Horizon 2020: smart, green and integrated transport

Horizon 2020 will be the umbrella for future research and innovation funding - the follow up to FP7 and the CIP (IEE/STEER). Transport funding shall be focused on smart, green and integrated transport.

Horizon 2020 will address major concerns shared by all Europeans, across six key themes (see Eltis news item Horizon 2020 - The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation for overall context). Smart, green and integrated transport has 6,802 million euro as proposed funding. The specific objective here is to achieve a European transport system that is resource efficient, environmentally-friendly, safe and seamless for the benefit of citizens, the economy and society.

Europe must reconcile the growing mobility needs of its citizens with the imperatives of economic performance and the requirements of a low-carbon society and climate resilient economy. Despite its growth, the transport sector must achieve a substantial reduction in greenhouse gases and other adverse environmental impacts, and must break its dependency on oil, while maintaining high levels of efficiency and mobility. Sustainable mobility can only be achieved through a radical change in the transport system, inspired by breakthroughs in transport research, far-reaching innovation, and a coherent, Europe-wide implementation of greener, safer and smarter transport solutions.

Research and innovation must bring about focussed and timely advances that will help achieve key Union policy objectives, while boosting economic competitiveness, supporting the transition to a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy, and maintaining global market leadership. Although the necessary investments in research, innovation and deployment will be significant, failing to improve the sustainability of transport will result in unacceptably high societal, ecological, and economic costs in the long term.

Broad lines of the activities

Resource efficient transport that respects the environment

The aim is to minimise transport's impact on climate and the environment by improving its efficiency in the use of natural resources, and by reducing its dependence on fossil fuels.

The focus of activities shall be to reduce resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and improve vehicle efficiency, to accelerate the development and deployment of a new generation of electric and other low or zero emission vehicles, including through breakthroughs in engines, batteries and infrastructure; to explore and exploit the potential of alternative fuels and innovative and more efficient propulsion systems, including fuel infrastructure; to optimise the use of infrastructures, by means of intelligent transport systems and smart equipment; and to increase the use of demand management and public and nonmotorised transport, particularly in urban areas.

Better mobility, less congestion, more safety and security

The aim is to reconcile the growing mobility needs with improved transport fluidity, through innovative solutions for seamless, inclusive, safe, secure and robust transport systems.

The focus of activities shall be to reduce congestion, improve accessibility and match user needs by promoting integrated door-to-door transport and logistics; to enhance inter-modality and the deployment of smart planning and management solutions; and to drastically reduce the occurrence of accidents and the impact of security threats.

Global leadership for the European transport industry

The aim is to reinforce the competitiveness and performance of European transport manufacturing industries and related services.

The focus of activities shall be to develop the next generation of innovative transport means and to prepare the ground for the following one, by working on novel concepts and designs, smart control systems and interoperable standards, efficient production processes, shorter development times and reduced lifecycle costs.

Socio-economic research and forward looking activities for policy making

The aim is to support improved policy making which is necessary to promote innovation and meet the challenges raised by transport and the societal needs related to it. The focus of activities shall be to improve the understanding of transport related socioeconomic trends and prospects, and provide policy makers with evidence-based data and analyses.

More information

• Horizon 2020: http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020
• Eltis news: Horizon 2020 - The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

Date Posted: 06.12.2011
News Group: EU Initiatives and Policies