Meet ICCS
ICCS, the Institute of Communications and Computer Systems is the oldest and largest academic Research Institute in Greece. It is the research branch of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), and it was founded in 1989 as an independent, non-profit organization. Since then, ICCS conducts interdisciplinary cutting-edge research and R&D activities in areas such as: Hardware and Software Technology, Computer Network Technology, Digital Communications Technologies, Automation Technologies, Energy and Power Production Technologies, Biomedical and Biomechanics Technologies, Information Systems and Management Decision Technologies, Photonic Technologies for Communications etc. For the last 33 years, it has a valuable impact on the country’s scientific output, producing outstanding research results that contribute to the targets of the European Research Area (ERA). Committed to the highest standards of academic research, the Institute maintains well organized facilities based in Athens and a reputation as a top-level research institution worldwide. With more than 800 highly qualified researchers, scientists and faculty members and having a long history of involvement in R&D activities (e.g. participation in more than 4000 national and European R&D projects), the Institute offers a world-class research environment for technical inquiry and scholarly exchange. Today, ICCS comprises of 34 Research Units.
In DELPHI project, ICCS is represented by one of its Research Units, the I-SENSE Group. I-SENSE Group consists of more than 150 researchers of various ranks and is very active in a number of scientific and research areas with main application areas the Intelligent Transportation Systems, Virtual Environments, Assistive Technologies and Smart Integrated Systems & Communication. I-SENSE has coordinated and participates in more than 150 Research Projects, both EU funded and National ones, the last 20 years, and has worked with several industry leaders since its establishment in 2002, serving currently as the Coordinator of the following projects in the field of CCAM and ITS:EVENTS, ENVELOPE, Battery2life and many others.
Can you provide an overview of your role and involvement in the DELPHI project?
ICCS plays a pivotal role in the DELPHI project, contributing both to its strategic direction and the development and testing of practical, innovative solutions that support the integration of combined passenger and freight transport. Beyond our role as project coordinator, ICCS is actively engaged in exploring the governance and regulatory frameworks required to enable combined passenger and freight mobility systems. We are also working on the development of a reference architecture that supports the federation of multi-modal passenger and freight transport systems—aiming to overcome existing gaps and silos between diverse transport modes and technologies. In addition, ICCS is responsible for leading one of the project’s four pilot demonstrations, taking place on the island of Mykonos. This pilot explores how means traditionally used for passengers —such as shuttles and taxis— can be optimally used to support local freight logistics, especially in a seasonal and tourism-driven context. Through these activities, ICCS ensures that DELPHI combines forward-thinking innovation with real-world relevance, driving progress toward smarter, more integrated transport solutions.
How do existing governance and regulatory frameworks hinder the development of combined passenger and freight mobility systems?
Current governance and regulatory frameworks are often structured around a strict separation between passenger and freight transport, both at the policy and operational levels. This separation creates significant challenges when attempting to design and implement integrated systems that utilize shared infrastructure and services. For instance, legal restrictions may prevent the use of public transport vehicles for freight purposes, or there may be no clear regulatory provisions to support such hybrid use cases. Additionally, responsibilities for urban mobility and logistics often fall under different authorities, making coordinated planning and decision-making difficult. In the DELPHI project, we are addressing this challenge by mapping the existing regulatory landscape and identifying the gaps and inconsistencies that need to be resolved. We also propose a novel governance framework which consolidates requirements aimed at enabling more effective governance of federated, multimodal mobility systems. This framework is built around three core dimensions: (i) multilevel governance of urban mobility, (ii) stakeholder roles and engagement, and (iii) policies related to urban mobility for passengers and freight. By tackling these regulatory and governance issues, we aim to lay the groundwork for a more flexible and supportive environment where integrated passenger-freight solutions can thrive.
What are the main challenges related to data availability and collection when integrating passenger and freight transport systems, and how does DELPHI address them?
One of the most significant challenges in DELPHI has been the limited availability, fragmentation, and lack of harmonization of data across the passenger and freight transport sectors. Information is typically collected by different sources and stakeholders using diverse systems and standards, making it difficult to integrate, analyze, and generate a unified, real-time view of mobility patterns. To overcome this, DELPHI promotes the use of harmonized data specifications and reference information models, enabling secure and consistent data sharing across systems. It leverages both traditional sources—like municipal open data, on-board units (OBUs), and roadside sensors (RSUs)—and novel methods, such as UAV-based monitoring for rural or hard-to-reach areas. Furthermore, DELPHI introduces architectural enablers to support secure data federation using a Data Spaces-driven approach, ensuring data sovereignty and stakeholder trust. Combined with advanced AI/ML-powered analytics, these innovations lay the groundwork for smarter, more responsive, and integrated mobility services.
How do you see the integration of passenger and freight transport systems evolving beyond the scope of DELPHI, and what role can ICCS play in this transformation?
The integration of passenger and freight transport is likely to gain increasing attention as cities and regions strive for more sustainable, efficient, and resilient mobility systems. We foresee the rise of shared mobility platforms, AI-driven logistics, and real-time multimodal optimization playing a central role in shaping this future.Building on the outcomes of DELPHI, ICCS is well-positioned to support this evolution by further advancing the development of interoperable architectures, secure data-sharing mechanisms, and governance models that enable such systems to scale. Our expertise in coordinating large-scale pilot projects and working closely with public and private stakeholders allows us to continue acting as a bridge between research innovation and real-world deployment. We believe that the lessons learned from DELPHI will inform future mobility strategies across urban, suburban, and rural contexts.
Is there any other aspect of the DELPHI project or ICCS’s involvement you would like to highlight?
It should be highlighted that the collaborative spirit of the DELPHI consortium stands out as a key strength, bringing together a diverse network of stakeholders—municipalities, transport operators, technology providers, and academic institutions. This diversity is essential for addressing the multifaceted challenges of integrated mobility. Equally important is the real-life evaluation of the DELPHI ecosystem through its pilot implementations. These demonstrations offer critical insights into the practical challenges and opportunities of hybrid passenger and freight transport systems, especially in geographically and economically diverse contexts. Finally, we see DELPHI as not just a project, but a stepping stone toward long-term systemic change in how urban mobility is conceptualized and implemented. We are excited to contribute to this ongoing journey.
Dr Angelos Amditis,
Research & Development Director, ICCS/NTUA
Director of I-SENSE Research Group
DELPHI Scientific coordinator
