Final Report Summary - WINN (European Platform Driving KnoWledge to INNovations in Freight Logistics)
Executive Summary:
Estimates put the share of logistics industry in the GDP of Europe at close to 14%. Freight logistics inefficiency is a major cost driver and contributes unnecessarily to a negative carbon footprint of transport. Eurostat surveys estimate that 24% of good vehicles in the EU are running empty and the average loading of the rest is 57% giving an overall efficiency of 43%. Flow imbalances can explain only half of this loss. The total cost burden of road freight transport inefficiency is estimated as €160 billion and 1.3% of EU27 CO2 footprint. Efficiency in logistics, therefore, is a key element for the further growth of industrial activity and trade on a global scale.
WINN project is a step forward to increase collaboration and consensus building of the different stakeholders dealing with freight transport and logistics to define and implement research and innovation measures to be proposed as input to the HORIZON 2020 and member states programs in the medium-long term.
To accomplish this mission, WINN project has built the European Technology Platform on Logistics: ALICE, Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe upon previous efforts made by the European Intermodal Research Advisory Council (EIRAC) and the European Green Cars Initiative. ALICE has been set-up to develop a comprehensive strategy for research, innovation and market deployment of logistics and supply chain management innovation in Europe with the mission: “to contribute to a 30% improvement of end to end logistics performance by 2030”. ALICE redefines the scope from intermodality to logistics and supply chain planning and control. By enlarging the scope, decisions impacting transport execution made by shippers are fully included, which means considering not only “how to transport” but also “what to transport”.. The European Commission gave ALICE the official status of European Technology Platform in July 1013..
ALICE is led by industry being WINN the tool to support its developments and coordination initiatives. In the frame of WINN project a non-for profit association based in Brussels, an AISBL, has been stablished to ensure sustainability of the initiative after the project and ensuring the continuation of activities. Currently more than 40 companies, 10 research centers and universities, 5 national platforms and regional clusters and 15 European related associations are joining forces and became full members this association. Moreover, WINN has stablished close collaboration with 10+ Member States and 50+ European Logistics Clusters through ALICE Mirror Group. ALICE is then the outcome of WINN to achieve the strategic objective of building a collaboration framework between already established networks in freight logistics operating in different areas and in different geographical levels.
ALICE stimulates research and innovation in the field according to industry needs. It provides input to HORIZON 2020 program and it is the voice of the sector (industry, authorities and research) in order to channel main areas of development in RTD and Innovation in the logistics field where coordination and combination of efforts between industry and authorities is needed to ensure the leadership of the European logistics sector.
ALICE has identified five different areas that need to be specifically analysed and addressed in terms of future research and innovation needs to achieve its mission. These areas are:
- Sustainable and Secure Supply Chains.
- Corridors, Hubs and Synchromodality.
- Information Systems for Interconnected Logistics.
- Global Supply Network Coordination and Collaboration.
- Urban Logistics.
Five different Working Groups have been launched, one in each of these areas to further analyse and define research and innovation strategies, roadmaps and priorities agreed by all stakeholders to achieve ALICE Vision and Mission. WINN project supported all this process delivering one roadmap per working group in December 2014.
Project Context and Objectives:
Logistics is the key for the EU economy, society and environment and a well identified sector for improvement. The EU is the world's largest exporter and biggest trader in goods . It is estimated that in the next 10-15 years, 90% of the world’s growth will come from outside the EU, so the EU has every interest in making sure that its companies remain very competitive and are able to access new markets and benefit from these sources of growth. Globalisation is not just about facilitating trade and exchanges. It is about joining global value chains and delivering products, services and technologies that no individual country would be able to produce on its own. In this context, logistics is a key aspect to lead value chains and access these new markets in competitive way. e-commerce is also rapidly and drastically changing mobility patterns and last mile logistics.
Estimates put the share of the logistics industry in the GDP of Europe at close to 14% . According to the World Bank, the best four logistics performers are from the EU and out of the global top‐10, seven of them are from the EU in 2014 . Keeping this privileged position is the key to maintain global competitiveness of Europe.
Logistics is a cross‐sectorial activity impacting all productive sectors. The competitiveness of other sectors (such as the automotive and the food industries) relies heavily on the performance of the logistics sector, as logistics provides the glue between the various parts of the supply chain (suppliers, manufacturers, markets). It is estimated that logistics accounts for 10 to 15% of the final cost of finished goods . Efficiency in logistics, therefore, is a key element for the further growth of industrial activity and trade on a global scale.
Transportation is responsible for around a quarter of the EU greenhouse gas emissions . Eurostat surveys estimate that 24% of good vehicles in the EU are running empty and the average loading of the rest is 57% giving an overall efficiency: of 43%. Flow imbalances can explain only half of this loss. The total cost burden of road freight transport inefficiency is estimated as €160 billion and 1.3 % of EU27 CO2 footprint .
While emissions from other sectors are generally falling, those from transport (still primarily based on fossil fuels, i.e. oil and gas) have increased by 36% since 19909 due to the linkage between transport and economic growth. According to experts, the long‐term annual growth rate of the logistics industry is between 4% and 8% and exceeds on average 2.5 times the GDP growth rate of the EU . The European Union has identified as one of its objectives the decoupling of economic growth and the use of resources, by a shift towards a low-carbon and energy-efficient economy, and by modernization of the transport sector. In this regard, some EU countries are exhibiting a decoupling of GDP and freight tonne-km growth due to increased efficiency and therefore saving energy and reducing environmental impact which is a clear improvement and future developments path.
The European Commission has established a 60% reduction of Green House Emissions as the target to be reached by 2050 compared to 1990 figures . Concerning the freight logistics sector, similar targets have been established for the reduction of CO2 emissions .
Sustainable economic growth is a fundamental challenge for Europe. Improved and more efficient logistics is a major enabler for this sustainable growth. However, there are a number of paradigms that are indeed sources of inefficiency in logistics and may prevent this sustainable growth:
- Vehicles load factors cannot be improved.
o Load factors on long-haul routes have stalled at roughly 50% for the last decade. The total running of empty trucks accounts for about 20% of vehicle kilometres driven in the EU 28, with the potential cost saving in transport logistics ranging from 160 billion € per year leading to a total abatement potential across the global sector of 124 mega-tonnes of CO2 per year .
o The load factors for delivery vehicles in cities are very low, e.g. Transport for London reports an average load factor for vans in London of approximately 38% .
- Worldwide the share of empty containers is estimated to be around 20% at sea and 40% on land of all containers transported. Global expenses for empty container repositioning amounted to 30.3 billion dollars in 2009 .
- Owned and proprietary use of assets is implying a low percentage of usage of the overall capacity.
- Instant consumption currently implies fast (and most of the times inefficient) shipments to meet customer expectations instead of positioning inventory close to customer.
- According to TESCO, around 1/3 of the world's food is lost or wasted and many UK families waste £700 worth of food a year . Emirates SkyCargo estimates the industry’s wastage rates of perishable fruit and vegetables at 30-35 per cent .
- Explosion of e-commerce is increasing pressure in day to day deliveries in cities and are likely to even worse the situation if the appropriate measures are not taken. On the other hand, e-commerce may be one key element supporting change of paradigm and could indeed be a trigger to collaborate, share and better arrange transportation.
- Intermodal solutions slow down the Supply Chain, are not reliable and increase inventory. Goods average travelling speed is slow… no matter how fast the mean of transport is…they spend most time just waiting .
- Poor network integration. So far, network integration has been focused on interconnectivity and interoperability of transport processes and equipment. Integration has been achieved only partially at the TEN-T core network level, without alignment of hubs and corridors specifically for freight transport. There is a poor match between requirements of door-to-door freight services within Europe and the supporting pan-European infrastructure.
o Rail transport comparison in US and EU: San Francisco-Miami, borders to cross: 0, languages 1, Rail gage:1 Regulations 1; Lisbon – Riga, borders to cross: 7, languages 5+, Rail gage: 3 Regulations 8 ;
- Small and Medium Sized enterprises are unable of meeting current communication needs and take part in international trade and commerce flows. They are the backbone of the European Union economy playing an important role in transport and logistics, and in the facilitation of international trade for the EU. However, due to their size and financial position, they are often unable to drive innovation. They lagging behind in the adoption of even many basis IT and data exchange solutions. As a consequence, data and documents are exchanged manually, which results in errors, delays and loss of efficiency. Recent years studies into e-freight and interoperability costs in the EU indicate that these costs are currently around € 7 bln for the transport and logistics industry.
Overall, a 10% to 30% improvement in efficiency in the EU logistics sector would potentially equal a € 100 – 300 billion cost relief for the European industry .
Despite the effort made by European Commission, Member States and Industry to meet these societal and competitiveness challenges, the progress made in the last decade overall has been low. The isolated and silos work may have prevented fast market deployment of innovation. This experience has demonstrated that business as usual is not enough to significantly and fast improve current situation. The creation of a forum (ALICE) to build consensus and develop a comprehensive strategy for research, innovation and market deployment of logistics and supply chain management innovation in Europe was the strategic objective of WINN
Strategic objective of WINN
- Build a collaboration framework between already established networks in freight logistics operating in different areas and in different geographical levels.
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Operational objectives of WINN were
- Develop a supporting framework for innovation implementation in sustainable freight logistics at European and National levels.
- Establish joint network assessment of policies, regulatory measures, financial mechanisms and socioeconomic aspects to broaden logistics market and benefit innovation penetration.
- Disseminate and exploitation support for project results and outcomes.
Project Results:
Key developments and outcomes of the project are the following:
- Creation of a collaboration framework (ALICE) between already established networks in freight logistics operating in different areas and in different geographical levels and led by industry. Currently more than 40 companies, 10 research centers and universities, 5 national platforms and regional clusters and 15 European related associations are joining forces and became full members this association. Moreover, WINN has stablished close collaboration with 10+ Member States and 50+ European Logistics Clusters. ALICE gets the recognition of being the European Technology Platform of Logistics by the European Commission.
- Deliver ALICE research and innovation roadmaps with the contribution of all members and external experts with more than 300 top representatives of the sector contributing to them in the five ALICE Pillars:
o Sustainable, Safe and Secure Supply Chains
o Corridors, Hubs and Synchromodality
o Information Systems for Interconnected Logistics
o Supply Chain Coordination and Collaboration
o Urban Logistics
- Deliver ALICE input for Horizon 2020 calls Work Programs 2014-2015 and 2016-2017
- Held ALICE Conference, 11 February 2015, Amsterdam with the participation of more than 100 industry and research representatives
- Consolidate the activities of ALICE Steering (X meetings), Executive (Y meetings), Mirror (Z meetings) and Working Groups (W meetings:
• Mapping of the European related associations, national Technology Platforms and regional clusters and get them involved and supporting the ETP on Logistics. Main associations appointed representatives in the Steering Group and more than 20 clusters expressed their support to the ETP and the interest to form part of the ETP mirror Group. Released in December 2012 and being updated continuously until final delivery in September 2014
• Analysis of research and innovation roadmaps and projects related to logistics and supply Chain Management released in April 2013 and March 2015.
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Moreover, to support, achieve and report these and additional outcomes the following additional documents and deliverables have been issued:
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• • Innovation in Practice Report
• Report on innovation mechanisms and their requirements
• Analysing the opportunity of a PPP on logistics: defining the target, scope, expected impact and approach
• E-publication on good practices and innovative projects
• Final Dissemination Report
• ALICE 1st General Assembly
• Establishment of the Mirror Group
• Report on stock taking on innovation mechanisms
• Drafting the ETP on Logistics Outline document including a draft proposal of the Strategic Research Agenda and Pillars
• Preparation of the Terms of Reference of the ETP including the governance model and structure of the ETP
• Definition of the ETP vision, mission, and scope included in the ETP executive summary and Mission Statement
• Building the Core Industrial group of the ETP that will form the Steering Group of the ETP
• Setting up of the Mirror Group. Regional Clusters and National Platforms have been approached and Member States have been requested to appoint representatives for the ETP Mirror Group through the FP7 Transport Program Committee.
• Launching of WINN and ALICE Websites
• ETP self-assessment document prepared and sent to EC
• Drafting the vision, mission, scope and areas of intervention of the different ALICE Working Groups and overall Working Groups workplan
• ALICE Working Groups meetings - Urban logistics (jointly with ERTRAC), 4 April and 16 September, Brussels.
• Drafting the ETP on Logistics Outline document including a draft proposal of the Strategic Research Agenda and Pillars.
• Preparation of the Terms of Reference of the ETP including the governance model and structure of the ETP.
• Building the Core Industrial group of the ETP that will form the Steering Group of the ETP. 1st meeting of the Steering Group is planned for the 11th of June 2013.
• The ETP has been presented in the FP7 Transport Program Committee and Member States has been requested to appoint representatives for the ETP Mirror Group.
• Mapping of the European related associations, national Technology Platforms and regional clusters and get them involved and supporting the ETP on Logistics. Main associations appointed representatives in the Steering Group and more than 20 clusters expressed their support to the ETP and the interest to form part of the ETP mirror Group.
• Launching of WINN website and participation in XX conference for project participation.
The strategic objective of WINN was:
- Build a collaboration framework between already established networks in freight logistics operating in different areas and in different geographical levels.
