Country Overviews
GERMANY
IntroductionNational Government Departments and Agencies
Regional Organisations | Research Institutes
See Programmes
Introduction
The majority of transport research in Germany is co-funded and organised by four national ministries, with their associated research centres managing the specific programmes. Key national research priorities currently include Mobility and Transport, Space, Aeronautics, and Maritime Technology.
There are two principal streams of funding: (i) project funding (usually up to 50%) and (ii) institutional funding granted to research organisations, e.g. the German Aerospace Centre DLR and the German Research Community DFG, in the case of transport. Many of the German Federal States (BundeslŠnder) organise their own (smaller) research activities through their ministries, organisations operating on behalf of the ministry, universities or research networks. In addition, they co-finance some national level activities.
The sector programme Research and Technology for Mobility and Transport, including two additional sub-programmes/ initiatives is the largest research activity with a broad coverage of transport.
A new mobility research programme with focus on research for transport applications starts in 2009. Sub-themes are e-mobility, mobility for people in the 21st century, intelligent logistics and intelligent infrastructure.
The single largest sector programme is Space Research and Technology, which reflects important national and European contributions (ESA), e.g. to the development of the Galileo satellite navigation system.
A third major chunk of public expenditure is related to Aeronautics Research, which focuses on the socio-economic aspects of air transport expansion, safety, user friendliness, environmental aspects, and general economic efficiency. Public funding is around Û600 million for 2007-2013.
Non-governmental, industry financed transport research plays a considerable role in the road, rail, air and maritime sectors. Car manufacturers, the national railway operator DB and several private regional railway companies, air framers and suppliers, and major shipyards undertake a lot of specific research. Due to proprietary rights however, the availability of key results to Transport Research Knowledge Centre (TRKC) is limited.
National Government Departments and Agencies
Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS) / Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau- und Stadtentwicklung
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) / Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWT) / Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) / Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit
German Aerospace Center (DLR) / Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
www.dlr.de/en/Desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-12
E-mobility, Propulsion Concepts for Electrical and Hybrid Driven Vehicles / Elektromobilität - Förderprogramm Antriebskonzepte für Elektro- und Hybridfahrzeuge
Research programme devoted to the development and optimisation of electric and hybrid propulsion concepts. Programme topics include technical development, tools, standardisation, life cycle assessment including recycling testing and end user acceptance. It is led by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.
www.foerderportal.bund.de
Intelligent Logistics / Intelligente Logistik
Research programme to prepare for the dramatically increasing freight transport and the corresponding bottlenecks in conurbations, sea ports and main rail tracks. Sub-areas are improvement of efficiency and environmental impacts of rail, ship and truck transport, avoiding bottlenecks and optimisation trough networking and cooperation of actors. Led by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.
www.foerderportal.bund.de
Research and Technology for Mobility and Transport / Forschung und Technologie für Mobilität und Verkehr
Research Programme of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, with 13 sub-programmes (new sub-programme transport management 2010 and industrial initiative INVENT) and around 1000 projects mainly organised around clusters.
www.foerderinfo.bmbf.de/de/392.php or www.tuvpt.de
Deufrako - French-German Cooperation Programme / Deutsch-Französische Kooperation / Coopération franco-allemande
Deufrako is a bilateral action of projects common to national programmes in Germany (Mobility and Transport) and France (Predit). Initially focused on railways, it has opened up to new topics such as telematics, urban transport, freight, and noise reduction. It is coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the French ministry responsible for the environment and transport.
www.deufrako.org
Building and Housing Sector Programme / Forschung und Technologie für Bauen und Wohnen (Fachprogramm)
Several sub-programmes: only one ("Stadt 2030/City 2030") is relevant to transport research. With 21 main projects, 41 supporting tasks, it is led by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
www.bauwo.net or www.tuvpt.de
Space Research and Technology (National Space Programme) / Weltraumforschung und Technik (Nationales Raumfahrtprogramm)
Eight sub-programmes with partial relevance to transport. It is led by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
www.foerderinfo.bmbf.de/de/394.php or www.dlr.de
Waterborne Transport and Maritime Technology fort the 21st century (framework programme) / Schifffahrt und Meerestechnik für das 21. Jahrhundert (Rahmenprogramm)
Three sub-programmes: ship technology, shifting transport to coastal waters and inland waterways, and marine technology, extension of the former programme for the period 2005 - 2010. It is led by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
www.fz-juelich.de/ptj/index.php?index=54
Road, Technical Matters (Departmental Research) / Straßenbau und Straßenverkehrstechnik (Ressortforschungsprogramm)
Preparation of decisions for sustainable investments in the existing road infrastructure. It is led by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development.
