Paving the Way for Seamless Mobility: KEYSTONE at the NFTM Symposium in Athens
At the forefront of digital innovation in transportation, the KEYSTONE project made a powerful impression during the "Navigating the Future of Traffic Management" (NFTM) Symposium held in Athens. The event brought together global traffic management experts, policymakers, and innovators to exchange ideas on building the next generation of transportation systems. Among the standout contributors was Zoe Petrakou, Project Manager at AETHON Engineering P.C., who presented KEYSTONE’s vision and achievements in Session 5E: "Can we all get along – data sharing eco-systems" On 2 July 2025 from 13:45 to 15:15 CET in Athens, Greece.
Confronting the Data Sharing Challenge
The symposium highlighted a critical issue: the transportation sector’s future depends on seamless, secure, and efficient data sharing. Yet, the path to this future is far from simple. Participants emphasised:
Fragmented and complex legal frameworks
Inadequate tools for real-time data integration
Lack of trust and reluctance among actors to share sensitive data
The inaccessibility of reliable information for enforcement authorities
Session 5E: "Can we all get along – data sharing eco-systems”.
Zoe Petrakou, Project Manager at AETHON Engineering P.C., representing KEYSTONE.
These barriers mirror the very challenges that KEYSTONE was designed to address.
KEYSTONE’s Response: Building a Harmonised, Interoperable Future
Backed by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, KEYSTONE aims to standardise digital infrastructure for the transport sector, making real-time, cross-platform data sharing a reality. By developing plug-and-play solutions, the project is setting a foundation for inclusive and future-proof data ecosystems.
At the heart of this strategy is the creation of:
A foundational API Reference Model
A first-of-its-kind API Standard and implementation library in Python
These tools are agnostic of legacy systems, enabling seamless data exchange even across outdated or heterogeneous infrastructures.
What Sets KEYSTONE Apart
Stakeholder-Driven Design: Through engagement with transport operators, authorities, and SMEs, KEYSTONE ensures its tools reflect real-world needs.
Interoperability by Design: Drawing from existing standards and research, the project offers a clear methodology for scalable integration.
SME Empowerment: A user-friendly Web App & Smartphone solution simplifies access to the ecosystem, lowering barriers for small players.
Knowledge Management Framework: A dynamic KM system enables smarter collaboration between enforcement, infrastructure managers, and logistics operators – laying the groundwork for Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM).
Real-World Validation: Two pilot implementations (road and intermodal transport) provide valuable performance metrics and feedback for refining the standard.
From Vision to Impact
KEYSTONE’s solutions directly address the pressing need for standardised, FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data in transport. The benefits are already becoming clear:
Faster, contactless data access
Reduced administrative burden
Streamlined compliance checks
Strengthened cooperation between stakeholders
Enhanced decision-making through real-time analytics
Looking ahead, KEYSTONE will deliver policy recommendations to support legislative alignment and governance models for digital transport ecosystems across Europe.
Conclusion: Laying the Foundation for Europe’s Transport Future
The NFTM Symposium served as a clear endorsement of projects like KEYSTONE, which combine technical excellence, stakeholder inclusiveness, and policy foresight. As Europe moves toward a more integrated and sustainable transport future, KEYSTONE is already paving the way with digital solutions that are not only effective but essential.
Stay tuned to the KEYSTONE website for updates from our pilot sites, API standard releases, and key results as we continue driving forward the vision of truly interoperable and intelligent traffic management.
Author: Zoe Petrakou (AETHON Engineering P.C.)