There is an increasing demand for strategies to further social inclusion, and for social policy makers to recognise the important role of societal innovation to maximise peoples' participation in social and economic life. However, there is currently a gap in dialogue, in policy co-ordination and in the planning and assessment process.

Within the area of societal innovation an important aim is to increase the understanding of the relationship between transport and social exclusion. The objective is to contribute to the strategic goal of promoting participation in civil society, employment, and cultural life through improved access to means of mobility in cities and rural areas of Europe.

Rupprecht Consult supports the development of an evaluation framework to assess transport impacts on social exclusion, and to produce a package of advice and decision-support tools for transport and social policy makers. Our expertise related to societal innovation includes the involvement in one of the EU projects within the Community Action Programme to Combat Social Exclusion:

MATISSE - Methodology for Assessment of Transport ImpactS on Social Exclusion