IKIGAI took part in the ALICE Brokerage Event 2026, held on 2-3 February 2026 in Brussels and organised by ALICE (Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe). Combined with the ALICE General Assembly, the event provided a key in-person forum for collaboration across Europe’s logistics and supply chain innovation ecosystem, with a strong focus on preparing high-quality proposals for Horizon Europe 2026-2027.
Hosted at the Tangla Hotel, the two-day event brought together ALICE members, research organisations, industry representatives and policy stakeholders to align strategic priorities, identify partners and strengthen collective ambition for the future of European logistics.
IKIGAI recognised during the ALICE General Assembly
A defining moment for IKIGAI came during the ALICE General Assembly on 2 February, where François-Régis, Chair of ALICE, highlighted the project among three key milestones shaping ALICE’s strategic trajectory.
The launch of IKIGAI in July 2025 was explicitly recognised as a cornerstone initiative for ALICE. The project was presented as a central mechanism to anchor Physical Internet governance, support the development of the Physical Internet Norm, consolidate ALICE’s strategic roadmaps into a unified “Genome”, and scale up five concrete, industry-driven logistics innovations. Initial results are expected to be shared throughout 2026, with strong involvement from ALICE members.
This positioning reflects IKIGAI’s role not as a standalone project, but as a structural enabler supporting long-term alignment, interoperability and scale across Europe’s logistics innovation landscape.
Brokerage Event 2026: collaboration towards Horizon Europe 2026-2027
The ALICE Brokerage Event on 3 February was designed to support both members and external participants in preparing for the upcoming Horizon Europe 2026-2027 calls. The programme included an in-depth overview of relevant calls, discussion tables organised by topic, and structured 1-to-1 matchmaking meetings, complemented by networking opportunities throughout the day.
In this context, IKIGAI’s participation focused on engagement with the community, visibility of its objectives, and alignment with future collaborative opportunities. Exchanges centred on how Physical Internet principles, common interfaces and interoperable building blocks can underpin scalable, affordable and zero-emission freight transport solutions within future European projects.
Linking European strategy with global Physical Internet momentum
During the General Assembly, IKIGAI was also positioned within a broader global context. Reference was made to the growing momentum of the Physical Internet in Asia, particularly following IPIC 2025 in Hong Kong, where countries such as China and Japan demonstrated rapid progress from concept to real business implementation.
Against this backdrop, IKIGAI’s collaboration with the IPIC – International Physical Internet Conference was highlighted. IPIC 2026 will focus on “Supply Chain and Logistics Intelligence in the Era of the Physical Internet”, bridging high-tech and low-tech solutions and reinforcing the link between research, innovation and deployment.
A strategic presence within the ALICE ecosystem
Although IKIGAI’s on-site activation at the Brokerage Event was intentionally limited, including a dedicated roll-up and partner representation, its strategic visibility was firmly embedded in ALICE’s narrative for the coming years. The project’s presence underscored its role as a unifying framework for collaboration, governance and innovation, supporting ALICE’s ambition to accelerate the realisation of the Physical Internet by 2040 and to contribute to decarbonised freight transport by 2050.
By being recognised at the highest strategic level of ALICE, IKIGAI reinforces its position as a collective endeavour – built on trust, shared ownership and steady, coordinated progress – and as a key vehicle for turning Physical Internet principles into operational reality across Europe.
Why Is the project titled IKIGAI
In Japanese, ikigai means “a reason for being” – the point where what we love, what the world needs, what we are good at, and what we are paid for intersect. This concept is not just a name; it is the foundation of the IKIGAI Project’s purpose and vision.
IKIGAI represents a deeply held belief that the Physical Internet (PI) is essential to the future of logistics.
Kick-off meeting in Rome
On 8-9 July 2025, the IKIGAI consortium gathered in Rome for its official Kick-off Meeting, hosted by project coordinator FIT Consulting srl. This two-day event marked the formal launch of IKIGAI, a Horizon Europe project dedicated to advancing the Physical Internet (PI) and achieving the twin transition of logistics digitalisation and decarbonisation in Europe.
