Dr Judith Puttkammer joined the Advisory Board of the eco Competence Group Mobility in December 2024. In this interview, the expert on data spaces for mobility data talks about the importance of sovereign data spaces, regulatory priorities and the role of innovative technologies. She also provides insights into how she would like to contribute to the work of the competence group with her experience as Deputy Head of Mobility Data Space at acatech – the German National Academy of Science and Engineering and what impetus she hopes to provide for the mobility policy of the future.
Which aspects of the digital transformation in the mobility sector do you consider particularly promising and why?
Dr Judith Puttkammer: The success of digital transformation in the mobility sector depends above all on whether we manage to interconnect a large amount of data across companies and organisations. With the help of sovereign data spaces, data can be shared from company to company via a decentralised infrastructure, while data providers retain complete control over their data. Connecting data from different sources enables new, innovative mobility solutions – which offers enormous potential for value creation in Germany and Europe.
How would you like to enrich the work of the Mobility Competence Group as a member of the Advisory Board?
Dr Judith Puttkammer: How can we ensure that the mobility sector benefits from the rapidly developing data economy as quickly and sustainably as possible? As an expert in the field of mobility data ecosystems, I would like to enrich the work of the Mobility Competence Group in particular by providing new impetus on this issue.
What role do you see for innovative technologies such as AI and big data in the future development of the mobility sector?
Dr Judith Puttkammer: From autonomous driving and intelligent traffic control to mobility-as-a-service offerings – the mobility of tomorrow will not be possible without AI and big data. These technologies are key drivers when it comes to making our mobility more climate-friendly, safer and more user-friendly.
However, we should not forget that the basis for the successful use of AI and big data initially depends on accessing a large amount of data from different sources and linking them together. This starting point for innovative technologies âmade in Germany/EUâ still needs to be created.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges for sustainable mobility and how can the eco competence group provide support?
Dr Judith Puttkammer: This brings us back to the topic of data spaces: the main challenge for sustainable mobility solutions is to create a culture of data sharing that benefits companies, researchers and citizens. To achieve this, we need to reduce legal and organisational uncertainties surrounding data trading in particular. The Mobility Comptetence Group can support this by making transparent a) which problems are driving the sector, b) which guidelines already point to solutions and c) what additional support is needed.
What experiences or projects from your professional career can provide added value for the competence group’s activities?
Dr Judith Puttkammer: As deputy project manager of the Mobility Data Space, I have gained extensive experience over the last three years in setting up and operating one of the first operating data spaces in the EU. Through my previous professional activities in the CDU’s federal head office and as an office manager in the German Bundestag, I know how to translate the practice-oriented learning around mobility data ecosystems into political recommendations for action.
What do you think should be prioritised in the area of regulation and law for the mobility sector?
Dr Judith Puttkammer: Regulation, especially in the policy field of mobility data, must focus much more strongly on users. One example: there are a large number of legal data delivery obligations for mobility players, the purpose of which is to enable new data-based innovations. The data providers fulfil their delivery obligations, but the data provided in this way is hardly used by the market. The reason: what users (e.g. an AI start-up for mobility solutions) need for new innovations does not correspond to the data provided, as communication between data users and data providers on actual data requirements has so far been insufficiently incorporated into legal data supply obligations. It would therefore be important to align regulation more closely with the actual needs of the market.
In your opinion, how can we improve cooperation between industry, research and the public sector?
Dr Judith Puttkammer: Cooperation can be improved in particular by highlighting best practices. Suitable formats and communities already exist for the development and implementation of overarching cooperation projects between business, research and the public sector, and we should build on these by promoting them, utilising them and making them more visible.
What is your personal motivation for getting involved in the eco Mobility Competence Group?
Dr Judith Puttkammer: I have always been particularly interested in the mobility sector, as it offers great potential for Germany as a location for business and innovation. It is a key concern of mine that Germany and the EU set the right course to be able to help shape the future of mobility in the long term in the face of international competition.
After all, whether you are a start-up, automotive group or research institute, the use of AI and big data based on the networking of a large number of data sources offers enormous opportunities for players in our mobility sector. We now need to remove barriers as quickly as possible, provide secure and trustworthy infrastructures for data trading and enable innovative business models. My involvement in the Mobility Competence Group is intended to contribute to this goal and thus help to strengthen Germany and the EU as a centre of mobility and innovation.
What impetus do you hope the new German federal government will provide for the mobility sector in the context of the 2025 federal elections?
Dr Judith Puttkammer: There are various approaches and measures available to the new government to enable innovative mobility solutions and business models while at the same time leveraging synergies between existing structures. One concrete example is the implementation of the merger of the Mobilithek and the Mobility Data Space. By abolishing the parallel structures that exist exclusively in the German mobility data ecosystem, a one-stop shop for mobility data would be created that offers a single point of contact for all mobility stakeholders, reduces interfaces and leverages synergies.
Thank you very much for the interview!
