An expanded network will accelerate sustainable transportation innovation
CHICAGO – A globally connected economy depends on transportation systems that are reliable, affordable, and resilient. Meeting that challenge and securing a future mobility network that strengthens energy security and economic competitiveness requires international collaboration at scale. That goal has guided the Clean Energy and Equitable Transportation Solutions (CLEETS) Global Center since its launch in late 2023.
Today, CLEETS announced the addition of three new research partners: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and Kyushu University (Japan), and hosted an inaugural workshop. With these institutions joining the Global Center, CLEETS now brings together nine leading global academic/research partners spanning major world economies and experts working at the intersection of transportation sectors.
“Transportation is global, and so are the challenges and opportunities before us,” said Ashish Sharma, director of the CLEETS Global Center and climate and urban sustainability lead at Discovery Partners Institute (DPI), part of the University of Illinois. “To build mobility systems that are secure, sustainable, and economically strong, we need the best minds and real-world contexts from around the world. These new partners broaden our reach and sharpen our impact.”
A global center built for innovation and impact
CLEETS was established in 2023 through a joint investment by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). In addition to DPI, its founding partner institutions were the University of Illinois Chicago, Arizona State University, and NSF–NCAR in the United States, and the University of Birmingham and Cardiff University in the United Kingdom. Headquartered at DPI, CLEETS advances cutting-edge research and training that supports next-generation road transportation.
CLEETS operates as a first-of-its-kind global center focused on transforming road transportation through a model that integrates technology, interdisciplinary research, policy innovation, and industry and community engagement. With more than 40 international experts, CLEETS is a convergence point for leaders in energy systems, data science, transportation engineering, policy, and community-centered innovation.
The new partners will contribute major strengths aligned with CLEETS’ research and education agenda:
- IIT Bombay will collaborate on hyperlocal forecasting, AI/ML-enabled smart mobility, and transportation applications tailored to India’s fast-growing mobility demand.
“We are excited to learn and share our experiences in hyperlocal forecasting using AI and machine learning, and smart mobility within the Indian context,” says Subimal Ghosh, head of IIT Bombay’s Centre for Climate Studies.
IIT Bombay also maintains active student exchanges with the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, supporting a pipeline of joint research and training. - UNAM will explore data integration towards holistic modelling and evaluation of energy transport systems in the urban and rural landscapes and expand joint education efforts. “We look forward to exchanging ideas towards holistic modeling of energy transport systems and education opportunities,” said Karla Graciela Cedano Villavicencio, Head of the Innovation and Futures Lab at UNAM.
UNAM’s current partnerships with Chicago and the UK will enable on-the-ground collaboration with CLEETS and DPI partners. - Kyushu University will bring expertise on demographic shifts, electric and hydrogen transportation policy design, and mobility systems for aging populations, an emerging global transportation priority.
“Japan is navigating major changes in population and mobility needs,” said Andrew Chapman, professor in the International Institute for Carbon Neutral Research (I2CNER) at Kyushu University. “We’re eager to collaborate with CLEETS on policy questions and practical solutions, and to deepen faculty and student exchange.“
The benefits of an expanded network
“These partnerships strengthen international research ecosystems capable of addressing large-scale transportation challenges,” said Paul Raterron, NSF Global Centers program director. “We’re excited to see CLEETS grow by adding active partners in India, Japan, and Mexico — countries central to the future of global mobility.”
IIT Bombay and UNAM are also longstanding partners of the DPI Research Council, further reinforcing collaborative ties across research and workforce development.
“With these partnerships, we will expand exchange visits, publish joint papers, and scale our Global Classroom and seasonal school programs so students and early-career researchers can learn from international experts and real-world, use-inspired, and place-based case studies,” Sharma added. “This growing CLEETS platform also opens new avenues for partners to pursue funding from their home agencies and accelerate high-impact transportation research.”
“Transport and mobility solutions need to be appropriate to local economies and populations, which we have been exploring in CLEETS,” said CLEETS UK Lead Jonathan Radcliffe. “In the UK, the West Midlands and South Wales have transport (passenger and freight) requirements that complement the work being undertaken in the US. Bringing additional partners from India, Mexico, and Japan will enable us to strengthen our portfolio even further — enabling us to explore commonalities and differences in decarbonizing strategies in these regions.”
About CLEETS Global Center
The Clean Energy and Equitable Transportation Solutions (CLEETS) Global Center is an NSF–UKRI funded internationally network research center headquartered at Discovery Partners Institute in Chicago. CLEETS advances secure, resilient, and zero-emission road transportation through interdisciplinary research, technology innovation, policy design, and global education programs. CLEETS maintains active collaborations across the United States and UK with universities, industry, and government agencies, helping translate research into deployable solutions.
For more information, visit https://www.cleets-global-center.org/