Transport Research and Innovation Portal

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Background


Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)

The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) is a multidisciplinary programme linking all research-related EU initiatives translated into projects, and is a key pillar for the European Research Area (ERA).To administer and disseminate projects, the EU has various mechanisms, including the Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS), and the Participant Portal for electronic administration of EU-funded research and innovation projects.

Part of FP7 is devoted to responding to the challenges of making transport more sustainable. Over the seven-year period (2007–2013), € 4.16 billion is being earmarked for research to develop safer, greener and smarter pan-European transport systems to benefit all citizens, to respect the environment, and to increase the competitiveness of European industries in the global market.

FP7 has two major programme lines with regard to transport:

  • Aeronautics and Air Transport (AAT) which focuses on emission reduction, engines and alternative fuels, air traffic management, safety of air transport, and environmentally efficient aviation.
  • Sustainable Surface Transport (SST) including rail, road and waterborne, with a focus on developing clean and efficient engines and power trains; reducing the impact of transport on climate change; and promoting intermodal urban, regional and national transport, clean and safe vehicles and infrastructure construction, maintenance, and integrated architecture.

There are additional programme lines dealing with transport (TPT), security (SEC) and information technologies (ICT). The transport theme covers all four modes of transport each with specific priorities:

  • Aeronautics and air transport:
    • 'Greening' air transport
    • Increasing time efficiency
    • Increasing customer satisfaction and safety
    • Improving cost efficiency
    • Protecting aircraft and passengers
    • Air transport of the future
  • Road transport:
    • Creating 'greener' road transport
    • Encouraging modal shift and decongesting transport corridors
    • Ensuring sustainable urban mobility
    • Improving safety and security
    • Strengthening competitiveness
  • Rail transport:
    • Interoperability
    • Intelligent mobility
    • Safety and security
    • Environment
    • Innovative materials and production methods
  • Waterborne transport:
    • Safe, sustainable and efficient waterborne operations
    • A competitive European maritime industry
    • Managing and facilitating growth and changing trade patterns
  • Multimodal transport:
    • FP7 also funds research on multimodal transport directed to more efficient use and greater integration of all four transport modes.

In addition, transport research under FP7 provides support to the European global satellite navigation system Galileo and the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).

Transport-related research at EU level is mainly commissioned and funded by the European Commission through the Directorates-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) and for Research and Innovation (DG RTD). Transport related research is funded within a limited budget by the Directorates-General for Environment (DG ENV), for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT), and for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO). Most of the research under the Framework Programmes is only partially funded by the European Commission and considerable industrial and private co-funding is required.

More information on FP7 for participators and evaluators can be found on the Research & Innovation Participant Portal under ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal.

The Participant Portal is the entry point for electronic administration of EU-funded research and innovation projects, and hosts the services for managing proposals and projects throughout their life cycle – from proposal to completion.

Furthermore, the Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS) is devoted to European research and development (R&D) activities and technology transfer. CORDIS facilitates participation in European research and take-up activities; supports exploitation of research results in sectors crucial to Europe's competitiveness; and promotes knowledge dissemination to foster technology take-up by companies and societal acceptance of new technology. See the website www.cordis.europa.eu.

Horizon 2020 & Connecting Europe Facility

FP7 will be followed by Horizon 2020 which is to run from 2014 to 2020 with a proposed budget of € 80 billion which represents a significant increase for research and innovation activities compared with the previous Multi Annual Financial Framework. The new EU programme for research and innovation is part of the drive to create new growth and jobs in Europe. It will combine all research and innovation funding currently provided through the Framework Programmes for Research and Technical Development, the innovation related activities of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Horizon 2020 has three key objectives:

  • Excellent science: Strengthening the EU’s position in science will provide a boost to top-level research in Europe and will include a 77% increase in funding to the European Research Council (ERC).
  • Competitive industries: Strengthening industrial leadership in innovation will include major investment in key technologies, greater access to capital, and support for SMEs.
  • Better society: Providing budget to help address major concerns shared by all Europeans on climate change, developing sustainable transport and mobility, making renewable energy more affordable, ensuring food safety and security, and meeting the challenges of an ageing population.

In addition to Horizon 2020, Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) has been created as part of a larger, new ’European infrastructure package’, as proposed by the Commission in October 2011. The package includes revised policy guidelines setting the objectives of and priorities for EU intervention in each of the three sectors of trans-European network development: energy, ICT and transport. The other main component is constituted by the CEF, as the common financial framework establishing the rules under which EU financial support will be awarded to support these policy objectives. CEF Transport will combine the current TEN-T funding and the MARCO POLO programme.


Institutional framework of transport research


Transport-related research at EU level is mainly funded and commissioned by four Directorates-General of the European Commission, the Directorates-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), for Research (DG RTD), for Environment (DG ENV) and for Information Society and Media(DG INFSO).