This objective was achieved through the work performed in workpackage 2 that led to the deliverables:
- D2.1 Establishment of industrial core of the platform
- D2.2 Initial Mapping of the European, National and Regional networks/platforms
- D2.3 ALICE 1st Mirror Group and General Assembly
- D2.4 Establishment of the Mirror Group
- D2.5 Official launch of the platform
- 2.6 Final Mapping of the European, National and Regional networks/platforms
- D2.7 Implementation of Platform Tasks
- 2.8 Implementation of platform Tasks (II)
Deliverables D2.1 is the result of the activities done under Task 2.3 Conceptualization and promotion of the European Technology Platform, to build its Steering Group as specified in the name of the deliverable: “establishment of industrial core of the platform”.
The Steering Group of the ETP on logistics has been built upon the premise that the ETP needs to be a common, open and sustainable framework of collaboration between networks and stakeholders stemming from manufacturing and logistics industry supported by universities and the knowledge industry, stimulating discussion, knowledge sharing and consensus building amongst participants. Current and past initiatives have been taken into account to build a strong core industry group. Networking with related European Technology Platforms was also considered to build the group.
The Steering Group companies and organizations were chosen and approached based on the results of the first activities carried out and described in Deliverable 2.2: “Initial Mapping of the European, National and Regional networks/platforms” and Deliverable 3.3: “1st Status of EIRAC and EGCI (Logistics and Co-modality section) report”
Deliverable 2.2 “Initial Mapping of the European, National and Regional networks/platforms” mapped preliminary main regional clusters, national and European networks (EU-27) operating in the field of Logistics. At the same time, these organizations are key elements of the Logistics community and essential stakeholders to achieve the success of planned European Technology Platform on Logistics..
2.2 delivered a fiche including main information per network: Contact person, objectives, target group of companies and associates, services provided, research agendas (if any) and best practices (if they have) turning knowledge research into innovation. In order to achieve this, several sources of information have been used: search on the Internet, the European Regions Research and Innovation Network –ERRIN, National Representatives for Transport and the consortium partners contact networks.
At the moment the deliverable was released, 65 Regional Clusters from 15 different countries belonging to the EU-27 group were identified. One of those clusters operated in two neighboring countries. 19 out of 65 were from Germany.
The Regional Clusters included in the mapping were contacted and invited to collaborate with the project and the ETP. They were asked to provide some missing information to complete the information of the fiches.
From the total, 19 Clusters from seven countries that were contacted replied. They were mainly from Germany (6 of them).
Also, the project identified four national platforms for Logistics. Three of them were coordinated by project’s consortium partners. The remaining one was contacted too.
Furthermore, the team preliminarily distinguished 18 European Associations operating in the field of Logistics. These Associations were further contacted in order to get their support and collaboration with the European Technology Platform on Logistics.
The number of members of the cluster and the number of projects in which each cluster has participated are two indicators that have been preliminarily defined in order to evaluate the relative importance of the Regional Clusters and their experience and commitment with Research and Innovation in Logistics, respectively.
Finally, the alignment of the clusters activities and projects with each of the five topics (plus Urban Logistics) defined in the ETP outline was assessed.
During the Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2014 in Paris La Défense (14 - 17 April) ALICE was able to present itself to a broad audience. First of all, ALICE had a booth at the conference where visitors showed strong interest in its initiative. At the outreach marketplace an ALICE poster was presented. In addition, ALICE chairman Ralph Keck was honoured to represent ALICE’s vision on logistics in the plenary session (about how to make freight transport more efficient) to over a thousand attendees, among them representatives of all parts of the transport sector.
At the last day of the conference, ALICE organized its first Mirror Group meeting and General Assembly (deliverable 2.3) to take the first important steps in defining the future research and innovation roadmaps for logistics. Over a hundred interested guests from more than fifteen European countries were present.
Deliverable 2.4 was the report of the activities done to establish the Mirror Group of the European Technology Platform on Logistics: ALICE, Alliance for Logistics Innovation through collaboration in Europe.
A dialogue with Member States and other relevant stakeholders such us regional clusters was key to achieve the desired impact of the ETPs. Specifically, Mirror Groups contribute to the following core activity of ETPs such as ALICE:
- Encouraging industry participation in Horizon 2020 and helping widen participation and build capabilities within Member States through cooperation with networks/partnerships in Member States. This includes identifying opportunities for partnership in the framework of Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation implemented in the context of the EU Cohesion policy;
Mirror Group Responsibilities (extract from ALICE Terms of Reference) are:
- To provide information and advice on a periodic voluntary basis to the ALICE Steering Group on policies and programs in the Member States, and the Regions that are relevant to realizing the goals and deliverables of the technology platform.
- To promote an enhanced co-operation and co-ordination among Member States, Regions and European activities.
- To act as the body representing collectively and individually the interests and views of the Member States and regions.
- To act as the body to allow discussion on integration and establishment of synergies between innovation policies at European, national and regional level in logistics and supply chain management.
- To provide responses to the recommendations and actions of the Steering Group and to ensure proper dissemination of the ETP at member states regional level.
During the Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2014 in Paris La Défense (14 - 17 April) ALICE was able to present itself to a broad audience and ALICE Mirror Group was launched. ALICE mirror group is composed of 2 different subgroups:
- Member States representatives.
- Regional Clusters, National Platforms and European Associations
By the time deliverable 2.4 was released, 10 Member States had already appointed representatives to the Mirror Group: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom). The others, were contacted and were still in the process all this after the presentation of ALICE in the 1st Horizon 2020 Transport Programme Committee held in Brussels on the 5th of March 2014. In this presentation, ALICE had the opportunity to present itself to the Member States delegates in this Committee and also request them their support to identify to whom the invitation to appoint representatives should be submitted.
Regarding Regional Clusters, national platforms and European Associations. WINN deliverable D.2.2. Initial Mapping of the European, National and Regional networks/platforms was used as background to build this mirror group subgroup.
In total, 49 Regional Clusters from 13 different countries belonging to the EU-27 group were identified. The Regional Clusters included in the mapping have been contacted and invited to collaborate with WINN and ALICE. From them, 29 Clusters were explicitly supporting ALICE and have accepted to collaborate with the ETP through the Mirror Group. Most of (24) signed a Letter of Intent to support the establishment of the ETP on Logistics.
Deliverable 2.5 summarized the official launch of the platform. Indeed, the European Technology Platform on Logistics, which was given the name Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe (ALICE), was launched on 11 June 2013 in Brussels. The Steering Group (SG) was appointed, and the terms of reference were approved by the SG. In addition, the SG determined the research and innovation areas (i.e. the scope of the ETP). The new platform was established to develop a comprehensive strategy for research and innovation in the area of logistics and supply chain management in Europe, and for deployment of results. The platform will support the new EU Programme for research and innovation Horizon 2020.
Deliverable 2.6 aimed at offering a view of the main regional research-driven clusters; national networks; and European networks and associations (EU-27) operating in the field of innovation in Logistics. This helped accomplish WINN objective of building a collaboration framework between already established networks. At the same time, these organizations represent potential participants in ALICE, given that they are key elements of the Logistics community and essential stakeholders to achieve the success of the European Technology Platform on Logistics.
Additionally, the regions hosting Regional Clusters were compared with the regions which have included Logistics as one of their priority areas according to the information available on the Smart Specialization Strategy Platform. The source of this information was the Eye@RIS3 webpage on the RIS3 Platform website. It was found that 21 NUTS-2 regions have reported Logistics or one of its sub-areas as one of their priority areas. Also, only 11 out of the 49 Regions which were identified as hosting research-driven clusters working on Logistics have included this area as one of their capabilities. Furthermore, there are 16 regions with research-driven clusters that have reported their priority areas onto the Smart Specialisation Strategy Platform but have not included Logistics as one of them. The search on the RIS3 website enabled the identification of three new research-driven clusters.
Deliverables 2.7 and 2.8 reported the tasks carried out to implement the ETP on Logistics.
The operational objectives of WINN for the period were the following:
- Develop a supporting framework for innovation implementation in sustainable freight logistics at European and National levels.
This objective was achieved through the work performed in workpackage 3 that led to the deliverables:
- 3.1 Innovation in Practice Report
- 3.2 ALICE Research and Innovation Roadmaps
- 3.3 1st Status of EIRAC and EGCI (Logistics and Comodality report)
- 3.4 Status of EIRAC, EGCI and ALICE research and innovation agendas report
- 3.5 Challenges for future research and development in logistics report
- 3.6 Support to Next EC Calls Recomendation
WINN produced an Innovation in Practice Report (deliverable 3.1) aiming at raising awareness on benefits for industry out of doing collaborative research and sharing the know-how and experience of WINN project partners in this field. Best practices in terms of turning knowledge and research into investment in innovation were identified and analysed as well as how the related results were being used by the organizations/market. This exercise aimed to understand the reasons for success and to share the lessons learnt in previous projects.
Out of the projects analysed the following are common motivations and key factors for success:
1. The projects addressing not only technological advances, but also innovations on processes and business models.
2. Core issues for logistics and supply chain management are: (1) cost reduction (65 %), (2) resilience of the supply chain (25 %), (3) environmental efficiency (10 %) and (4) new service models.
3. Projects that clearly include demonstrators and living labs close to real operations lead to more successful results.
4. The success of future projects will depend even more on major involvement of industrial partners’ participation, since the inclusion of their approaches and real needs can boost the market uptake.
5. Well shaped and established high level industrial boards for project results assessment and also adoption, bringing knowledge and industrial “touch” from the sector.
Out of the projects analysed the following were common lessons Learnt and main barriers to adoption:
1. Logistics is a quite fragmented sector (more than 750.000 logistics companies around Europe) which makes market global uptake quite complex and usually needs a lot of time to occur.
2. Finding the appropriate approach, business model and industry interest is most of the times the element for success or fail of a certain research result introduction into the market.
3. New policy requirements.
The achievement of this operational objective can be also seen in the work performed by ALICE Working Groups. ALICE Working Groups developed their Research and Innovation Roadmaps (deliverable 3.2):
- WG1. Sustainable, Safe and Secure Supply Chains
- WG2. Corridors, Hubs and Synchromodality
- WG3. Information Systems for Interconnected Logistics
- WG4. Supply Chain Coordination and Collaboration
- WG5. Urban Logistics
The roadmaps were elaborated with the contributions of more than 300 experts (ALICE members and consulted experts) coming from the industry and research. All the process was possible thanks to the engagement of ALICE bodies: Steering and Executive Groups and Working Groups.
The process to get the roadmaps included several face to face meetings in the working groups as well as to off-line contributions to the roadmaps. Ample consultation has been made involving Member States and clusters through ALICE mirror Group. Finally, the roadmaps got the approval by ALICE Steering Group on the 17th of November 2015 culminating an 18 months’ work with the coordination and support of WINN partnership.
The advances made in Europe through research and innovation projects co-funded by the European Commission through the Framework Programmes should be a base from which new developments be built. It is also very important to consider the roadmaps proposed by relevant European initiatives in the field of Logistics and Supply Chain Management for the mid to long term. In deliverable 3.3 WINN has analysed almost 60 EU co-funded FP7 projects and 9 Logistics-related roadmaps at the European level. It was found that those roadmaps covered different perspectives (i.e. technology and ICT, transport system, transport modes, intermodality and security), but none of them covered the whole logistics and supply chain management scope.
WINN proposed a more holistic and pragmatic approach to define innovation roadmaps for logistics and supply chain management. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen research at supply chain level (by including both “how to transport” and “what to transport”) and a higher involvement of shippers. This implies that rather a focus on research and innovation on product development, a focus on innovation on process and business models is required.
These recommendations also follow the idea of the need of the ETP on Logistics that is based on the recognition of an overarching logistics and supply chain planning and control view in which shippers, logistics service providers and authorities work together, with a clear view on the impact of their actions on all stakeholders, to ultimately realize a logistics infrastructure, transportation and operation that indeed balances the needs expressed as “people, planet, profit”.
Considering that ALICE research and innovation roadmaps were built upon previous efforts and considering EIRAC and EGCI roadmaps as background, deliverable 3.4 was structured following the research and innovation areas and gaps identified in the roadmaps. This deliverable aimed at analysing the advances made in the implementation of past roadmaps, identifying lessons learnt and gaps to be covered against new roadmaps. A preliminary analysis was performed, identifying projects linked to ALICE research and innovation roadmaps. The number of projects found (75) exceeded any previous estimation, and therefore the analysis was only performed based on primary sources (information available on projects’ and Cordis websites). Thus, this deliverable became a first step towards assessing the advances and gaps in the implementation of past roadmaps. Ideally, a more thoroughly updated version of this deliverable should consult also secondary sources (i.e. feedback from stakeholders involved). Deliverable 3.4 should constitute the base of a further and more detailed analysis of the outcomes of the different projects, the contribution of them to the roadmaps implementation and the lessons learnt.
Moreover, deliverable D3.5 included a compilation of topics initially proposed by WINN Project as input to the European Commission for the first calls of Horizon 2020 Programme. These topics were sent to the Steering Group of the European Technology Platform on Logistics for their review and prioritization.
The 21 proposed topics were classified according to the preliminary pillars:
• Sustainable, Safe and Secure Supply Chains
• Corridors, hubs and synchromodality
• Information systems for interconnected logistics
• Supply Chain coordination and collaboration
• Urban Logistics
Finally, ALICE contributed with a selection of recommendations of pioneering projects/topics to be implemented in the short-medium term EC calls Work Programs 2015-2016 (deliverable 3.6).
