Potocnik outlines plans for road transport research under FP7
EU Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik discussed the future of road transport research at the Transport Research Arena - Europe conference in Gothenberg, Sweden on 12 June. The road transport sector (including the automotive industry) is the largest research and development (R&D) investor in Europe. Research and innovation are vital to the success of the Lisbon agenda, which sets out the EU's plans to become the world's most competitive, knowledge-based economy by 2010. With this in mind, the Commissioner encouraged conference delegates to maintain or even increase their research spending in the coming years. Under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), the EU has invested over EUR 250 million in road transport research, with most of this focused on improving road safety and reducing fuel consumption, pollutant emissions and noise. FP7 will see the level of EU support for road transport increase; for the first time, transport will have its own dedicated Priority Theme, with an anticipated budget of over EUR 4 billion. The main aims of the transport theme are developing greener, safer, more secure transport systems and ensuring the leading role of European industries in the global market. The road transport sector will also benefit from certain actions in other themes, such as energy and information and communication technologies (ICT). In his concluding remarks, Mr Potocnik hailed the conference as heralding a new era for road transport research. 'It demonstrates that cooperation between all the actors in the European road transport sector is possible, and provides the opportunity for the open exchange and cross-fertilisation of ideas. These ingredients are key to the success of research and development and to the competitiveness of innovations, productions and services in Europe,' he said. The Transport Research Arena is organised by the European Commission, the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR) and European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC). Its main theme is the implementation of the European Research Area on Road Transport. It aims to support the alignment of European, national, regional and private research and development actions on road transport by enhancing the networking and clustering of Europe's research and development capacity based on a shared Strategic Research Agenda (SRA).