Future research needs and priorities in the area of transport

Topic description

Specific Challenge:

There is a need for transport-related research activities to address new challenges as these emerge from new technological developments, identified megatrends and new policy imperatives, which all together are expected to significantly alter the current framework in which the transport sector operates.

There is already considerable knowledge produced by several studies, research activities and reports with a forward looking perspective in the area of transport but also in transport-related fields in areas like energy, climate change and digitalisation. Furthermore, global forward looking exercises which analyse megatrends (ageing, migration, urbanisation, climate change, etc) and explore scenarios also provide valuable inputs with respect to transport, related technologies and the evolution of mobility demand.

The European transport industry is a major player at a global level, seeking to maintain and improve its competitive position in a period of rapid technological changes, new business models and new political requirements (e.g post-COP 21). Transport industries are shaping their research agendas for the future which however normally, address issues that are particularly relevant for their specific challenges and objectives. A more integrated approach that could help bring these research agendas under a coherent framework for the benefit of European citizens and the European economy as a whole is necessary and requires an effort at European level and across all transport modes.

With a view to identifying the major research needs and priorities in the transport sector, including infrastructure, over the next decade, this topic seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of the knowledge produced so far in the areas mentioned above and contribute to the creation of a coherent research agenda.

In order to meet this challenge, proposals should address all following aspects:

- Collection and analysis of transport relevant studies and reports carried out at European and international level (e.g EU, OECD, etc) as well as by main European stakeholders of the transport sector.

- Collection and analysis of similar forward looking projects at a global level including in the main and emerging competitors of the EU in the field of transport (e.g USA, Japan, BRIC countries, etc).

- Assessment of the impact of main political imperatives (such as the recent COP 21 and the need for drastic reduction of emissions as well as reduction of air and noise pollution) on the transport sector and in particular on its needs for technological developments and rapid adaptation.

- Assessment of the impact of main megatrends (ageing, urbanisation, migration etc) on transport research needs, with particular emphasis on possible recent developments/data available.

- Synthesis of the various analyses and outcomes mentioned above.

- Identification of main transport research needs and priorities in all transport modes and cross-modal in order to reconcile economic efficiency, competitiveness, sustainability, user convenience and inclusiveness.

The expected duration of the action is between 6-12 months.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 0.3 and 0.5 million each would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

The work is expected to provide a comprehensive picture and integrated analysis of existing forward-looking knowledge in the transport sector. This analysis should serve as an input for the elaboration of a transport research agenda in the medium term, with long term impact on the competitiveness of the European Transport sector and on the achievement of EU policy goals.

This activity directly aimed at supporting the development and implementation of evidence base for R&I policies and supporting various groups of stakeholders is excluded from the delegation to the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) and will be implemented by the Commission services.

International cooperation
Socio-economic science and humanities