EXTRA project - information on Transport research
The EXTRA project has recently been launched by the European Commission to ensure the cost-effective and targeted dissemination of the results of projects supported by the RTD Transport programme. The Commission contributes ECU 240 million to the Transport RTD programme, which underpins the Common Transport Policy across the European Union. This programme is investigating how rail, road, air and water networks can be linked more effectively to boost Europe's economy, protect the environment and promote social cohesion. The EXTRA project will be responsible for disseminating the results of more than 400 research studies supported under the Transport programme. EXTRA will identify key decision-makers throughout Europe who can make a difference to the way both people and goods get around, and will target them with carefully selected information so that they are in a position to implement these results. European Commissioner responsible for Transport, Neil Kinnock, said "I welcome the EXTRA project. It is vital for mobility, trade and the environment that Europe's transport system is as efficient as possible, and this will be helped enormously by delivering high quality results from the Commission's programmes to the people that matter." EXTRA will be the first structured and coordinated, Europe-wide information campaign in the transport field. It will involve production of brochures, newsletters, press articles, and a World Wide Web site, as well as many other activities such as running seminars and establishing an information bureau. The project coordinator, AEA Technology will be joined by partners from the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Bulgaria and Romania in the EXTRA consortium, ensuring that information on everything from safety, to the environment, to economics reaches the people who need to know. As well as covering all European Union member countries, EXTRA will target information on eleven Central and Eastern European Countries which are seeking to join the European Union.