Edwin Mermans is senior advisor international affairs at the Smart and Sustainable Mobility Programme from the Province of Noord-Brabant (NL) and process manager of the European 'New Mobility Services' (NMS) community within CIVITAS. Edwin is part of the Innovation & Development team of the SmartwayZ.NL programme in Southern-Netherlands. He is chair of the BrabantStad network on international affairs on mobility in which the province and the 7 largest municipalities in Noord-Brabant collaborate. Edwin Mermans has experience in a wide range of European programmes, projects and networks. He is fascinated by the role of governments in dealing with societal challenges - to create value - by boosting multi helix learning ecosystems using design-thinking concepts.