Participation of the IKIGAI project at the ALICE Logistics Innovation Summit 

At the Logistics Innovation Summit 2025, held on 23-24 October at the Tangla Hotel in Brussels, the IKIGAI Project took part in multiple sessions and as an exhibitor. The summit, themed “Freight transport and logistics innovation for a competitive Europe,” served as a critical platform for IKIGAI to demonstrate its contribution to the transition towards a more integrated, sustainable, and digitised European logistics system. Through its participation, IKIGAI underscored its mission to accelerate the adoption of the Physical Internet (PI) by 2040 and support the European Green Deal objectives. 

Pioneering Digital Infrastructure: eFTI, Data Spaces, and EDIC 

In the session “From Regulation to Implementation: eFTI, Data Spaces and European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC),” held on 23 October, IKIGAI was showcased as a project already delivering tangible outputs in the field of digital freight documentation and data interoperability. This session, moderated by Tomasz Dowgielewicz from ALICE, clarified the regulatory and technological landscape underpinning Europe’s digital logistics infrastructure. 

IKIGAI was referenced as a contributing initiative producing actionable outcomes, such as API gateways for eFTI-compliant data sets and early-stage data space connectors. These innovations aim to support seamless, sovereign data exchange across borders and organisations. Moreover, IKIGAI’s involvement in port and terminal pilots was noted as instrumental in reducing redundant data entry and expediting freight control processes – a critical step toward operationalising the eFTI Regulation and unlocking business value from regulatory compliance. 

Scaling intelligence: AI and Digital Twins in the Physical Internet era 

Later that day, during the session “From Data to Decisions: AI and Digital Twins in the Physical Internet Era,” IKIGAI was again highlighted as a key contributor. Organised by ALICE’s Giuseppe Luppino, this session explored how Artificial Intelligence and Digital Twin technologies are not just theoretical constructs but are becoming operational tools in logistics ecosystems. 

IKIGAI’s participation here reflected its role in the broader transformation of Europe’s logistics system through digitalisation. It was presented among a suite of innovative EU projects that are advancing smart, interconnected freight operations. The session touched on how IKIGAI contributes to creating interoperable, federated architectures capable of supporting real-time decision-making, simulation-based planning, and predictive analytics. These technologies are foundational to the Physical Internet vision, and IKIGAI’s pilot work offers a practical pathway to scaling these concepts from demonstration to deployment. 

Anchoring Global Momentum: The Physical Internet and Standardisation Forum 

IKIGAI was prominently referenced in the Global Forum on Physical Internet and Standardisation, a session that united logistics experts from Europe and Asia to discuss the accelerating international momentum behind the PI paradigm. With inputs from Japan, Korea, and China, the forum highlighted regional implementations of the PI, while foregrounding the importance of standardisation as the glue enabling global interoperability. 

In this context, IKIGAI was identified as a flagship European initiative supporting the advancement of PI adoption. Its efforts to shape standardised frameworks and support ISO technical committee activities were acknowledged as foundational. Through this lens, IKIGAI’s work was presented not only as a European endeavour but also as a globally significant initiative shaping international logistics innovation. 

Unlocking waterway potential: Rivers of opportunity 

In the session “Rivers of Opportunity: Unlocking Inland Waterways for Urban and Long-Distance Freight,” IKIGAI featured as one of the linked exhibitor projects supporting the conversation on how rivers and canals can become viable, low-emission freight corridors. The session was part of ALICE’s continued efforts to integrate inland waterway transport into the broader Physical Internet roadmap. 

While not a presenting project in this session, IKIGAI’s presence underscored its alignment with modal shift strategies and its commitment to decarbonisation. The project’s relevance was situated within the context of urban logistics and hinterland connectivity, reinforcing how its innovations can support multimodal integration, especially in dense urban environments where waterways represent untapped logistical potential. 

Rethinking Modal Shift: The Multimodal Leap and ALICE EXPRESS 

One of IKIGAI’s most strategic appearances was in the session “The Multimodal Leap: ALICE EXPRESS and Integrated Logistics,” which took place on 24 October. This session brought together a cross-section of stakeholders – from shippers and logistics service providers to policy-makers and digital platform operators – to discuss how collaborative initiatives can overcome persistent barriers in rail and multimodal freight. 

Here, IKIGAI was described as a strategic project helping to define long-term transformation pathways for European logistics. In particular, its role in supporting the scalability and deployment of ALICE EXPRESS corridor pilots was highlighted. By working in tandem with initiatives like ReMuNet and SARIL, IKIGAI contributes to building the governance structures, data ecosystems, and collaborative models necessary for a modal shift towards rail and multimodal transport. The session connected IKIGAI’s long-term vision-setting role with the practical, deployment-focused nature of ALICE EXPRESS, showing how strategy and implementation can reinforce each other. 

Presence in the Exhibition Hall 

Complementing its involvement in thematic sessions, IKIGAI was also an active exhibitor throughout the two-day summit. Its exhibition booth served as an interactive touchpoint for participants eager to learn more about how the project operationalises Physical Internet principles. Materials and discussions focused on IKIGAI’s flagship innovations, such as the GS1 Reusable Smart Box, the digital chain of custody (Book & Claim) mechanism developed by Gruber Logistics, and the SME-focused eFTI collaboration platform. 

By facilitating direct dialogue with industry leaders, policy-makers, and researchers, the IKIGAI booth embodied the project’s collaborative ethos. It demonstrated not only technological capabilities but also how public-private partnerships and multi-actor ecosystems can drive real progress toward the European Commission’s climate and competitiveness.

Conclusion 

Across all its appearances – from strategic panels and regulatory discussions to applied AI and multimodal pilots – IKIGAI stood out as a linchpin project connecting policy, technology, and operations. Its presence at the Logistics Innovation Summit 2025 reaffirmed its role as a key driver in Europe’s logistics transition, anchoring long-term system change while delivering tangible results today. As the EU races toward decarbonised, digitised, and connected freight transport, IKIGAI is not only part of the conversation, it is helping lead it.