Stronger EU-US research activity on the cards
Differences exist between the research cultures of the EU and the US, an expert study has shown. The European Conference of Transport Research Institutes (ECTRI) and the Transportation Research Board (TRB) assessed how these differences can be used to drive new innovations in joint research projects. The EU and US transport research coordinating bodies studied the role of research in relation to the transport market and advances in the sector. In its report, entitled 'EU/US Transport Research Collaboration: Challenges and Opportunities', the ECTRI/TRB Working Group writes it is important to intensify cooperation in the field of research in order to establish greater research projects in the future. The report outlines that while economic and political differences exist between Europe and the US, 'these differences pale in comparison to the similarities in the barriers both entities face in forging sustainable collaborative research ventures'. The ECTRI and TRB also note how international cooperation should increase due to the economic crisis that is currently wreaking havoc across the globe. 'The realities of globalism require cooperation and a pooling of intellectual and financial resources. It is truly 'a time to choose' - do nations continue to work independently as primarily competitive units under a 'state of anarchy'? Or alternatively, can they come together to solve problems that appear at first glance intractable?' the report says. According to the representatives, true global collaboration is both possible and essential. Components assessed in the study were transport sector research management, funding and innovation architecture on both sides of the Pond. Furthermore, the study spotlighted the types of research and innovations the systems support, and described funding agreements and evaluated their functionality. A comparison of the EU and US transport research and innovations showed that the EU targets research activities on railways and waterborne transport; in other words, the EU focuses on a broader approach. The US concentrates on road transport and how to find practical market-based solutions. By integrating the different approaches, the researchers could provide preconditions for new innovations, according to the report. '... the differences present similar core features: both are highly complex, involve large numbers of stakeholders, and present a truly multi-level system of governance between the local, the state, national and federal levels,' the report says. So how could researchers and research institutions increase their activities on a global scale? According to the Working Group, the implementation of concrete measures would help boost their participation. Moreover, increased interaction in transport research between the EU and US would help generate more innovations. In the report, the working group recommends the mobilisation of research networks between the EU and US, as well as the development of cooperation models and methods, the creation of joint research and technology programmes, and the creation of 'enabling policies'. The ECTRI and TRB representatives also say obstacles hindering cooperation should be reviewed and eliminated. Communication between the regions should be more effective and shared databases would make this possible. Other methods to fuel collaboration are common training programmes and research training. The Working Group's proposals, presented to Janez Potocnik, the EU Commissioner Responsible for Science and Research, will be used when planning future EU research programmes.
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