The recommendations were based on the research and innovation needs identified within ALICE Working Groups and included in the Research and Innovation Roadmaps in the field of logistics recently approved by ALICE Steering Group (November 2014) (WINN Deliverable 3.2).
The process for the definition of these recommendations started already in June 2014. After a consultation within ALICE Working Groups the document: “Response of ETP ALICE on the consultation request to define the WP 2016 -2017” was issued to the European Commission services in the areas:
- Smart, green and integrated transport
- Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials
These documents, part of deliverable 3.6 were the basic document to continue elaboration of the topics. ALICE organized a workshop in Brussels supported by WINN on the 3rd and 4th of September where the topics were presented and discussed with the members and further recommended topics identified.
The documents were shared with ALICE Mirror Group composed of Member States representatives, clusters and national platforms and presented in ALICE Mirror Group meeting on the 13th of October 2014.
The recommendations were further reviewed by ALICE Working Groups and approved by the Steering Group on the 17th of November 2014 meeting. The Steering Group proceeded with the prioritization of the topics. The resulting document: ALICE Recommendations HORIZON2020 WP 2016-2017 was issued to the European Commission Services on December 2014.
- Establish joint network assessment of policies, regulatory measures, financial mechanisms and socioeconomic aspects to broaden logistics market and benefit innovation penetration.
This objective was achieved through the work performed in workpackage 4 that led to the deliverables:
- 4.1 Stock taking on innovation mechanisms
- 4.2 Report on innovation mechanisms and programs supporting research and innovation in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- 4.3 Analysing the opportunity of a PPP on logistics
WINN aimed and discussing and building consensus regarding policies, regulatory measures, standardisation, harmonisation, financial mechanisms and socio-economic aspects that should be put in place in favour of broaden logistics market and innovation penetration in the sector. As part of this objective, deliverable 4.1 focused on identifying existing innovation mechanisms used by professionals and the ones issued by European competent authorities, as well as to identify weaknesses, barriers, and possibilities for improvement.
Deliverable 4.1 contributed to this vision by surveying selected companies to gather their practices and mechanisms in innovation, as well as needs for required improvements and detected barriers. This information was collected from surveying selected companies and analysing existing documents and information in the area inside and outside Europe.
Later on, WINN validated with a survey the outcomes of deliverable 4.1 (stock-taking summary of existing innovation mechanisms), and benchmarked the national research and innovation activities in logistics in selected countries outside Europe (deliverable 4.2).
Indeed, the survey presented in deliverable 4.2 validated results of stock-taking summary of existing innovation mechanism survey and indicated main problems with functioning of innovation mechanisms. Respondents indicated that, among main barriers to innovation in logistics were: R&D is mostly centred on technology rather than on business models, strategies and processes and public funded projects require very complex administrative processes, including too long evaluation/negotiation procedures. Especially concentration on technology is very often a strong obstacle for process and business model oriented innovation projects in logistics. In many cases logistic projects must compete for funding with more technology oriented disciplines. In this competition achieving success is very difficult. Complex administrative processes are a problem especially in many national and regional funding programs but happen also at international level. On the one hand complex and long lasting evaluation procedure is an obstacle, which results in need for waiting for project evaluation results. In innovative and competitive business environments time is a very important factor. On the other hand complex administrative procedures during realization of a project often result in additional workforce needed for dealing with them and in necessity of waiting for reimbursement.
The survey confirmed the most popular recommendations for funding organizations aiming at improving innovation absorption are related to change of attitude of technology centred thinking in case of programs in Logistics. There is need to create more business models and processes, and innovation-oriented funding mechanisms. Another important recommendation is that R&D public funding Programs should simplify their administrative processes and support reducing the time between the conception of an idea and projects implementation. Respondents indicated the importance of risk reduction in adoption of innovation. Such reduction is possible when R&D public funding programs assure higher public financing levels.
Deliverable 4.2 also presented a mapping of national research and innovation activities in logistics in selected countries outside Europe. One of the conclusions from this desk research was that there was organizational similarity between analysed countries and Europe in the way of setting logistics policy and authorities involved in this process. On the other hand examples of such countries like USA and Singapore showed that there are less horizontal funding programs and funds are managed directly by specialized agencies dealing with specific logistic problem category or with specific mode of transport. All analysed countries have a strong position in the Logistic Performance Index prepared by the World Bank each year. This is the result of the strategic role of transport and logistics for these countries caused by their size and geographic location. Research and innovation activities in analysed countries are often targeted at problems identified by specialized agencies or specialized logistic authorities at regional/ state/ provincial level. Especially important features of analysed financing systems are strong coordination of logistic funding and significant role of private sector in financing research and development. In EU coordination of funding of similar topics between different regional, national and international is much more difficult than for example in USA or in Canada. The important role of private sector in financing research and development results in more business-oriented expectations and this plays in favour of less scientifically oriented logistic projects.
Additionally, deliverable 4.3 analysed the opportunity of a PPP on logistics: defining the target, scope, expected impact and approach. The rationale behind this is the fact that a concerted action (Public Private Partnership for Research) between industry, research and administration would help create the appropriate conditions to break current paradigms; speed-up innovation and market take up, hence meeting policy objectives in terms of energy usage, environmental impact and competitiveness.
The expected impact of a PPP for logistics can be summarized as follows:
- Contribute to a € 100 – 300 billion cost relief for the European industry.
- Contribute to 60% CO2 reduction in 2050 compared to 1990 figure.
- Reduce Energy Usage.
- Maintaining European leadership of European countries in the logistics performance.
- Disseminate and exploitation support for project results and outcomes.
This objective was achieved through the work performed in workpackage 5 that led to the deliverables:
- 5.1 Strategic Framework and Concrete Dissemination Plan
- 5.2 WINN website portal
- 5.3 E-publication on good practices and innovative projects
- 5.4 ETP on Logistics Conference
- 5.5 Mid-term dissemination report
- 5.6 Final dissemination report
Deliverable D5.1 has established WINN communication and dissemination strategy and its preliminary plans. The planned dissemination activities aimed at improving the knowledge of the WINN project within logistics clusters and communities to create broader collaboration with implementation in innovation and sustainability. The communication strategy aims at setting the communication framework within the ETP on Logistics.
The dissemination activities also aimed to raise awareness of the objectives of WINN, activities and results, obtaining feedback from the stakeholders’ community and ensuring that the WINN initiative has an important presence after the end of the project.
The dissemination strategy was twofold: on the one hand, aiming at raising awareness of WINN scope among the main stakeholders; on the other hand, defining the communication channels between the main actors of the ETP on Logistics (Secretariat, Steering Committee and Assembly).
Deliverable D5.1 provided the consortium partners with the tools to carry out the communication and dissemination activities necessary to achieve the objectives of the plan. A broad range of online and non-electronic dissemination and communication channels were deployed to ensure maximum distribution of the objectives and results of WINN and the ETP on Logistics. Indeed, both WINN and ALICE (www.etp-alice.eu) websites were launched (deliverable D5.2).
Deliverables 5.5 and D5.6 has shown the work performed by WINN regarding dissemination, specifically indicating all promotional and dissemination activities, channels and media used.
Additionally, an e-publication on good practices and innovative projects (deliverable 5.3) was created broadcasting the outcomes of deliverable 3.1. ALICE also organized its Conference in February 2015 (deliverable 5.4) raising awareness among main logistics stakeholders. Indeed, the conference hosted 110 participants with a wide European geographical coverage (e.g. Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Austria, and United Kingdom).
Potential Impact:
Impact
The wider implication of the project has been the launch of the new ETP (ALICE - Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe). Indeed, ALICE was launched on the 11th of June 2013 with the support of EC DG MOVE and DG RESEARCH and recognized as an official European Technology Platform by the European Commission in July 2013. ALICE was set-up to develop a comprehensive strategy for research, innovation and market deployment of logistics and supply chain management innovation in Europe with the mission: “to contribute to a 30% improvement of end to end logistics performance by 2030”.
WINN covered “the activities to ensure the long term collaboration strategy, framework and structure of the European Technology Platform on Logistics operating in the freight transport aiming the sustainability of the sector at different levels of action: European, National and Regional. The ETP revitalized EIRAC previous activities broadening industry participation and the involvement of Member States and regional clusters. This framework of collaboration is driven by the industry through the Steering Board with the support of the activities within WINN. A Member State Mirror group has been established to ensure participation and input of the member states. Long‐term result of this cooperation strategy is an open European Technology Platform on logistics that addresses RTD, Innovation and Implementation actions in logistics, bringing together initiatives in the various countries and projects and defining logistics challenges and roadmaps to address them. The ETP will help improving and sharing RTD infrastructure and other facilities, enhancing skills between business entities and between research entities and business entities, through networking. WINN platform will be a matchmaking and dissemination institution for recent trends in research and innovation in European freight transport; such as technology innovation, multi‐modal infrastructure, innovative transport services and business processes focussed on competitiveness, efficiency and sustainability. The platform acts as input supplier for regional, national and European policy programs and provide information for private/public funding in RTD and innovation.
One of the major challenges of WINN project was to ensure the sustainability of the created network of stakeholders beyond the finalization of the project. The process to get this done started already in November 2013, 2nd Steering Group, when the creation of a legal entity supporting ALICE activities and economically sustained by membership fees was discussed. Finally, the membership structure was agreed by the Steering group2 and shared with potential members in the 1st Assembly in the frame of TRA 2014 (17th of April, 2014).
Regarding the legal entity, CO-TREE AISBL (launched as part of EIRAC activities) was offered to the ETP Steering Group to act as the legal entity for the ALICE ETP. To proceed with this, former members of CO-TREE association approved the entrance of the leaders of the new initiative: P&G, KLU, CNC-LOGISTICA and DINALOG and the board was modified accordingly in June 2014 including these organizations.
The Statutes of the Association CO-TREE were reviewed and adapted to the ALICE ToR and discussed with members. New statutes were approved by ALICE members during ALICE assembly on the 11th of February. It was also agreed to modify the name of the association, changing it to ALICE, Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe.
Currently more than 40 companies, 10 research centers and universities, 5 national platforms and regional clusters and 15 European related associations are joining forces and became full members of the association.
ALICE Research and Innovation Roadmaps have been elaborated with the contributions of more than 300 experts (ALICE members and consulted experts) coming from the industry and research. All the process has been possible thanks to the engagement of ALICE bodies: Steering and Executive Groups and Working Groups as well as the appointed experts.
The process to get the roadmaps included several face to face meetings in the working, executive and steering groups and in the Plenary as well as to off-line contributions to the roadmaps. Ample consultation was made involving Member States and clusters through ALICE mirror Group. Finally, the roadmaps got the approval by ALICE Steering Group on the 17th of November 2015 culminating 18 month of work with the coordination and support of WINN partnership.
As included in ALICE vision and Scope, ALICE is the link between the transport modes and industrial sectors. Therefore, one of the key implications of WINN project has been to stablish links with the relevant transport ETPs/Public Private Partnerships3 (PPPs): ACARE, ERTRAC/EGVIA, ERRAC/S2R, WATERBORNE and other Industrial ETPs/PPs: Manufuture/EFFRA, SUSCHEM.
As a summary, these are the links with other ETPs and PPPs:
1. ERTRAC, ERRAC/S2R, WATERBORNE, EFFRA/MANUFUTURE, SUSCHEM are represented by one of its industry member in ALICE Steering Group. ALICE Steering Group is the decision body within ALICE.
2. A joint roadmap on urban freight research and innovation has been delivered together with ERTRAC (September 2014).
3. ERTRAC, ERRAC/S2R and WATERBORNE actively engaged in the definition of ALICE roadmap on Corridors, Hubs and Synchromodlaity. Several meetings with representatives of FOSTER CSAs: MESA, Road and Rail took place (see Table 2).
4. EFFRA/MANUFUTURE participation in ALICE Global Supply Network Coordination and Collaboration Working Group. Join activities to advance in the definition of opportunities in: Manufacturing villages, Logistics for a new manufacturing paradigm: Modular manufacturing, Additive manufacturing (3D printing, micro processing, etc.)
5. Joint action proposed (SETRIS) for funding CSA to increase coordination and collaboration with transport ETPs: ERTRAC, ERRAC/S2R and WATERBORNE in the area of multimodal transport, hubs and synchromodality + TRA 2016 organization.
Dissemination
WINN dissemination strategy has focused on the identified target groups, which have different features and need different dissemination approaches. In addition to dissemination addressing specific target groups, WINN project has performed several broad dissemination activities, in order to spread awareness.
The main objective of WINN dissemination strategy was to inform the main public stakeholders, market players and researchers in the area of logistics and supply chain management about the existence of the WINN project, its goals and aims, and its achievement, especially its main achievement: the establishment of the European Technology Platform (ETP) on Logistics, which was given the name Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe (ALICE) as of June 2013. The vision and results of the WINN project were promoted to a wide audience. Activities of ALICE were supported. During the lifetime of the project, the following activities were taken:
[1] Promotion of the vision and results of ALICE to a wide audience.
[2] Stimulation of the discussion and consensus building amongst main public stakeholders, market players and researchers in the area of logistics and supply chain management, in order to transform knowledge and research into investment in innovation.
[3] Establishment of adequate cooperation with the other WPs.
[4] Coordination of the organisation of various WINN/ALICE events.