www.bmvbs.de/Verkehr/-,1487/Alle-Beitraege-zum-Thema-Verke.htm
Road, Matters of Safety (Departmental Research) / Straßenverkehrssicherheit (Ressortforschungsprogramm)
Improvement of the safety of road traffic. It is led by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development.
www.bmvbs.de/Verkehr/-,1487/Alle-Beitraege-zum-Thema-Verke.htm
Short Distance Transport/Mobility (FOPS) / Forschungsprogramm Stadtverkehr
Improvement of public transport and alternatives for car use. It is led by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development.
www.bmvbs.de/Verkehr/-,1487/Alle-Beitraege-zum-Thema-Verke.htm
Road, Models of Public-private-partnership (Departmental Research) / Privatfinanzierungsmodelle im Bundesfernstra§enbau (Ressortforschungsprogramm)
Preparation of decisions for alternative investments in road infrastructure. It is led by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development.
www.bmvbs.de/Verkehr/-,1487/Alle-Beitraege-zum-Thema-Verke.htm
General Scientific and Economic Analyses for Mobility and Transport (Departmental Research) / Wissenschaftliche und allgemeinwirtschaftliche Untersuchungen im Bereich Verkehr (Ressortforschungsprogramm)
Led by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development.
www.bmvbs.de/Verkehr/-,1487/Alle-Beitraege-zum-Thema-Verke.htm
National Programme Aeronautics Research (Lufo IV 1-3) / Nationales Luftfahrtforschungsprogramm
Socio-economic research, transport growth and saving of resources, safety, security and a passenger friendly environment, environmental impact reduction, economy and added value; It is led by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.
www.bmwi.de www.dlr.de/PT-LF/lufo/l
Environment Research Plan / Umweltforschungsplan 2006, Nachhaltige MobilitŠt und Verkehr
Federal Ministry of Environment. Sustainable mobility and transport
www.umweltbundesamt.de/uba-infodaten/daten/ufoplan.htm
German Aerospace Center (DLR) / Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
Three strategic programme areas of transportation research:
- Maintaining mobility
The research carried out in this area is concerned with conceptual approaches to the future of mobility, the impact of growth in the transport sector and ways in which to manage this growth. The transportation system is studied as a whole, with all its intermodal complexities and potentials. One key basis for this process is the generation, processing and utilisation of transportation data, e.g. as produced in simulations and models or for transport management tasks. - Protecting the Environment, saving Resources
The focus of this second area of the programme is on saving energy, reducing levels of pollutants with an impact on the environment and health, and noise emissions. Key technologies in this context include lightweight construction, innovative drive technologies and vehicle concepts, including the development of the corresponding design and simulation tools. - Improving Transportation Safety
Research in this third area of the programme is concerned with linking new possibilities in accident avoidance (active safety) and the reduction of the risk to human beings should accidents occur (passive safety) in an interdisciplinary manner.
www.dlr.de/en/Desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-12/
Regional Organisations
Bavarian Research Foundation / Bayerische Forschungsstiftung
Applied Research Network Transport Systems Engineering Berlin (FAV) / Forschungs und Anwendungsverbund Verkehrssystemtechnik Berlin
Foundation of Rhineland Palatinate for Innovation / Stiftung Rheinland-Pfalz für Innovation
www.mwwfk.rlp.de/stiftung_innovation
Institute for Programme Support (Saxony-Anhalt) / Landesfšrderinstitut Sachsen-Anhalt
Research Network Traffic and Transport Systems (Bavarian Research Foundation) / FORVERTS Forschungsverbund Verkehrsund Transportsysteme
Covers innovative mobility, transport and logistics systems; six running projects.
www.forverts.de
FAV - Research Network Transport and Mobility / Forschungsnetz Verkehr und Mobilität
Development of the Berlin-Brandenburg region, into a competence centre for transport and mobility, focusing on telematics; 18 projects. Led by the Applied Research Network Transport Systems Engineering Berlin.
www.fav.de
Environment & Energy Technologies / Umwelttechnologie und Energietechnologie
Covers new technologies and technology transfer; 42 projects, of which 9 are relevant to transport.
www.mwwfk.rlp.de/stiftung_innovation
Improvement of Regional Economic Structures - Research and Development / Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur - Forschung und Entwicklung
Research focus: technology and innovation; research and development. Some projects are relevant to transport. It is led by the Institute for Programme Support (Saxony-Anhalt).
www.lfi-lsa.de
Research Institutes
German Research Community (DFG) / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Special Research Area Main Programme of the German Research Community / Sonderforschungsbereiche
A large number of special research areas: SFB 365, 403, 559 and Transregio. Ten are relevant to TRKC.
www.dfg.de/forschungsfoerderung/koordinierte_programme/sonderforschungsbereiche
