The City of Varaždin, Croatia will host the first Demonstration Days of the GINEVRA project, marking a major milestone in the real-life testing of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in Central Europe. Designed as more than a technical showcase, this event highlights GINEVRA’s commitment to inclusive, citizen-driven innovation and responsible governance. Throughout the two-day event, residents of Varaždin—including students, seniors, emergency service personnel, local officials, and citizens with special needs—will take part in hands-on experiences with AV technology. The demonstrations aim to test not only the vehicles, but also the social and governance frameworks that support their adoption. Programme Overview: – 21 October: Preliminary test drive with emergency services – 22 October – Demonstration Day 1 → Involving students, senior citizens, people with special needs, and local government representatives – 23 October – Demonstration Day 2 → Engaging academic partners, business associations, professional organisations, and emergency services Each group of participants is limited to 24 individuals, ensuring focused interaction and high-quality feedback on the tools, safety measures, and public perceptions related to autonomous mobility. These demonstration activities represent a living lab approach, where local conditions, governance questions, and user experiences converge in a real urban environment. Varaždin is the first of three pilot cities in the GINEVRA project to host such demonstrations- Cesena (Italy) and Bad Schönborn (Germany) will follow. This initiative puts into action GINEVRA’s core mission: supporting cities in governing transformative innovations in a responsible, participatory, and transparent manner.
