Country Overviews
Introduction
National transport research in Spain is defined within the framework of the National Plan of Scientific Research, Development and Technological Innovation, The I+D+I 2008-2011 Plan Nacional (R&D 2008-2011 National Plan). It is a multi-sector programme with specific actions for the transport sector.
Strategic planning on research, innovation and technological development comes under the responsibility of the public administration. In particular, the National General Administration (AGE - Administraci—n General del Estado) by means of an Inter-ministerial Commission of Science and Technology (CICYT) has responsibility for programming the scientific and technological activities throughout the PN.
There are several programmes, managed by different government departments related to transport research, such as the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Public Works and Transport (Ministerio de Fomento) and Ministry of Environment, as well as different government agencies, such as CDTI (Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology, Ministry of Industry) or CEDEX (Centre for Study & Experimentation in Public Works, Ministerio de Fomento).
In the former PN (2004-2007), the main aims for transport research identified in the National Programme for Transport were related to transport safety and security (in all transport modes), respect for the environment, improvement of quality and availability and promotion of intermodality. Within the PN 2008-2011 the transport research structure is spread in several national sub-programmes. The main streams are related to fundamental research, applied research, experimental development, innovation and scientific-technological infrastructures. Other activity lines in the PN which are related to transport include the CONSOLIDER programme and part of the INGENIO 2010 programme. CONSOLIDER is devoted to creating excellence in research networks.
The PROFIT Programme (Programme for promotion of scientific and technological research) is managed by the Ministry of Industry. It supports research projects in different application areas, including transport, according to the National Research Programme.
In general, research activities in the field of transport management are mainly concentrated in universities and in several specialised consulting companies.
Transport companies are not particularly active in this area, although major transport companies are beginning to be interested. Nevertheless, in the field of traffic management systems, Spanish companies have been successful in developing advanced technologies, enabling them to compete in the international market.
Transport related research initiatives are supported by various ministries and by autonomous and local administrations. Ministries which directly support research initiatives in the field of transport are listed below. Regional governments have the capacity to organise their own plans for the development of infrastructure, so several regions in Spain have their own research initiatives, including some in transport.
National Government Departments
Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MFOM) / Ministerio de Fomento
Ministry of Industry,Tourism and Trade / Ministerio de Industria,Turismo y Comercio
Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) / Ministerio de Cienca e Innovación
Ministry of Education, Social Policies and Sport (MEPSyD) / Ministerio de Educación, Política Social y Deporte
Ministry of the Economy and Finance (MINECO) / Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas
Ministry of the Environment (MMA) / Ministerio de Medio Ambiente
Ministry of Public Administrations (MAP) / Ministerio de Administraciones Públicas
National Plan for Scientific Research, Technological Development and Innovation (2004-2007 and 2008-2011) / Plan Nacional de I+D+I (Investigaciñon científica, Desarrollo e Innovación tecnológica)
Multi-sectoral plan, including actions in the transport sector. The Plan Nacional (PN) is fed partly by European Regional Development Funds and several National Government ministries. To support the application of the PN in transport research, several sub-programmes have been set-up, related to different areas and sectors. In the transport area, the PEIT (Strategic Plan for Infrastructures and Transport) has been created. Within Section 3 in the PN 2008-2010, several sub-programmes related to transport research are planned. There is a programme to support the development of projects for public-private cooperation related to transport and infrastructures.
www.mec.es/ciencia/plan_idi
PETRA - Strategic Plan for Transport of Goods by Road / Plan Estratégico para el Transporte de Mercancías por Carretera
MFOM (Ministry of Public Works and Transport) programme.
www.fomento.es/MFOM/LANG_CASTELLANO/DIRECCIONES_GENERALES/TRANSPORTE_POR_CARRETERA/Documentos/PETRA/petra-pdf.htm
PROFIT - Programme for the Promotion of Technological Research / Programa de Fomento de la Investigación Técnica
Cross-sector research programme of the Ministry of Industry, including specific actions on the National Programme of Transport (Programa Nacional de Medios de Transporte) organised in five national sub-programmes on automotive, air, maritime, rail and trans-modal transport.
www.mityc.es/profit
Avanza R&D Programme / Programa Avanza I+D (MITyC)
Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce aid for the implementation of projects and research, development and innovation, with two main priorities, the future of the Internet and digital content for the benefit of businesses, particularly SMEs.
www.mityc.es/PLAN_IDI/AvanzaID
CENIT Programme - National Strategic Consortium in Technical Research / Programa CENIT - Consorcios Estratégicos Nacionales de Investigación Técnica (MITyC)
Programme under the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce, funding large integrated projects of strategic industrial research, and scientific-technical projects of large dimension and scope, as well as cooperation between the public and private sectors. This is also within the INGENIO 2010 programme.
www.cdti.es/index.asp?MP=7&MS=23&MN=3
CEDEX - Centre for Study & Experimentation in Public Works / Centro de Estudios y Experimentación de Obras Públicas (Ministerio de Fomento)
Programme within the framework of CEDEX agency, involving research projects related to Public Works, Transport and Environment.
www.cedex.es
ARTE/PYME Programme (Regional Actions in Telecommunications for SMEs) / ARTE/PYME (Peque–as y Medianas Empresas) II
Led by the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Industry.
www.mityc.es/Artepyme
Regional Authorities
Science, Technology and Innovation Plan 2010 / Plan de Ciencia Tecnología e Innovación 2010 / Zientzia, Teknologia eta Berrikuntzako Plana 2010
Programme led by the government of the Basque Country Autonomous Community (Gobierno Vasco/ Eusko Jaurlaritza).
www.euskadi.net/r33-2288/es/contenidos/informacion/pcti2010/es_pcti2010/pcti2010.html
Catalan Autonomous Government, Department of Public Works / Departament de Política Territorial i Obres Públiques, Generalitat de Catalunya
Various projects which focus on transport infrastructure.
www10.gencat.cat/ptop/AppJava/cat/index.jsp