After launching ALICE, every partner took the dissemination tasks for ALICE as a core part of its involvement in the project, and carried out dissemination activities in various regions and countries.
WINN dissemination materials
Various dissemination materials were used in order to present the project concept and results, as well as to facilitate project recognition by the target audience. Distribution of the information took place both online (web site) and via other more traditional means (e.g. leaflets, newsletter and postcard). All disse¬mi¬na¬tion materials follow the European Commission dissemination rules as established in the 7th Framework Programme.
WINN logo was created and was available for consortium members in different versions and formats. The logo was used in all promotional materials and official project documents. It was the emblem of the project, and helped visualise the main subject of the project.
The slogan
"Logistics innovation for a more sustainable and competitive industry"
was used in all dissemination materials, and as well as for ALICE.
The project poster was used at events for capturing attention and advertising the project. The following basic elements were taken into account:
[1] Acronym and name of the project
[2] Logo and slogan of the project
[3] Logos of the consortium partners and participating third parties
250 copies were printed and used.
TWINN project postcard was created as a document in concise format presenting the specific project objectives and expected outcomes. It stated the main goal of the project, the establishment of an open European platform of excellence in the area of supply chain management and logistics in connection with hubs and gateways and, most importantly, it underlined the need to collaborate and exchange experiences for increasing sustainability and competitiveness.
The website of WINN was the focal point for online dissemination. The website incorporated a structure suitable for including all current and progressively developed further information regarding the project. Until December 2013, the WINN web site received more than 7000 visits, and more than 126,700 hits. In 2014, it received 8229 visits and 119344 hits. In 2015 (until 31-03-1025), it received 2429 visits and 33751 hits.
All partners, participating third parties and network platform created a WINN section on their corporate websites:
www.zlc.edu.es/projects/european/european-platform-driving-knowledge-to-innovations-in-freight-logistics/
www.dinalog.nl/en/projects/international/winn/
www.dinalog.nl/en/news/dinalog_projecten/internationaal/winn
www.enide.eu/?page_id=191
www.bluegreenstrategy.it/index.php/web/company
www.bluegreenstrategy.com
www.dappolonia.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=203&Itemid=476#primo
www.ilim.poznan.pl/english-version/international/55-projects/international/247-winn-european-platform-driving-knowledge-to-innovations-in-freight-logistics
www.plpt.com.pl/index.php/alice (Polish Technology Platform in Logistics)
The following basic information on the external projects is available:
[1] Summary of the project
[2] Partners, third parties and in-house consultants involved in the project
[3] Main objectives
[4] Regional contact information
[5] A link to the official web site of the WINN project
These external websites were very helpful in increasing the visibility of WINN. They were an entry point for stakeholders in different regions in Europe.
The Project WINN is present in the social media through LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/groups/WINN-Project-4765191?gid=4765191&goback=.nmp
The project group was managed by Dinalog (the Dissemination Leader). All partners joined the WINN LinkedIn Group (see Figure 6). Until March 2015, 64 members joined the WINN LinkedIn Group. After launching ALICE in June 2013, members joined ALICE LinkedIn Group.
ALICE dissemination materials
Various dissemination materials were used in order to present the vision, mission, structure, activities and potential benefits of ALICE. Distribution of the information took pace both online (web site) and via other more traditional means (e.g. press, leaflet, business card and brochure).
All WINN partners have used the original printouts in English, and the official presentations of WINN and ALICE. In addition, the leaflets and the WINN/ALICE presentations were used during various regional events, meetings and workshops in The Netherlands, Italy, and Poland. It should be especially addressed that ALICE has also been highly promoted by the Polish Technology Platform in Logistics.
Before ALICE was launched, a logo of ETP European Technology Platform on Logistics was used.
The new ALICE logo was used in all promotional materials as of 11-06-2013.
The same slogan for WINN project is also used for ALICE:
"Logistics innovation for a more sustainable and competitive industry"
The ALICE website www.etp-logistics.eu is the key point for online dissemination. The website incorporated a structure suitable for including all current and progressively developed further information. Until December 2013, the ALICE web site received around 480 visits, and more than 17,900 hits. In 2014 it received 36,526 visits and 408623 hits. In 2015 (until 31-03-2015), it received 8704 visits and 143201 hits.
ALICE roll-up banner and business cards were created. ALICE leaflet was developed and used by all WINN Consortium Partners and ALICE Steering Group members.
All partners have carried out the task to establish contacts with logistics clusters and logistics associations. A total of 49 regional clusters in Europe were identified. In addition, contacts were established with other related Transport ETPs and Manufuture, as well as European logistics associations.
WINN consortium has made a video about Physical Internet in 2014 to present the main goal of ALICE. See the web link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJyzFaKOXnY#t=141
The Working Groups of ALICE have developed research and innovation roadmaps, and the results have published in 5 booklets at the end of the project WINN. 200 copies of each roadmap were printed for distribution.
ETP on Logistics ALICE is present in social media, both in LinkedIn and in YouTube:
ALICE YouTube channel can be found in: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-1_szlCtw6ZTQC9PmfK9Ag
Moreover, ALICE LinkedIn page can be found at:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/alice-alliance-for-logistics-innovation-through-collaboration-in-europe
ALICE activities
WINN was a tool for establishing the ETP on Logistics (named ALICE since June 2013). Three main activities were organised. The first ALICE event was held on 17 April 2014 in Paris, as an associated event of the Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2014. The second ALICE Mirror Group Meeting was held on 13-14 October 2014 in Brussels, before the joint final conference of three EU-funded projects: SoCool@EU (Sustainable Organisation between Clusters Of Optimised Logistics @ Europe), LOG2020 (Logistics 2020: Training for the future) and LOG4Green. The third ALICE event (ALICE Conference) was held on 11-03-2015 at Schiphol.
Below are presented the dissemination events organized by WINN partners:
• Workshop on „Sustainable and Safe Transport, 12 September 2013, Krakow, Poland
• International Logistics Conference 2014, 1-2 April 2014, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• ALICE General Assembly and the first Mirror Group meeting during TRA, 17 April 2014, Paris, France
• Workshop on "Track and trace of cargo and communication in supply chain", 24 April 2014, Bydgoszcz, Poland
• Polish Logistics Congress LOGISTICS 2014 15 May 2014, Poznan, Poland
• Workshop on "Innovative solutions for container transport". 26 June 2014, Sopot, Poland
• Workshop on "Cooperation in supply chains – how to reduce logistics and transport costs", 12 September 2014, Sopot, Poland
• The second ALICE Mirror Group Meeting 13-14 October 2014 in Brussels
• The second ALICE General Assembly and conference 11-03-2015 at Schiphol, The Netherlands
WINN partners participated in the following external conferences, seminars and workshops to communicate it activities to the target audience, in order to raise interest in the objectives of the project and to widen the stakeholder base.
[1] CO3 HLIB on 5-6 November 2012 in Brussels (WINN introduction, CNC-LOGISTICA)
[2] ECITL conference on 7-9 November 2012, Gothenburg (WINN introduction, CNC-LOGISTICA).
[3] Intrarregio meeting on 15-16 November 2012 in Brussels, WINN introduction, CNC-LOGISTICA).
[4] SoCool@EU third General Assembly on 27-28 November 2012 in Zaragoza (Dinalog: organisor; project coordinator of SoCooL@EU) (WINN introduction, CNC-LOGISTICA).
[5] Europa Forum on 15 January 2013 in Breda (Dinalog)
[6] ERRIN and POLIS event in 30 January – 1 February 2013 in Brussels (WINN introduction, CNC-LOGISTICA).
[7] K4I Forum debate “Wake up Europe: A Call for Action - The Right Innovation Framework and Instruments to Secure Europe’s Future Competitiveness and Living Standards” on 26 March 2013 in Brussels (Dinalog)
[8] Dinalog Year Event on 4 April 2013 in Breda (Dinalog)
[9] Sustainable Urban Transport 2013: from demonstration to everyday practice on 10-12 April 2013 in Gothenburg (Dinalog)
[10] Intraregio First International Conference on "A European research strategy for intermodal transport" on 17-18 April 2013 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (CNC-LOGISTICA)
[11] General Assembly Open ENLoCC on 5-7 May 2013 in Le Havre (CNC-LOGISTICA).
[12] The TLF (Transport Logistic Fair) of Munich on 4-7 June 2013 in Munich (CNC-LOGISTICA).
[13] The 9th European Congress on ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) on 4-7 June 2013 in Dublin (Dinalog)
[14] Seminary on Innovation development and research needs in logistics and infrastructure on 24 June 2013, Warsaw, Poland (Presentation about ALICE and recent logistics challenges – ILIM).
[15] The European SLC Summit on 26-27 June 2013 in Berlin (Dinalog)
[16] International Conference on Operations Research on 4-6 September 2013 in Rotterdam (Dinalog)
[17] The 20th World Congress on ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) on 14-18 October 2013 in Tokyo (Dinalog & ILIM)
[18] The 6th European Conference on ICT for Transport and Logistics (ECITL) on 23-25 October 2013 in Zaragoza (CNC- LOGISTICA)
[19] Innovatie-estafette on 12 November 2013 in Amsterdam (Dinalog)
[20] Innovatie Attaches Conferentie "Global Challenges in Smart Logistics" on 13 November 2013 in Utrecht, The Netherlands (Dinalog)
[21] Weastflows workshop on 13 December 2013 in Lille, France (Dinalog)
[22] Workshop "SUSTAINABILITY IN BUSINESS – how to benefit from the responsible development" on 29th January 2014, Warsaw, Poland (Presentation about Alice and recent logistics challenges – ILIM)
[23] Presentation of the ALICE roadmap and Physical Internet at several big logistic players in Spain (e.g. Auchan Spain, Valencia Port, BSH, Zaragoza Plaza) on 18-20 February 2014 in in Valencia, Zaragoza, Madrid (P&G, ALICE member)
[24] Debate at Rome City Council in presence of the Mayor on Digital Value Creation for Cities on 3-4 March 2014 in Roma, Italy (P&G, ALICE member)
[25] GS1 Board of Directors meeting in March 2014, Poznan, Poland (ILIM)
[26] Workshop with LSPs in March 2014 at Interporto Bologna, organized in the frame of the LogiCon Project (Bluegreen)
[27] ETP ALICE @LOG4GREEN Workshop: Tackling Logistics Challenges, 18 March 2014, Brussels, Belgium (ALICE presentation - CNC-LOGISTICA)
[28] SITL (Panel discussion) on 2 April 2014 Paris, France (P&G, ALICE member - Key note speech in the first Physical Internet congress)
[29] Alice stand and workshop at TRA 2014 on 14-17 April 2014 Paris, France (WINN)
[30] Clustering multi-modal research and innovation issues with other ETPs and ETPs joint meeting on 12 May 2014, Brussels, Belgium (CNC-LOGISTICA)
[31] Poland Logistic Congress on 15-16 May 2014 in Poznan, Poland (P&G, ALICE member - Keynote speech)
[32] LITC (Logistic Innovation & Training Centre) Workshop on 24 September 2014 in Brussels, Belgium (P&G, ALICE member - Presentation of Physical Internet concept and leading the workshop of 40 ppl)
[33] EARPA CONFERENCE, 1st of October 2014, Brussels, Belgium - ALICE presentation: “Developing a comprehensive strategy for logistics and supply chain innovation”
[34] Beverete Workshop on 9 October 2014 in Orvieto, Italy (P&G, ALICE member - Keynote speech on the value of Collaborative Logistics and the Physical Internet)
[35] European Cluster Conference (i.e. Joint final event of SoCool@EU and LOG4GREEN) on 14-15 October 2014 Brussels (Co-Organised by Dinalog, Coordinator of SoCool@EU; P&G, ALICE member - Presentation of ALICE roadmap in a panel debate form); ENIDE, WINN member - Session Moderation: Green investments in supply chains: the inevitable choice towards competitiveness & resilience
[36] BVL German Logistic congress on 22-24 October 2014 in Berlin, Germany (Multiple 121 meetings for ALICE involvement organised by P&G, ALICE member)
[37] The 7th European Conference on ICT for Transport and Logistics (ECITL) on 5-7 November 2014 in Dortmund, Germany (Dinalog, ENIDE) - ALICE session on: ICT needs of SMEs in the Logistics and Transport industries linked to ALICE WG3 on Information Systems for interconnected logistics
[38] Workshop on sustainable logistics on 10 November 2014 in The Hague, The Netherlands (Organised by Dinalog, Coordinator of the SoCool@EU project; P&G, ALICE member - Keynote speech)
[39] Intermodal Europe 2014 on 11-13 November 2014 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands (P&G, ALICE member - Keynote speech; Dinalog – Co-Organisor)
[40] 17-19 November 2014 JIIP (Joint Institute for Innovation Policy) The 6th Annual Symposium, European Parliament, Brussels; The 6th Europen innovation Summit, Brussels (Dinalog)
[41] 1st INTE-TRANSIT International Conference, “Information & Communications Technologies (ICT) as enablers for improved operations in modern ports”, 20th of November 2014, Valencia - ALICE presentation: “Developing a comprehensive strategy for logistics and supply chain innovation”
[42] Research Institutes Board meeting on 1 December 2014, Warsaw, Poland (Presentation about Alice and recent logistics challenges – ILIM)
[43] EFFRA on 2 December 2014 in Brussels, Belgium (P&G, ALICE member - Presentation of ALICE)
[44] BESTFACT conference on 4 December 2014 in Milan, Italy (P&G, ALICE member - Presentation of ALICE and PI concept)
[45] ECTRI Logistics Working Group Meeting, 5th of December 2014, Online - ALICE presentation: Vision Mission, objectives, structure and status of research and Innovation Roadmaps
[46] Urban Freight Platform, VREF (Volvo Research and Educational Foundations) on 5-6 March 2015 in Gothenburg (Dinalog/CNC-LOGISTICA/ENIDE) - ALICE Roadmap on Urban Freight Presentation
[47] ICT-EMMISSION final event on 31 March 2015 at Polis, Brussels. (Dinalog)
[48] Workshops of the iMobility Forum eRTD Working Group. Several meetings from 2013 to 2015 Used official ALICE presentations to establish connections with iMobility eRTD roadmapping activity. (Bluegreen)
During the lifetime of WINN project, ALICE has supported the organization of TRA 2014 in Paris and of TRA 2016 in Warsaw.
