What is the future of urban mobility? Naroa Coretti Sánchez, one of our 2023 Innovators Under 35, is working to make it smarter and more sustainable.

Naroa Coretti Sánchez is a Research Scientist at the MIT Media Lab, where she explores new approaches to urban mobility, combining autonomous technologies, data-driven modeling and sustainable transportation systems. Her work has earned her recognition from MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 Europe and Forbes 30 Under 30. 

In 2023, Naroa Coretti Sánchez was selected as one of MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 Europe, joining a community of young researchers, entrepreneurs and technological pioneers recognized for their potential to shape the future through innovation. 

Originally from the Basque Country, Naroa has built her research career at the intersection of engineering, technology and urban sustainability. At the MIT Media Lab’s City Science group, her work focuses on rethinking how people move through cities and how emerging technologies can make transportation more efficient, accessible and environmentally sustainable. 

Her research explores lightweight autonomous mobility systems, including self-driving bicycles and shared mobility solutions that could offer cities an alternative to conventional transportation models. Rather than simply introducing new vehicles, her work investigates how these technologies could transform entire urban mobility systems. 

Since receiving the IU35 recognition, Naroa has continued her research at MIT, earned her PhD and been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Her work has also attracted international media attention and has been exhibited at institutions including the Museum of Science in Boston and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.