Main European Commission Directorates-General

Other European Commission Directorates-General


Funding Sources and Support Initiatives


  • Information system - Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE).ACARE provides a network for strategic research in aeronautics and air transport to meet the needs of society and to secure global leadership for Europe in this sector.
  • Funding programme - Connecting Europe Facility (CEF; 2014–2020).CEF will support the roll out of high-performing, sustainable, and joined-up trans-European networks in transport, energy, and broadband & digital services. CEF Transport will replace the current TEN-T funding and MARCO POLO.Budget: € 50 billion.
  • Funding programme - Co-operation in Science and Technology (COST; 1971–ongoing).COST is an intergovernmental framework for European Cooperation in Science and Technology coordinating nationally funded research on a European level. Budget: € 250 million for 2007–2013.
  • Network - EUREKA. EUREKA is a pan-European network for market oriented, industrial R&D.
  • Information system - European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC). ERRAC is the European Technology Platform for Rail Transport set up at the initiative of the European Commission to achieve consensus on priorities for European railway research and to guide research towards a common strategy.
  • Information system - European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC). ERTRAC represents a diverse group of contributors to European road transport: consumers, vehicle manufacturers, component suppliers, road infrastructure operators and developers, service providers, energy suppliers, research organisations, and cities and regions as well as public policy experts and authorities at European and national levels.
  • Information system - European Space Technology Platform (ESTP). ESTP aims to create an independent technology portfolio facilitating European strategic independence for access to and exploration in space, and supporting the development of next-generation technologies to best serve Europe’s ambitions in space-related sectors (such as, Galileo, GMES, security, space exploration, and broadband communications).
  • Funding programme - FP7-AAT: Aeronautics and air transport (FP7-AAT; 2007–2013). FP7-AAT focuses on emission reduction, engines and alternative fuels, air traffic management, safety of air transport, and environmentally efficient aviation.Budget: € 4.16 billion, DG MOVE & DG RTD
  • Funding programme - FP7-CIVITAS (2007–2013). CIVITAS aims to achieve a significant shift in the modal split towards sustainable transport, through encouraging innovative technology and policy-based strategies. Budget: € 300 million, DG MOVE
  • Funding programme - FP7-ICT: Information and Communication Technologies (FP7-ICT; 2007–2013). ICT research is directed to improving the competitiveness of European industry and to enabling Europe to master and shape the future development of these technologies to meet the demands of the society and economy. Budget: € 9.1 billion.
  • Funding programme - FP7-RoK: Regions of Knowledge (FP7-RoK; 2007–2013). FP7-RoK aims to strengthen the research potential of European regions by encouraging and supporting the development of regional ‘research-driven clusters’ of universities, research centres, companies and regional authorities. Budget: € 126 million.
  • Funding programme - FP7-Security: Security (FP7-SEC; 2007–2013). The FP7 research theme Security is directed to developing the technologies and knowledge for building capabilities to ensure the security of citizens from threats such as terrorism, natural disasters, and crime, while respecting fundamental human rights and privacy; to ensuring optimal and concerted use of available and evolving technologies to the benefit of civil European security; to stimulating the cooperation of providers and users for civil security solutions; to improving the competitiveness of the European security industry; and to delivering mission-oriented research results to reduce security gaps. Budget: € 1.4 billion.
  • Funding programme - FP7: Sustainable Surface Transport (FP7-SST; 2007–2013). FP7-SST focuses on developing clean and efficient engines and power trains, reducing the impact of transport on climate change, intermodal regional and national transport, clean and safe vehicles and infrastructure construction, maintenance, and integrative architectures. Budget: € 4.16 billion, DG MOVE & DG RTD
  • Funding prgramme -  FP7-TPT: Transport (including Aeronautics) - Horizontal activities for implementation of the transport programme (FP7-TPT; 2007–2013). The seventh Framework Programme Transport, FP7-TPT, aims to develop integrated, safer, greener and smarter pan-European sustainable transport systems, and to further enhance the competitiveness of the European industries in the global market. Budget: € 4.16 billion, DG MOVE & DG RTD.
  • Funding programme - GALILEO (1999–ongoing). Galileo is the EU state-of-the-art global navigation satellite system under civilian control, providing accurate navigation signals worldwide. Budget: € 5 billion.
  • Funding programme - Horizon 2020 (2014–2020). Horizon 2020 is the Framework Programme for Research and Technology Development starting in 2014.Budget: € 80 billion.
  • Funding programme - Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE; 2003–2013). IEE supports sustainable development in energy, balancing the opposing objectives of security of energy supply, competitiveness, and environmental protection.Budget: € 730 million.
  • Funding programme - Interreg IVC (2007–2013). Interreg IVC is a programme initiative of the European Community to stimulate interregional cooperation in the EU.Budget: € 321 million.
  • Funding programme - MARCO POLO (2007–2013). MARCO POLO is an intermodality programme to support the transport and logistics sector in achieving sustained modal shifts from road freight to short sea shipping, rail and inland waterways. The current Marco Polo II programme includes 'motorways of the sea' and traffic avoidance measures. The programme has also been extended to countries bordering the EU. Budget: € 450 million.
  • Funding programme - TEN-T (Multi-annual and annual calls; 2007–2013).This programme is the funding framework for the Trans-European transport networks. Budget: € 1.2 billion
  • Information system - WATERBORNE TP. WATERBORNE TP is an initiative from the Maritime Industries Forum (MIF) and its R&D committee in 2005 to regularly update R&D requirements for European competitiveness, innovation and to meet regulations such as safety and environment. 


Last update: 23/05/2013 | Top
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