The Transport Research Arena is the major conference in transport in Europe, and was supported by the ETPs ERTRAC, ERRAC, WATERBORNE and since its creation in 2013, ALICE.
Indeed, ALICE held its 1st Mirror Group meeting and 1st General Assembly in the framework of TRA 2014.
Moreover, ALICE has participated in TRA 2016 PC and MC meetings (through their partners ENIDE and ILIM):
- TRA 2016 PC Meeting. 18th of November 2014.
- TRA 2016 MC Meeting. 9th of December 2014
- TRA 2016 P Meeting. 9th of March 2015
Every outcome of WINN project, including all deliverables (with dissemination level PU) was published on the web sites of WINN and ALICE.
A press release was published on 12-06-2013, one day after the official launch of the ETP on Logistics. Besides via de WINN web site, this was also distributed via the WINN consortium partners.
Additional newsletters were published by WINN partners.
WINN partners, together with some ALICE (potential) members, have published a book, which is supported by the EC. WINN partners have also presented papers in congress proceedings, and presented posters in various events.
In addition, a number of articles were published in LOGISTYKA magazine. ALICE is highly promoted in many aspects within Polish Technology Platform in Logistics, e.g. during meetings with stakeholders, and during the development of the Action Plan for logistics in Poland.
[1] Lu, M., De Bock, J. (Ed.) (2015). Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chains: Innovations and Integral Approaches, Springer.
[2] Lu, M. (2015). Research roadmaps of ALICE (Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe). In Proceedings: 22nd World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, Bordeaux. (accepted)
[3] Lu, M. (2014). Innovations for sustainable logistics and supply chain. LET‘S (Leading Enabling Technologies for Societal Challenges) 2014, Bologna. (Poster)
[4] Lu, M. (2014). Alliance for logistics innovation through collaboration in Europe. TRA (Transport Research Arena) 2014 Conference, Paris. (Poster)
[5] Lu, M. (2013). Innovation for intelligent freight transport systems. In Proceedings: 9th European Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, Paper Number: TP0082, Dublin.
WINN project has performed successfully in its dissemination activities. An adequate dissemination strategy was defined. Dissemination objectives were achieved according to the plan. Dissemination activities were carried out according to the plan.
There was a change in the plan for the dissemination strategy, i.e. the activities for promoting CO-TREE were replaced by promoting the European Technology Platform on Logistics, which was given the name Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe (ALICE), was launched in June 2013 in Brussels. WINN is a tool for establishing the new platform; therefore, all activities focus on ALICE since its formal establishment. All available dissemination channels were adequately used. Strong support was received from the European Commission. Consequently, both WINN and ALICE received high attention from industry, academy and authority.
Contact details: Carolina Cipres, ccipres@zlc.edu.es
Estimates put the share of logistics industry in the GDP of Europe at close to 14%. Freight logistics inefficiency is a major cost driver and contributes unnecessarily to a negative carbon footprint of transport. Eurostat surveys estimate that 24% of good vehicles in the EU are running empty and the average loading of the rest is 57% giving an overall efficiency of 43%. Flow imbalances can explain only half of this loss. The total cost burden of road freight transport inefficiency is estimated as €160 billion and 1.3% of EU27 CO2 footprint. Efficiency in logistics, therefore, is a key element for the further growth of industrial activity and trade on a global scale.
WINN project is a step forward to increase collaboration and consensus building of the different stakeholders dealing with freight transport and logistics to define and implement research and innovation measures to be proposed as input to the HORIZON 2020 and member states programs in the medium-long term.
To accomplish this mission, WINN project has built the European Technology Platform on Logistics: ALICE, Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe upon previous efforts made by the European Intermodal Research Advisory Council (EIRAC) and the European Green Cars Initiative. ALICE has been set-up to develop a comprehensive strategy for research, innovation and market deployment of logistics and supply chain management innovation in Europe with the mission: “to contribute to a 30% improvement of end to end logistics performance by 2030”. ALICE redefines the scope from intermodality to logistics and supply chain planning and control. By enlarging the scope, decisions impacting transport execution made by shippers are fully included, which means considering not only “how to transport” but also “what to transport”.. The European Commission gave ALICE the official status of European Technology Platform in July 1013..
ALICE is led by industry being WINN the tool to support its developments and coordination initiatives. In the frame of WINN project a non-for profit association based in Brussels, an AISBL, has been stablished to ensure sustainability of the initiative after the project and ensuring the continuation of activities. Currently more than 40 companies, 10 research centers and universities, 5 national platforms and regional clusters and 15 European related associations are joining forces and became full members this association. Moreover, WINN has stablished close collaboration with 10+ Member States and 50+ European Logistics Clusters through ALICE Mirror Group. ALICE is then the outcome of WINN to achieve the strategic objective of building a collaboration framework between already established networks in freight logistics operating in different areas and in different geographical levels.
ALICE stimulates research and innovation in the field according to industry needs. It provides input to HORIZON 2020 program and it is the voice of the sector (industry, authorities and research) in order to channel main areas of development in RTD and Innovation in the logistics field where coordination and combination of efforts between industry and authorities is needed to ensure the leadership of the European logistics sector.
ALICE has identified five different areas that need to be specifically analysed and addressed in terms of future research and innovation needs to achieve its mission. These areas are:
- Sustainable and Secure Supply Chains.
- Corridors, Hubs and Synchromodality.
- Information Systems for Interconnected Logistics.
- Global Supply Network Coordination and Collaboration.
- Urban Logistics.
Five different Working Groups have been launched, one in each of these areas to further analyse and define research and innovation strategies, roadmaps and priorities agreed by all stakeholders to achieve ALICE Vision and Mission. WINN project supported all this process delivering one roadmap per working group in December 2014.
Project Context and Objectives:
Logistics is the key for the EU economy, society and environment and a well identified sector for improvement. The EU is the world's largest exporter and biggest trader in goods . It is estimated that in the next 10-15 years, 90% of the world’s growth will come from outside the EU, so the EU has every interest in making sure that its companies remain very competitive and are able to access new markets and benefit from these sources of growth. Globalisation is not just about facilitating trade and exchanges. It is about joining global value chains and delivering products, services and technologies that no individual country would be able to produce on its own. In this context, logistics is a key aspect to lead value chains and access these new markets in competitive way. e-commerce is also rapidly and drastically changing mobility patterns and last mile logistics.
Estimates put the share of the logistics industry in the GDP of Europe at close to 14% . According to the World Bank, the best four logistics performers are from the EU and out of the global top‐10, seven of them are from the EU in 2014 . Keeping this privileged position is the key to maintain global competitiveness of Europe.
Logistics is a cross‐sectorial activity impacting all productive sectors. The competitiveness of other sectors (such as the automotive and the food industries) relies heavily on the performance of the logistics sector, as logistics provides the glue between the various parts of the supply chain (suppliers, manufacturers, markets). It is estimated that logistics accounts for 10 to 15% of the final cost of finished goods . Efficiency in logistics, therefore, is a key element for the further growth of industrial activity and trade on a global scale.
Transportation is responsible for around a quarter of the EU greenhouse gas emissions . Eurostat surveys estimate that 24% of good vehicles in the EU are running empty and the average loading of the rest is 57% giving an overall efficiency: of 43%. Flow imbalances can explain only half of this loss. The total cost burden of road freight transport inefficiency is estimated as €160 billion and 1.3 % of EU27 CO2 footprint .
While emissions from other sectors are generally falling, those from transport (still primarily based on fossil fuels, i.e. oil and gas) have increased by 36% since 19909 due to the linkage between transport and economic growth. According to experts, the long‐term annual growth rate of the logistics industry is between 4% and 8% and exceeds on average 2.5 times the GDP growth rate of the EU . The European Union has identified as one of its objectives the decoupling of economic growth and the use of resources, by a shift towards a low-carbon and energy-efficient economy, and by modernization of the transport sector. In this regard, some EU countries are exhibiting a decoupling of GDP and freight tonne-km growth due to increased efficiency and therefore saving energy and reducing environmental impact which is a clear improvement and future developments path.
The European Commission has established a 60% reduction of Green House Emissions as the target to be reached by 2050 compared to 1990 figures . Concerning the freight logistics sector, similar targets have been established for the reduction of CO2 emissions .
Sustainable economic growth is a fundamental challenge for Europe. Improved and more efficient logistics is a major enabler for this sustainable growth. However, there are a number of paradigms that are indeed sources of inefficiency in logistics and may prevent this sustainable growth:
- Vehicles load factors cannot be improved.
o Load factors on long-haul routes have stalled at roughly 50% for the last decade. The total running of empty trucks accounts for about 20% of vehicle kilometres driven in the EU 28, with the potential cost saving in transport logistics ranging from 160 billion € per year leading to a total abatement potential across the global sector of 124 mega-tonnes of CO2 per year .
o The load factors for delivery vehicles in cities are very low, e.g. Transport for London reports an average load factor for vans in London of approximately 38% .
- Worldwide the share of empty containers is estimated to be around 20% at sea and 40% on land of all containers transported. Global expenses for empty container repositioning amounted to 30.3 billion dollars in 2009 .
- Owned and proprietary use of assets is implying a low percentage of usage of the overall capacity.
- Instant consumption currently implies fast (and most of the times inefficient) shipments to meet customer expectations instead of positioning inventory close to customer.
- According to TESCO, around 1/3 of the world's food is lost or wasted and many UK families waste £700 worth of food a year . Emirates SkyCargo estimates the industry’s wastage rates of perishable fruit and vegetables at 30-35 per cent .
- Explosion of e-commerce is increasing pressure in day to day deliveries in cities and are likely to even worse the situation if the appropriate measures are not taken. On the other hand, e-commerce may be one key element supporting change of paradigm and could indeed be a trigger to collaborate, share and better arrange transportation.
- Intermodal solutions slow down the Supply Chain, are not reliable and increase inventory. Goods average travelling speed is slow… no matter how fast the mean of transport is…they spend most time just waiting .
- Poor network integration. So far, network integration has been focused on interconnectivity and interoperability of transport processes and equipment. Integration has been achieved only partially at the TEN-T core network level, without alignment of hubs and corridors specifically for freight transport. There is a poor match between requirements of door-to-door freight services within Europe and the supporting pan-European infrastructure.
o Rail transport comparison in US and EU: San Francisco-Miami, borders to cross: 0, languages 1, Rail gage:1 Regulations 1; Lisbon – Riga, borders to cross: 7, languages 5+, Rail gage: 3 Regulations 8 ;
- Small and Medium Sized enterprises are unable of meeting current communication needs and take part in international trade and commerce flows. They are the backbone of the European Union economy playing an important role in transport and logistics, and in the facilitation of international trade for the EU. However, due to their size and financial position, they are often unable to drive innovation. They lagging behind in the adoption of even many basis IT and data exchange solutions. As a consequence, data and documents are exchanged manually, which results in errors, delays and loss of efficiency. Recent years studies into e-freight and interoperability costs in the EU indicate that these costs are currently around € 7 bln for the transport and logistics industry.
Overall, a 10% to 30% improvement in efficiency in the EU logistics sector would potentially equal a € 100 – 300 billion cost relief for the European industry .
Despite the effort made by European Commission, Member States and Industry to meet these societal and competitiveness challenges, the progress made in the last decade overall has been low. The isolated and silos work may have prevented fast market deployment of innovation. This experience has demonstrated that business as usual is not enough to significantly and fast improve current situation. The creation of a forum (ALICE) to build consensus and develop a comprehensive strategy for research, innovation and market deployment of logistics and supply chain management innovation in Europe was the strategic objective of WINN
Strategic objective of WINN
- Build a collaboration framework between already established networks in freight logistics operating in different areas and in different geographical levels.
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Operational objectives of WINN were
- Develop a supporting framework for innovation implementation in sustainable freight logistics at European and National levels.
- Establish joint network assessment of policies, regulatory measures, financial mechanisms and socioeconomic aspects to broaden logistics market and benefit innovation penetration.
- Disseminate and exploitation support for project results and outcomes.
Project Results:
Key developments and outcomes of the project are the following:
- Creation of a collaboration framework (ALICE) between already established networks in freight logistics operating in different areas and in different geographical levels and led by industry. Currently more than 40 companies, 10 research centers and universities, 5 national platforms and regional clusters and 15 European related associations are joining forces and became full members this association. Moreover, WINN has stablished close collaboration with 10+ Member States and 50+ European Logistics Clusters. ALICE gets the recognition of being the European Technology Platform of Logistics by the European Commission.
