REMOTED, we are not just vehicle operators; we are architects shaping the future of urban transportation and improving the quality of life in cities.

Oxygen for Democracy (formerly Oxygono) is a non profit non-governmental organisation that was founded in 2014 and it consists of individuals from academia, civil society, policy and business sector. Its projects aim towards improving the policy-making process in Cyprus, to make it more participatory, transparent, scientific and evidence-based. Its flagship projects are Cyprus Forum and Nomoplatform, Cyprus Forum Cities and Procedural Law Unit Annual Symposium.

Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA S.A.) is the authority responsible for planning and coordinating the public transport system in the metropolitan area of Athens. OASA runs the public transport day-to-day operation along with its two subsidiary companies: OSY S.A. which operates buses and trolleybuses and STASY S.A. which provides metro and tram services in the Greek Capital.

The Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (www.transport.ntua.gr) is a Center of Research and Innovation Excellence in Transportation, with global recognition [Ranked 4th in Europe, 26th worldwide (EduRank 2023) and 41st in Europe, 168th worldwide (Shanghai Ranking’s 2023)]. The Mission of the Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering is to educate scientists engineers and to promote science in the field of transportation planning and engineering. High scientific standards and performance are key objectives in all education and research activities of the Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering. The Vision of the NTUA Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering is a future with highly efficient, green and safe transport systems in Greece, in Europe and globally, through high level scientific research and technological development supporting evidence-based decision making in all aspects of all transport modes and types.

The Scope of the Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering comprises all transport modes (road, rail, water, air, combined), all transport types (people and goods, urban and interurban, national and international, terminals) and all phases of transportation projects (planning, design, tendering, construction, delivery for operation, operation, management, maintenance). A Team of 80+ Scientists: 5 Professors, 7 Professors Emeriti, 18 Senior Transportation Engineers and PostDoc, 33 PhD Candidates, 20 Transportation Engineers and other scientists.

Next is an automotive industry innovator specialising in the production of electric modular vehicles. These cutting-edge vehicles boast the unique ability to connect with each other. Additionally, they feature the innovative design of front and rear doors that can open to create a passageway for passengers, even while in motion. This groundbreaking technology holds the promise of revolutionising the public transport system by significantly reducing traffic congestion, enhancing flexibility to meet real-time demand, and optimising energy consumption.

nextbike Cyprus is the license operator of the new innovative way to cycle your way around the city. An ideal climate-friendly solution as a means of transportation and for a leisurely ride. Nextbike Cyprus introduced the Public Bike Sharing system from all around the world to Cyprus with bikes available 24/7. Our fleet consists of 1800 bikes and we operated in all cities in Cyprus.

The MVK Ltd. (MVK Miskolc City Transportation Ltd.) is a public transport company based in Miskolc, Hungary. Our mission is to provide efficient and reliable transportation services to the residents and visitors of Miskolc. We operate buses and trams, connecting various neighbourhoods, ensuring mobility, and contributing to the city’s sustainable development.
The company currently operates 36 bus services on a total line length of 165.2, and 3 tram services on a total line length of 12.7 km.
MVK Ltd. transports nearly 200,000 people every day.

The Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works is responsible for Malta’s connectivity, including the maritime and aviation industries, for both domestic and international travel. The Ministry prepares Malta for modern challenges and the modern economy, from the way we travel — via public transportation and the decarbonization of the transportation sector — to the infrastructure we rely on every day. This requires the planning, design, and implementation of several capital projects that have had a significant impact on mobility in the country over the past few years and on which families, businesses, and visitors depend.

Malta public transport (MPT) is the only public transport operator in Malta that started their operation in 2015. Our fleet is made up of over 400 diesel buses and 33 electric buses.
MPT’s transportation system is characterized by its extensive bus network, serving both locals and tourists across the islands of Malta (Malta & Gozo).

MPT’s transportation system plays a crucial role in facilitating mobility and reducing traffic congestion on the two islands.

MPT is aiming to increase their zero – emission fleet.

MobiLysis offers an all-in-one service which helps cities identify causes of traffic congestion and get solutions towards sustainable mobility. We focus on revolutionizing urban mobility monitoring and analysis using drone technology. We leverage interdisciplinary expertise in fields such as traffic engineering, route optimization, machine learning, and automatic control to develop cutting-edge solutions. By deploying drone swarms equipped with high definition cameras and by utilizing state-of-the-art computer vision algorithms, we collect high-quality, comprehensive data on mobility patterns across various transportation modes, including “soft modes” like bicycles and scooters, as well as pedestrian traffic in a privacy friendly way.