- Deliver ALICE research and innovation roadmaps with the contribution of all members and external experts with more than 300 top representatives of the sector contributing to them in the five ALICE Pillars:
o Sustainable, Safe and Secure Supply Chains
o Corridors, Hubs and Synchromodality
o Information Systems for Interconnected Logistics
o Supply Chain Coordination and Collaboration
o Urban Logistics
- Deliver ALICE input for Horizon 2020 calls Work Programs 2014-2015 and 2016-2017
- Held ALICE Conference, 11 February 2015, Amsterdam with the participation of more than 100 industry and research representatives
- Consolidate the activities of ALICE Steering (X meetings), Executive (Y meetings), Mirror (Z meetings) and Working Groups (W meetings:
• Mapping of the European related associations, national Technology Platforms and regional clusters and get them involved and supporting the ETP on Logistics. Main associations appointed representatives in the Steering Group and more than 20 clusters expressed their support to the ETP and the interest to form part of the ETP mirror Group. Released in December 2012 and being updated continuously until final delivery in September 2014
• Analysis of research and innovation roadmaps and projects related to logistics and supply Chain Management released in April 2013 and March 2015.
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Moreover, to support, achieve and report these and additional outcomes the following additional documents and deliverables have been issued:
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• • Innovation in Practice Report
• Report on innovation mechanisms and their requirements
• Analysing the opportunity of a PPP on logistics: defining the target, scope, expected impact and approach
• E-publication on good practices and innovative projects
• Final Dissemination Report
• ALICE 1st General Assembly
• Establishment of the Mirror Group
• Report on stock taking on innovation mechanisms
• Drafting the ETP on Logistics Outline document including a draft proposal of the Strategic Research Agenda and Pillars
• Preparation of the Terms of Reference of the ETP including the governance model and structure of the ETP
• Definition of the ETP vision, mission, and scope included in the ETP executive summary and Mission Statement
• Building the Core Industrial group of the ETP that will form the Steering Group of the ETP
• Setting up of the Mirror Group. Regional Clusters and National Platforms have been approached and Member States have been requested to appoint representatives for the ETP Mirror Group through the FP7 Transport Program Committee.
• Launching of WINN and ALICE Websites
• ETP self-assessment document prepared and sent to EC
• Drafting the vision, mission, scope and areas of intervention of the different ALICE Working Groups and overall Working Groups workplan
• ALICE Working Groups meetings - Urban logistics (jointly with ERTRAC), 4 April and 16 September, Brussels.
• Drafting the ETP on Logistics Outline document including a draft proposal of the Strategic Research Agenda and Pillars.
• Preparation of the Terms of Reference of the ETP including the governance model and structure of the ETP.
• Building the Core Industrial group of the ETP that will form the Steering Group of the ETP. 1st meeting of the Steering Group is planned for the 11th of June 2013.
• The ETP has been presented in the FP7 Transport Program Committee and Member States has been requested to appoint representatives for the ETP Mirror Group.
• Mapping of the European related associations, national Technology Platforms and regional clusters and get them involved and supporting the ETP on Logistics. Main associations appointed representatives in the Steering Group and more than 20 clusters expressed their support to the ETP and the interest to form part of the ETP mirror Group.
• Launching of WINN website and participation in XX conference for project participation.
The strategic objective of WINN was:
- Build a collaboration framework between already established networks in freight logistics operating in different areas and in different geographical levels.
This objective was achieved through the work performed in workpackage 2 that led to the deliverables:
- D2.1 Establishment of industrial core of the platform
- D2.2 Initial Mapping of the European, National and Regional networks/platforms
- D2.3 ALICE 1st Mirror Group and General Assembly
- D2.4 Establishment of the Mirror Group
- D2.5 Official launch of the platform
- 2.6 Final Mapping of the European, National and Regional networks/platforms
- D2.7 Implementation of Platform Tasks
- 2.8 Implementation of platform Tasks (II)
Deliverables D2.1 is the result of the activities done under Task 2.3 Conceptualization and promotion of the European Technology Platform, to build its Steering Group as specified in the name of the deliverable: “establishment of industrial core of the platform”.
The Steering Group of the ETP on logistics has been built upon the premise that the ETP needs to be a common, open and sustainable framework of collaboration between networks and stakeholders stemming from manufacturing and logistics industry supported by universities and the knowledge industry, stimulating discussion, knowledge sharing and consensus building amongst participants. Current and past initiatives have been taken into account to build a strong core industry group. Networking with related European Technology Platforms was also considered to build the group.
The Steering Group companies and organizations were chosen and approached based on the results of the first activities carried out and described in Deliverable 2.2: “Initial Mapping of the European, National and Regional networks/platforms” and Deliverable 3.3: “1st Status of EIRAC and EGCI (Logistics and Co-modality section) report”
Deliverable 2.2 “Initial Mapping of the European, National and Regional networks/platforms” mapped preliminary main regional clusters, national and European networks (EU-27) operating in the field of Logistics. At the same time, these organizations are key elements of the Logistics community and essential stakeholders to achieve the success of planned European Technology Platform on Logistics..
2.2 delivered a fiche including main information per network: Contact person, objectives, target group of companies and associates, services provided, research agendas (if any) and best practices (if they have) turning knowledge research into innovation. In order to achieve this, several sources of information have been used: search on the Internet, the European Regions Research and Innovation Network –ERRIN, National Representatives for Transport and the consortium partners contact networks.
At the moment the deliverable was released, 65 Regional Clusters from 15 different countries belonging to the EU-27 group were identified. One of those clusters operated in two neighboring countries. 19 out of 65 were from Germany.
The Regional Clusters included in the mapping were contacted and invited to collaborate with the project and the ETP. They were asked to provide some missing information to complete the information of the fiches.
From the total, 19 Clusters from seven countries that were contacted replied. They were mainly from Germany (6 of them).
Also, the project identified four national platforms for Logistics. Three of them were coordinated by project’s consortium partners. The remaining one was contacted too.
Furthermore, the team preliminarily distinguished 18 European Associations operating in the field of Logistics. These Associations were further contacted in order to get their support and collaboration with the European Technology Platform on Logistics.
The number of members of the cluster and the number of projects in which each cluster has participated are two indicators that have been preliminarily defined in order to evaluate the relative importance of the Regional Clusters and their experience and commitment with Research and Innovation in Logistics, respectively.
Finally, the alignment of the clusters activities and projects with each of the five topics (plus Urban Logistics) defined in the ETP outline was assessed.
During the Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2014 in Paris La Défense (14 - 17 April) ALICE was able to present itself to a broad audience. First of all, ALICE had a booth at the conference where visitors showed strong interest in its initiative. At the outreach marketplace an ALICE poster was presented. In addition, ALICE chairman Ralph Keck was honoured to represent ALICE’s vision on logistics in the plenary session (about how to make freight transport more efficient) to over a thousand attendees, among them representatives of all parts of the transport sector.
At the last day of the conference, ALICE organized its first Mirror Group meeting and General Assembly (deliverable 2.3) to take the first important steps in defining the future research and innovation roadmaps for logistics. Over a hundred interested guests from more than fifteen European countries were present.
Deliverable 2.4 was the report of the activities done to establish the Mirror Group of the European Technology Platform on Logistics: ALICE, Alliance for Logistics Innovation through collaboration in Europe.
A dialogue with Member States and other relevant stakeholders such us regional clusters was key to achieve the desired impact of the ETPs. Specifically, Mirror Groups contribute to the following core activity of ETPs such as ALICE:
- Encouraging industry participation in Horizon 2020 and helping widen participation and build capabilities within Member States through cooperation with networks/partnerships in Member States. This includes identifying opportunities for partnership in the framework of Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation implemented in the context of the EU Cohesion policy;
Mirror Group Responsibilities (extract from ALICE Terms of Reference) are:
- To provide information and advice on a periodic voluntary basis to the ALICE Steering Group on policies and programs in the Member States, and the Regions that are relevant to realizing the goals and deliverables of the technology platform.
- To promote an enhanced co-operation and co-ordination among Member States, Regions and European activities.
- To act as the body representing collectively and individually the interests and views of the Member States and regions.
- To act as the body to allow discussion on integration and establishment of synergies between innovation policies at European, national and regional level in logistics and supply chain management.
- To provide responses to the recommendations and actions of the Steering Group and to ensure proper dissemination of the ETP at member states regional level.
During the Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2014 in Paris La Défense (14 - 17 April) ALICE was able to present itself to a broad audience and ALICE Mirror Group was launched. ALICE mirror group is composed of 2 different subgroups:
- Member States representatives.
- Regional Clusters, National Platforms and European Associations
By the time deliverable 2.4 was released, 10 Member States had already appointed representatives to the Mirror Group: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom). The others, were contacted and were still in the process all this after the presentation of ALICE in the 1st Horizon 2020 Transport Programme Committee held in Brussels on the 5th of March 2014. In this presentation, ALICE had the opportunity to present itself to the Member States delegates in this Committee and also request them their support to identify to whom the invitation to appoint representatives should be submitted.
Regarding Regional Clusters, national platforms and European Associations. WINN deliverable D.2.2. Initial Mapping of the European, National and Regional networks/platforms was used as background to build this mirror group subgroup.
In total, 49 Regional Clusters from 13 different countries belonging to the EU-27 group were identified. The Regional Clusters included in the mapping have been contacted and invited to collaborate with WINN and ALICE. From them, 29 Clusters were explicitly supporting ALICE and have accepted to collaborate with the ETP through the Mirror Group. Most of (24) signed a Letter of Intent to support the establishment of the ETP on Logistics.
Deliverable 2.5 summarized the official launch of the platform. Indeed, the European Technology Platform on Logistics, which was given the name Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe (ALICE), was launched on 11 June 2013 in Brussels. The Steering Group (SG) was appointed, and the terms of reference were approved by the SG. In addition, the SG determined the research and innovation areas (i.e. the scope of the ETP). The new platform was established to develop a comprehensive strategy for research and innovation in the area of logistics and supply chain management in Europe, and for deployment of results. The platform will support the new EU Programme for research and innovation Horizon 2020.
Deliverable 2.6 aimed at offering a view of the main regional research-driven clusters; national networks; and European networks and associations (EU-27) operating in the field of innovation in Logistics. This helped accomplish WINN objective of building a collaboration framework between already established networks. At the same time, these organizations represent potential participants in ALICE, given that they are key elements of the Logistics community and essential stakeholders to achieve the success of the European Technology Platform on Logistics.
Additionally, the regions hosting Regional Clusters were compared with the regions which have included Logistics as one of their priority areas according to the information available on the Smart Specialization Strategy Platform. The source of this information was the Eye@RIS3 webpage on the RIS3 Platform website. It was found that 21 NUTS-2 regions have reported Logistics or one of its sub-areas as one of their priority areas. Also, only 11 out of the 49 Regions which were identified as hosting research-driven clusters working on Logistics have included this area as one of their capabilities. Furthermore, there are 16 regions with research-driven clusters that have reported their priority areas onto the Smart Specialisation Strategy Platform but have not included Logistics as one of them. The search on the RIS3 website enabled the identification of three new research-driven clusters.
Deliverables 2.7 and 2.8 reported the tasks carried out to implement the ETP on Logistics.
The operational objectives of WINN for the period were the following:
- Develop a supporting framework for innovation implementation in sustainable freight logistics at European and National levels.
This objective was achieved through the work performed in workpackage 3 that led to the deliverables:
- 3.1 Innovation in Practice Report
- 3.2 ALICE Research and Innovation Roadmaps
- 3.3 1st Status of EIRAC and EGCI (Logistics and Comodality report)
- 3.4 Status of EIRAC, EGCI and ALICE research and innovation agendas report
- 3.5 Challenges for future research and development in logistics report
- 3.6 Support to Next EC Calls Recomendation
WINN produced an Innovation in Practice Report (deliverable 3.1) aiming at raising awareness on benefits for industry out of doing collaborative research and sharing the know-how and experience of WINN project partners in this field. Best practices in terms of turning knowledge and research into investment in innovation were identified and analysed as well as how the related results were being used by the organizations/market. This exercise aimed to understand the reasons for success and to share the lessons learnt in previous projects.
Out of the projects analysed the following are common motivations and key factors for success:
1. The projects addressing not only technological advances, but also innovations on processes and business models.
2. Core issues for logistics and supply chain management are: (1) cost reduction (65 %), (2) resilience of the supply chain (25 %), (3) environmental efficiency (10 %) and (4) new service models.
3. Projects that clearly include demonstrators and living labs close to real operations lead to more successful results.
4. The success of future projects will depend even more on major involvement of industrial partners’ participation, since the inclusion of their approaches and real needs can boost the market uptake.
5. Well shaped and established high level industrial boards for project results assessment and also adoption, bringing knowledge and industrial “touch” from the sector.
Out of the projects analysed the following were common lessons Learnt and main barriers to adoption:
1. Logistics is a quite fragmented sector (more than 750.000 logistics companies around Europe) which makes market global uptake quite complex and usually needs a lot of time to occur.
2. Finding the appropriate approach, business model and industry interest is most of the times the element for success or fail of a certain research result introduction into the market.