MaaSLab is a pioneer research-based institute focusing on developing cutting-edge solutions, platforms and studies for making the transport sector and our cities sustainable and climate neutral. MaaSLab has a range of projects worldwide, covering sustainable mobility, electric mobility, on-demand transport, connected cooperative and autonomous mobility, self-driving vehicles, multimodality, integration, resilience, and equity – everything that will make our future mobility easier, smarter, and more sustainable. MaaSLab started its operations in an academic environment in London, and after almost 10 years of operations, it has now established itself independent institute.

Limassol is the second largest city in Cyprus with a province population of 262.238 inhabitants. The population of Limassol Municipality is 108.105 inhabitants and it’s the largest municipality in terms of population and the second one in terms of urban area.
Limassol is well known among the rest of the cities in Cyprus for it rich nightlife, its cosmopolitan character and its cultural tradition. It is also the largest port city on the island and one the largest ones in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Limassol is considered to be the industrial centre of the whole of Cyprus with 350 industrial units. The development of tourism in the city took a new turn after the Turkish invasion of 1974 when the Famagusta and Kyrenia the main tourists resorts at that time were occupied.

With a population of over 1.5 million, Munich is a major transportation hub in Europe. In 2021, Munich City Council adopted an overall strategy for mobility “Mobility Strategy 2035“, with a concrete goal of at least 80% of traffic in the Munich city area will be carried out by zero-emission vehicles by 2025, public transport, walking and cycling. The city has a robust public transport system, with public transport accounting for 24% of mode share and cycling and pedestrians making up a significant portion as well. Various shared mobility modes are available throughout the city, including car-sharing, bike-sharing, electric moped-sharing, and scooter-sharing. The initial measures for inner-city commercial transport as a part of the sub-strategy ‘Urban Logistics’ consists of many sustainable innovative approaches to strengthen and accelerate Munich’s commercial traffic with a goal to achieve sustainable and efficient supply of goods, and at the same time improve traffic safety and the quality of life and emissions are to be significantly reduced by 2035.

HC Linear has been a hub for pioneering electronical and software R&D solutions. Our versatile team specializes in crafting tailor-made software, hardware, data analytics, and services, addressing both unique and common challenges.

While our portfolio contains a diverse range of innovative R&D solutions across various industries, our predominant focus over the past decade has been on revolutionizing the public transport sector.

Krakow is the second largest city in Poland; the city hall hires approx. 3000 employees. The city has rich experience with EU co-financed projects, both investment and non-investment ones (total number of Kraków’s international partnership projects completed or in progress is 89) and continuously introduce activities to develop sustainable multimodal urban mobility.

On behalf of the City of Krakow the Public Transport Authority in Krakow (ZTP) will be involved in this project. It is a budgetary unit of the City of Krakow and might be seen as a municipal mobility agency. ZTP is responsible for the public transport organization in Krakow and neighbouring communes, the P+R, cycling and walking systems management, development of the paid parking zone in Krakow and the city information system as well as the sustainable mobility promotion. ZTP continuously increases its involvement in mobility management activities, multidisciplinary projects and new services for citizens to improve their life quality. One of newest project is to develop the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Krakow that aims on improvement of the air quality. The ZTP activities are implemented with the engagement of citizens, which allows to build the awareness of the need for changes and meet the stakeholder’s expectations. ZTP recently realised Interreg Central Europe projects – LOW-CARB (2017-2020) and Dynaxibility4CE (2020-2022), which allowed to gain new experience in the planning and implementation of low-carbon, active, sustainable mobility for functional urban areas. In previous years Krakow was involved also in other European mobility projects, including these co-financed by the EC Framework Programmes, e.g. CIVITAS CARAVEL (2005-2009), CIVITAS CATALIST (2007-2012), PARK4SUMP (2018-2022), HANDSHAKE (2018-2022).

The Municipality of Amsterdam serves as the local government for the city of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. As an organization, it is responsible for a wide range of services and regulations that affect daily life in the city. This includes, but is not limited to, urban planning and development, education, public order and safety, environmental and waste management, social affairs, mobility, and cultural activities. The Municipality of Amsterdam aims to create a liveable, sustainable, and inclusive city for its residents, businesses, and visitors, through policies and projects focused on improving urban infrastructure, promoting economic growth, and ensuring social cohesion. With a democratically elected city council and a college of mayor and aldermen at the helm, the municipality works closely with citizens, businesses, and other stakeholders to meet the city’s needs.

Floware develops an innovative mobility flow analysis solution for private and public operators in the European metropolitan areas and cities. The strength of our technology comes from the integration of our innovative sensors, modelling and simulation tools, driven by a strategic decision-making assistance software. From the edge to the cloud, all our bricks are reinforced by AI, to ensure the scalability of our solution. The result: highly accurate, secure and anonymized data that can be used in a wide range of use cases, for an increasingly fluid, low-carbon and sustainable mobility.

FACTUAL is a foresight strategy and innovation consultancy firm focused on mobility. Our secret sauce combines strategic foresight consultancy, international cooperation through R&D projects, in-house incubation, piloting, and commercialisation of new and disruptive mobility concepts.

Our team of seasoned professionals possesses expert industry knowledge, which enables us to identify and leverage the evolving mobility market dynamics to anticipate trends. Thereby, we are among the most innovative players in the market, helping our clients stay ahead of the curve and become industry leaders.

ERTICO – ITS Europe is a public-private partnership of 120 companies and organisations representing service providers, suppliers, the traffic and transport industry, research, public authorities, user organisations, mobile network operators, and vehicle manufactures.

ERTICO embodies thought leadership and fosters stakeholder engagement; Together with our partners, we develop, promote and deploy Intelligent Transport Systems and Services (ITS) through a variety of activities, including European co-funded projects, innovation platforms, international cooperation, advocacy and events. ERTICO is the organiser of the annual ITS regional and global Congress in Europe. Our work focuses on Connected, Cooperative & Automated Mobility, Urban Mobility, Clean & Eco-Mobility, and Transport & Logistics.

EMEL Ltd is the exclusive provider of Public Bus Transportation in Limassol Cyprus since 2010, securing its second decade-long contract with the Ministry of Transportation in 2022. In 2023, we strengthened our fleet with 177 new buses, including 35 electric minibuses, making EMEL Ltd the pioneer in introducing electric buses to Cyprus. Our dedication lies in elevating the commuting experience for both residents and visitors. We prioritize safety, reliability, and comfort, constantly refining our services to meet community needs while also striving towards a future of zero emissions.

Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) was founded in 1782 and is one of the largest higher educational institutions in engineering in Central Europe. The university holds an international reputation for excellence in engineering. The Department of Transport Technology and Economics has been carrying out research and education in the interdisciplinary fields of transportation engineering and economics, focusing on strategic and operative planning, operation and management, decision support in transport, evaluation and control of transport networks, analysis of passenger and freight transport processes with regard to transport safety and sustainability.

BME is interested to receive relevant information about existing mobility initiatives and best practices. We want to take part in the development of new concepts and tools, which are in line with European trends. The analysis of best practices and the highlighting of strengths and weaknesses of current initiatives help us to create new seamless mobility strategies. Through the strategies we will be able to define new research directions in the field of mobility and develop new methods of transportation related solutions.

BABLE Smart Cities is Europe’s leading facilitator for Smart and Climate-Neutral Cities. With a decade of experience in the field, BABLE offers practical insights gained by practitioners, for practitioners. BABLE’s mission is to accelerate the change for a better urban life by supporting urban stakeholders in creating sustainable, innovative, and inclusive cities and towns. BABLE free platform connects innovators and the public sector, providing access to the most comprehensive Smart City datasets and insights in Europe. With 7+ regional offices across Europe, it combines local knowledge with global best practices to implement more projects faster.

Lorem

Athens Anaplassis S.A. is a state-owned entity, established in 2018, for the preparation, planning, implementation, and management of sustainable urban interventions of private, public, municipal, cultural and other infrastructures in the City of Athens. The projects of Athens Anaplassis S.A. aim for the regeneration, upgrade and revival of the public space and urban landscape, its economic, social and cultural development and the improvement of the quality of life of the areas of intervention through environmentally, technically and aesthetically sound, innovative, and advanced practices.

Since December 2023, Athens Anaplassis S.A. was renamed Anaplassis S.A. and it can now undertake projects all over Greece. Anaplassis S.A. is currently leading a series of Engineering and Design Studies and Public Construction Projects, working closely with public authorities, the municipality of Athens and other stakeholders such as public and private entities, Universities and NPOs.

Argaleo offer digital twins for sustainable, safe and livable cities. With our digital twin platform we support decision-and policy maker with datadriven insight to create better cities.

AMAT, i.e. Agenzia Mobilità Ambiente e Territorio (Agency for Mobility Environment and Territory), is a consulting company, totally owned by the City of Milan, committed to providing strategic planning and technical studies for urban mobility and environment quality. 

Due to its multidisciplinary competence, AMAT supports the City of Milan in the following working areas: Mobility Planning and Implementation, Energy Efficiency, CO2 mitigation and adaptation, Circular Economy, Waste Management, Noise, Water resources, Urban Planning and Information Systems and Management. 

AMAT also has considerable experience in developing and managing R&D projects in several European Programmes in the field of sustainable mobility, electro-mobility, transport and logistics, energy saving, energy efficiency and urban planning.

ATPL is the authority in charge of planning and monitoring local public transport services, managing the fare system and handling contracts with public transport operators in the Metropolitan City of Milan and the provinces of Monza and Brianza, Lodi and Pavia.

ATPL is the authority in charge of planning and monitoring local public transport services, managing the fare system and handling contracts with public transport operators in the Metropolitan City of Milan and the provinces of Monza and Brianza, Lodi and Pavia.