3. New policy requirements.
The achievement of this operational objective can be also seen in the work performed by ALICE Working Groups. ALICE Working Groups developed their Research and Innovation Roadmaps (deliverable 3.2):
- WG1. Sustainable, Safe and Secure Supply Chains
- WG2. Corridors, Hubs and Synchromodality
- WG3. Information Systems for Interconnected Logistics
- WG4. Supply Chain Coordination and Collaboration
- WG5. Urban Logistics
The roadmaps were elaborated with the contributions of more than 300 experts (ALICE members and consulted experts) coming from the industry and research. All the process was possible thanks to the engagement of ALICE bodies: Steering and Executive Groups and Working Groups.
The process to get the roadmaps included several face to face meetings in the working groups as well as to off-line contributions to the roadmaps. Ample consultation has been made involving Member States and clusters through ALICE mirror Group. Finally, the roadmaps got the approval by ALICE Steering Group on the 17th of November 2015 culminating an 18 months’ work with the coordination and support of WINN partnership.
The advances made in Europe through research and innovation projects co-funded by the European Commission through the Framework Programmes should be a base from which new developments be built. It is also very important to consider the roadmaps proposed by relevant European initiatives in the field of Logistics and Supply Chain Management for the mid to long term. In deliverable 3.3 WINN has analysed almost 60 EU co-funded FP7 projects and 9 Logistics-related roadmaps at the European level. It was found that those roadmaps covered different perspectives (i.e. technology and ICT, transport system, transport modes, intermodality and security), but none of them covered the whole logistics and supply chain management scope.
WINN proposed a more holistic and pragmatic approach to define innovation roadmaps for logistics and supply chain management. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen research at supply chain level (by including both “how to transport” and “what to transport”) and a higher involvement of shippers. This implies that rather a focus on research and innovation on product development, a focus on innovation on process and business models is required.
These recommendations also follow the idea of the need of the ETP on Logistics that is based on the recognition of an overarching logistics and supply chain planning and control view in which shippers, logistics service providers and authorities work together, with a clear view on the impact of their actions on all stakeholders, to ultimately realize a logistics infrastructure, transportation and operation that indeed balances the needs expressed as “people, planet, profit”.
Considering that ALICE research and innovation roadmaps were built upon previous efforts and considering EIRAC and EGCI roadmaps as background, deliverable 3.4 was structured following the research and innovation areas and gaps identified in the roadmaps. This deliverable aimed at analysing the advances made in the implementation of past roadmaps, identifying lessons learnt and gaps to be covered against new roadmaps. A preliminary analysis was performed, identifying projects linked to ALICE research and innovation roadmaps. The number of projects found (75) exceeded any previous estimation, and therefore the analysis was only performed based on primary sources (information available on projects’ and Cordis websites). Thus, this deliverable became a first step towards assessing the advances and gaps in the implementation of past roadmaps. Ideally, a more thoroughly updated version of this deliverable should consult also secondary sources (i.e. feedback from stakeholders involved). Deliverable 3.4 should constitute the base of a further and more detailed analysis of the outcomes of the different projects, the contribution of them to the roadmaps implementation and the lessons learnt.
Moreover, deliverable D3.5 included a compilation of topics initially proposed by WINN Project as input to the European Commission for the first calls of Horizon 2020 Programme. These topics were sent to the Steering Group of the European Technology Platform on Logistics for their review and prioritization.
The 21 proposed topics were classified according to the preliminary pillars:
• Sustainable, Safe and Secure Supply Chains
• Corridors, hubs and synchromodality
• Information systems for interconnected logistics
• Supply Chain coordination and collaboration
• Urban Logistics
Finally, ALICE contributed with a selection of recommendations of pioneering projects/topics to be implemented in the short-medium term EC calls Work Programs 2015-2016 (deliverable 3.6).
The recommendations were based on the research and innovation needs identified within ALICE Working Groups and included in the Research and Innovation Roadmaps in the field of logistics recently approved by ALICE Steering Group (November 2014) (WINN Deliverable 3.2).
The process for the definition of these recommendations started already in June 2014. After a consultation within ALICE Working Groups the document: “Response of ETP ALICE on the consultation request to define the WP 2016 -2017” was issued to the European Commission services in the areas:
- Smart, green and integrated transport
- Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials
These documents, part of deliverable 3.6 were the basic document to continue elaboration of the topics. ALICE organized a workshop in Brussels supported by WINN on the 3rd and 4th of September where the topics were presented and discussed with the members and further recommended topics identified.
The documents were shared with ALICE Mirror Group composed of Member States representatives, clusters and national platforms and presented in ALICE Mirror Group meeting on the 13th of October 2014.
The recommendations were further reviewed by ALICE Working Groups and approved by the Steering Group on the 17th of November 2014 meeting. The Steering Group proceeded with the prioritization of the topics. The resulting document: ALICE Recommendations HORIZON2020 WP 2016-2017 was issued to the European Commission Services on December 2014.
- Establish joint network assessment of policies, regulatory measures, financial mechanisms and socioeconomic aspects to broaden logistics market and benefit innovation penetration.
This objective was achieved through the work performed in workpackage 4 that led to the deliverables:
- 4.1 Stock taking on innovation mechanisms
- 4.2 Report on innovation mechanisms and programs supporting research and innovation in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- 4.3 Analysing the opportunity of a PPP on logistics
WINN aimed and discussing and building consensus regarding policies, regulatory measures, standardisation, harmonisation, financial mechanisms and socio-economic aspects that should be put in place in favour of broaden logistics market and innovation penetration in the sector. As part of this objective, deliverable 4.1 focused on identifying existing innovation mechanisms used by professionals and the ones issued by European competent authorities, as well as to identify weaknesses, barriers, and possibilities for improvement.
Deliverable 4.1 contributed to this vision by surveying selected companies to gather their practices and mechanisms in innovation, as well as needs for required improvements and detected barriers. This information was collected from surveying selected companies and analysing existing documents and information in the area inside and outside Europe.
Later on, WINN validated with a survey the outcomes of deliverable 4.1 (stock-taking summary of existing innovation mechanisms), and benchmarked the national research and innovation activities in logistics in selected countries outside Europe (deliverable 4.2).
Indeed, the survey presented in deliverable 4.2 validated results of stock-taking summary of existing innovation mechanism survey and indicated main problems with functioning of innovation mechanisms. Respondents indicated that, among main barriers to innovation in logistics were: R&D is mostly centred on technology rather than on business models, strategies and processes and public funded projects require very complex administrative processes, including too long evaluation/negotiation procedures. Especially concentration on technology is very often a strong obstacle for process and business model oriented innovation projects in logistics. In many cases logistic projects must compete for funding with more technology oriented disciplines. In this competition achieving success is very difficult. Complex administrative processes are a problem especially in many national and regional funding programs but happen also at international level. On the one hand complex and long lasting evaluation procedure is an obstacle, which results in need for waiting for project evaluation results. In innovative and competitive business environments time is a very important factor. On the other hand complex administrative procedures during realization of a project often result in additional workforce needed for dealing with them and in necessity of waiting for reimbursement.
The survey confirmed the most popular recommendations for funding organizations aiming at improving innovation absorption are related to change of attitude of technology centred thinking in case of programs in Logistics. There is need to create more business models and processes, and innovation-oriented funding mechanisms. Another important recommendation is that R&D public funding Programs should simplify their administrative processes and support reducing the time between the conception of an idea and projects implementation. Respondents indicated the importance of risk reduction in adoption of innovation. Such reduction is possible when R&D public funding programs assure higher public financing levels.
Deliverable 4.2 also presented a mapping of national research and innovation activities in logistics in selected countries outside Europe. One of the conclusions from this desk research was that there was organizational similarity between analysed countries and Europe in the way of setting logistics policy and authorities involved in this process. On the other hand examples of such countries like USA and Singapore showed that there are less horizontal funding programs and funds are managed directly by specialized agencies dealing with specific logistic problem category or with specific mode of transport. All analysed countries have a strong position in the Logistic Performance Index prepared by the World Bank each year. This is the result of the strategic role of transport and logistics for these countries caused by their size and geographic location. Research and innovation activities in analysed countries are often targeted at problems identified by specialized agencies or specialized logistic authorities at regional/ state/ provincial level. Especially important features of analysed financing systems are strong coordination of logistic funding and significant role of private sector in financing research and development. In EU coordination of funding of similar topics between different regional, national and international is much more difficult than for example in USA or in Canada. The important role of private sector in financing research and development results in more business-oriented expectations and this plays in favour of less scientifically oriented logistic projects.
Additionally, deliverable 4.3 analysed the opportunity of a PPP on logistics: defining the target, scope, expected impact and approach. The rationale behind this is the fact that a concerted action (Public Private Partnership for Research) between industry, research and administration would help create the appropriate conditions to break current paradigms; speed-up innovation and market take up, hence meeting policy objectives in terms of energy usage, environmental impact and competitiveness.
The expected impact of a PPP for logistics can be summarized as follows:
- Contribute to a € 100 – 300 billion cost relief for the European industry.
- Contribute to 60% CO2 reduction in 2050 compared to 1990 figure.
- Reduce Energy Usage.
- Maintaining European leadership of European countries in the logistics performance.
- Disseminate and exploitation support for project results and outcomes.
This objective was achieved through the work performed in workpackage 5 that led to the deliverables:
- 5.1 Strategic Framework and Concrete Dissemination Plan
- 5.2 WINN website portal
- 5.3 E-publication on good practices and innovative projects
- 5.4 ETP on Logistics Conference
- 5.5 Mid-term dissemination report
- 5.6 Final dissemination report
Deliverable D5.1 has established WINN communication and dissemination strategy and its preliminary plans. The planned dissemination activities aimed at improving the knowledge of the WINN project within logistics clusters and communities to create broader collaboration with implementation in innovation and sustainability. The communication strategy aims at setting the communication framework within the ETP on Logistics.
The dissemination activities also aimed to raise awareness of the objectives of WINN, activities and results, obtaining feedback from the stakeholders’ community and ensuring that the WINN initiative has an important presence after the end of the project.
The dissemination strategy was twofold: on the one hand, aiming at raising awareness of WINN scope among the main stakeholders; on the other hand, defining the communication channels between the main actors of the ETP on Logistics (Secretariat, Steering Committee and Assembly).
Deliverable D5.1 provided the consortium partners with the tools to carry out the communication and dissemination activities necessary to achieve the objectives of the plan. A broad range of online and non-electronic dissemination and communication channels were deployed to ensure maximum distribution of the objectives and results of WINN and the ETP on Logistics. Indeed, both WINN and ALICE (www.etp-alice.eu) websites were launched (deliverable D5.2).
Deliverables 5.5 and D5.6 has shown the work performed by WINN regarding dissemination, specifically indicating all promotional and dissemination activities, channels and media used.
Additionally, an e-publication on good practices and innovative projects (deliverable 5.3) was created broadcasting the outcomes of deliverable 3.1. ALICE also organized its Conference in February 2015 (deliverable 5.4) raising awareness among main logistics stakeholders. Indeed, the conference hosted 110 participants with a wide European geographical coverage (e.g. Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Austria, and United Kingdom).
Potential Impact:
Impact
The wider implication of the project has been the launch of the new ETP (ALICE - Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe). Indeed, ALICE was launched on the 11th of June 2013 with the support of EC DG MOVE and DG RESEARCH and recognized as an official European Technology Platform by the European Commission in July 2013. ALICE was set-up to develop a comprehensive strategy for research, innovation and market deployment of logistics and supply chain management innovation in Europe with the mission: “to contribute to a 30% improvement of end to end logistics performance by 2030”.
WINN covered “the activities to ensure the long term collaboration strategy, framework and structure of the European Technology Platform on Logistics operating in the freight transport aiming the sustainability of the sector at different levels of action: European, National and Regional. The ETP revitalized EIRAC previous activities broadening industry participation and the involvement of Member States and regional clusters. This framework of collaboration is driven by the industry through the Steering Board with the support of the activities within WINN. A Member State Mirror group has been established to ensure participation and input of the member states. Long‐term result of this cooperation strategy is an open European Technology Platform on logistics that addresses RTD, Innovation and Implementation actions in logistics, bringing together initiatives in the various countries and projects and defining logistics challenges and roadmaps to address them. The ETP will help improving and sharing RTD infrastructure and other facilities, enhancing skills between business entities and between research entities and business entities, through networking. WINN platform will be a matchmaking and dissemination institution for recent trends in research and innovation in European freight transport; such as technology innovation, multi‐modal infrastructure, innovative transport services and business processes focussed on competitiveness, efficiency and sustainability. The platform acts as input supplier for regional, national and European policy programs and provide information for private/public funding in RTD and innovation.
One of the major challenges of WINN project was to ensure the sustainability of the created network of stakeholders beyond the finalization of the project. The process to get this done started already in November 2013, 2nd Steering Group, when the creation of a legal entity supporting ALICE activities and economically sustained by membership fees was discussed. Finally, the membership structure was agreed by the Steering group2 and shared with potential members in the 1st Assembly in the frame of TRA 2014 (17th of April, 2014).
Regarding the legal entity, CO-TREE AISBL (launched as part of EIRAC activities) was offered to the ETP Steering Group to act as the legal entity for the ALICE ETP. To proceed with this, former members of CO-TREE association approved the entrance of the leaders of the new initiative: P&G, KLU, CNC-LOGISTICA and DINALOG and the board was modified accordingly in June 2014 including these organizations.
The Statutes of the Association CO-TREE were reviewed and adapted to the ALICE ToR and discussed with members. New statutes were approved by ALICE members during ALICE assembly on the 11th of February. It was also agreed to modify the name of the association, changing it to ALICE, Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe.
Currently more than 40 companies, 10 research centers and universities, 5 national platforms and regional clusters and 15 European related associations are joining forces and became full members of the association.
ALICE Research and Innovation Roadmaps have been elaborated with the contributions of more than 300 experts (ALICE members and consulted experts) coming from the industry and research. All the process has been possible thanks to the engagement of ALICE bodies: Steering and Executive Groups and Working Groups as well as the appointed experts.
The process to get the roadmaps included several face to face meetings in the working, executive and steering groups and in the Plenary as well as to off-line contributions to the roadmaps. Ample consultation was made involving Member States and clusters through ALICE mirror Group. Finally, the roadmaps got the approval by ALICE Steering Group on the 17th of November 2015 culminating 18 month of work with the coordination and support of WINN partnership.
As included in ALICE vision and Scope, ALICE is the link between the transport modes and industrial sectors. Therefore, one of the key implications of WINN project has been to stablish links with the relevant transport ETPs/Public Private Partnerships3 (PPPs): ACARE, ERTRAC/EGVIA, ERRAC/S2R, WATERBORNE and other Industrial ETPs/PPs: Manufuture/EFFRA, SUSCHEM.
As a summary, these are the links with other ETPs and PPPs:
1. ERTRAC, ERRAC/S2R, WATERBORNE, EFFRA/MANUFUTURE, SUSCHEM are represented by one of its industry member in ALICE Steering Group. ALICE Steering Group is the decision body within ALICE.
2. A joint roadmap on urban freight research and innovation has been delivered together with ERTRAC (September 2014).
3. ERTRAC, ERRAC/S2R and WATERBORNE actively engaged in the definition of ALICE roadmap on Corridors, Hubs and Synchromodlaity. Several meetings with representatives of FOSTER CSAs: MESA, Road and Rail took place (see Table 2).
4. EFFRA/MANUFUTURE participation in ALICE Global Supply Network Coordination and Collaboration Working Group. Join activities to advance in the definition of opportunities in: Manufacturing villages, Logistics for a new manufacturing paradigm: Modular manufacturing, Additive manufacturing (3D printing, micro processing, etc.)
5. Joint action proposed (SETRIS) for funding CSA to increase coordination and collaboration with transport ETPs: ERTRAC, ERRAC/S2R and WATERBORNE in the area of multimodal transport, hubs and synchromodality + TRA 2016 organization.
Dissemination
WINN dissemination strategy has focused on the identified target groups, which have different features and need different dissemination approaches. In addition to dissemination addressing specific target groups, WINN project has performed several broad dissemination activities, in order to spread awareness.
The main objective of WINN dissemination strategy was to inform the main public stakeholders, market players and researchers in the area of logistics and supply chain management about the existence of the WINN project, its goals and aims, and its achievement, especially its main achievement: the establishment of the European Technology Platform (ETP) on Logistics, which was given the name Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe (ALICE) as of June 2013. The vision and results of the WINN project were promoted to a wide audience. Activities of ALICE were supported. During the lifetime of the project, the following activities were taken:
[1] Promotion of the vision and results of ALICE to a wide audience.
[2] Stimulation of the discussion and consensus building amongst main public stakeholders, market players and researchers in the area of logistics and supply chain management, in order to transform knowledge and research into investment in innovation.
[3] Establishment of adequate cooperation with the other WPs.
[4] Coordination of the organisation of various WINN/ALICE events.
After launching ALICE, every partner took the dissemination tasks for ALICE as a core part of its involvement in the project, and carried out dissemination activities in various regions and countries.
WINN dissemination materials
Various dissemination materials were used in order to present the project concept and results, as well as to facilitate project recognition by the target audience. Distribution of the information took place both online (web site) and via other more traditional means (e.g. leaflets, newsletter and postcard). All disse¬mi¬na¬tion materials follow the European Commission dissemination rules as established in the 7th Framework Programme.
WINN logo was created and was available for consortium members in different versions and formats. The logo was used in all promotional materials and official project documents. It was the emblem of the project, and helped visualise the main subject of the project.
The slogan
"Logistics innovation for a more sustainable and competitive industry"
was used in all dissemination materials, and as well as for ALICE.
The project poster was used at events for capturing attention and advertising the project. The following basic elements were taken into account:
[1] Acronym and name of the project
[2] Logo and slogan of the project
[3] Logos of the consortium partners and participating third parties
250 copies were printed and used.
TWINN project postcard was created as a document in concise format presenting the specific project objectives and expected outcomes. It stated the main goal of the project, the establishment of an open European platform of excellence in the area of supply chain management and logistics in connection with hubs and gateways and, most importantly, it underlined the need to collaborate and exchange experiences for increasing sustainability and competitiveness.
The website of WINN was the focal point for online dissemination. The website incorporated a structure suitable for including all current and progressively developed further information regarding the project. Until December 2013, the WINN web site received more than 7000 visits, and more than 126,700 hits. In 2014, it received 8229 visits and 119344 hits. In 2015 (until 31-03-1025), it received 2429 visits and 33751 hits.
All partners, participating third parties and network platform created a WINN section on their corporate websites:
www.zlc.edu.es/projects/european/european-platform-driving-knowledge-to-innovations-in-freight-logistics/
www.dinalog.nl/en/projects/international/winn/
www.dinalog.nl/en/news/dinalog_projecten/internationaal/winn
www.enide.eu/?page_id=191
www.bluegreenstrategy.it/index.php/web/company
www.bluegreenstrategy.com
www.dappolonia.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=203&Itemid=476#primo
www.ilim.poznan.pl/english-version/international/55-projects/international/247-winn-european-platform-driving-knowledge-to-innovations-in-freight-logistics
www.plpt.com.pl/index.php/alice (Polish Technology Platform in Logistics)
The following basic information on the external projects is available:
[1] Summary of the project
[2] Partners, third parties and in-house consultants involved in the project
[3] Main objectives
[4] Regional contact information
[5] A link to the official web site of the WINN project
These external websites were very helpful in increasing the visibility of WINN. They were an entry point for stakeholders in different regions in Europe.
The Project WINN is present in the social media through LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/groups/WINN-Project-4765191?gid=4765191&goback=.nmp
The project group was managed by Dinalog (the Dissemination Leader). All partners joined the WINN LinkedIn Group (see Figure 6). Until March 2015, 64 members joined the WINN LinkedIn Group. After launching ALICE in June 2013, members joined ALICE LinkedIn Group.
ALICE dissemination materials
Various dissemination materials were used in order to present the vision, mission, structure, activities and potential benefits of ALICE. Distribution of the information took pace both online (web site) and via other more traditional means (e.g. press, leaflet, business card and brochure).
All WINN partners have used the original printouts in English, and the official presentations of WINN and ALICE. In addition, the leaflets and the WINN/ALICE presentations were used during various regional events, meetings and workshops in The Netherlands, Italy, and Poland. It should be especially addressed that ALICE has also been highly promoted by the Polish Technology Platform in Logistics.
Before ALICE was launched, a logo of ETP European Technology Platform on Logistics was used.
The new ALICE logo was used in all promotional materials as of 11-06-2013.
The same slogan for WINN project is also used for ALICE:
"Logistics innovation for a more sustainable and competitive industry"
The ALICE website www.etp-logistics.eu is the key point for online dissemination. The website incorporated a structure suitable for including all current and progressively developed further information. Until December 2013, the ALICE web site received around 480 visits, and more than 17,900 hits. In 2014 it received 36,526 visits and 408623 hits. In 2015 (until 31-03-2015), it received 8704 visits and 143201 hits.
ALICE roll-up banner and business cards were created. ALICE leaflet was developed and used by all WINN Consortium Partners and ALICE Steering Group members.
All partners have carried out the task to establish contacts with logistics clusters and logistics associations. A total of 49 regional clusters in Europe were identified. In addition, contacts were established with other related Transport ETPs and Manufuture, as well as European logistics associations.
WINN consortium has made a video about Physical Internet in 2014 to present the main goal of ALICE. See the web link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJyzFaKOXnY#t=141
The Working Groups of ALICE have developed research and innovation roadmaps, and the results have published in 5 booklets at the end of the project WINN. 200 copies of each roadmap were printed for distribution.
ETP on Logistics ALICE is present in social media, both in LinkedIn and in YouTube:
ALICE YouTube channel can be found in: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-1_szlCtw6ZTQC9PmfK9Ag
Moreover, ALICE LinkedIn page can be found at:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/alice-alliance-for-logistics-innovation-through-collaboration-in-europe
ALICE activities
WINN was a tool for establishing the ETP on Logistics (named ALICE since June 2013). Three main activities were organised. The first ALICE event was held on 17 April 2014 in Paris, as an associated event of the Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2014. The second ALICE Mirror Group Meeting was held on 13-14 October 2014 in Brussels, before the joint final conference of three EU-funded projects: SoCool@EU (Sustainable Organisation between Clusters Of Optimised Logistics @ Europe), LOG2020 (Logistics 2020: Training for the future) and LOG4Green. The third ALICE event (ALICE Conference) was held on 11-03-2015 at Schiphol.
Below are presented the dissemination events organized by WINN partners:
• Workshop on „Sustainable and Safe Transport, 12 September 2013, Krakow, Poland
• International Logistics Conference 2014, 1-2 April 2014, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• ALICE General Assembly and the first Mirror Group meeting during TRA, 17 April 2014, Paris, France
• Workshop on "Track and trace of cargo and communication in supply chain", 24 April 2014, Bydgoszcz, Poland
• Polish Logistics Congress LOGISTICS 2014 15 May 2014, Poznan, Poland
• Workshop on "Innovative solutions for container transport". 26 June 2014, Sopot, Poland
• Workshop on "Cooperation in supply chains – how to reduce logistics and transport costs", 12 September 2014, Sopot, Poland
• The second ALICE Mirror Group Meeting 13-14 October 2014 in Brussels
• The second ALICE General Assembly and conference 11-03-2015 at Schiphol, The Netherlands
WINN partners participated in the following external conferences, seminars and workshops to communicate it activities to the target audience, in order to raise interest in the objectives of the project and to widen the stakeholder base.
[1] CO3 HLIB on 5-6 November 2012 in Brussels (WINN introduction, CNC-LOGISTICA)
[2] ECITL conference on 7-9 November 2012, Gothenburg (WINN introduction, CNC-LOGISTICA).
[3] Intrarregio meeting on 15-16 November 2012 in Brussels, WINN introduction, CNC-LOGISTICA).
[4] SoCool@EU third General Assembly on 27-28 November 2012 in Zaragoza (Dinalog: organisor; project coordinator of SoCooL@EU) (WINN introduction, CNC-LOGISTICA).
[5] Europa Forum on 15 January 2013 in Breda (Dinalog)
[6] ERRIN and POLIS event in 30 January – 1 February 2013 in Brussels (WINN introduction, CNC-LOGISTICA).
[7] K4I Forum debate “Wake up Europe: A Call for Action - The Right Innovation Framework and Instruments to Secure Europe’s Future Competitiveness and Living Standards” on 26 March 2013 in Brussels (Dinalog)
[8] Dinalog Year Event on 4 April 2013 in Breda (Dinalog)
[9] Sustainable Urban Transport 2013: from demonstration to everyday practice on 10-12 April 2013 in Gothenburg (Dinalog)
[10] Intraregio First International Conference on "A European research strategy for intermodal transport" on 17-18 April 2013 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (CNC-LOGISTICA)
[11] General Assembly Open ENLoCC on 5-7 May 2013 in Le Havre (CNC-LOGISTICA).
[12] The TLF (Transport Logistic Fair) of Munich on 4-7 June 2013 in Munich (CNC-LOGISTICA).
[13] The 9th European Congress on ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) on 4-7 June 2013 in Dublin (Dinalog)
[14] Seminary on Innovation development and research needs in logistics and infrastructure on 24 June 2013, Warsaw, Poland (Presentation about ALICE and recent logistics challenges – ILIM).
[15] The European SLC Summit on 26-27 June 2013 in Berlin (Dinalog)
[16] International Conference on Operations Research on 4-6 September 2013 in Rotterdam (Dinalog)
[17] The 20th World Congress on ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) on 14-18 October 2013 in Tokyo (Dinalog & ILIM)
[18] The 6th European Conference on ICT for Transport and Logistics (ECITL) on 23-25 October 2013 in Zaragoza (CNC- LOGISTICA)
[19] Innovatie-estafette on 12 November 2013 in Amsterdam (Dinalog)
[20] Innovatie Attaches Conferentie "Global Challenges in Smart Logistics" on 13 November 2013 in Utrecht, The Netherlands (Dinalog)
[21] Weastflows workshop on 13 December 2013 in Lille, France (Dinalog)
[22] Workshop "SUSTAINABILITY IN BUSINESS – how to benefit from the responsible development" on 29th January 2014, Warsaw, Poland (Presentation about Alice and recent logistics challenges – ILIM)
[23] Presentation of the ALICE roadmap and Physical Internet at several big logistic players in Spain (e.g. Auchan Spain, Valencia Port, BSH, Zaragoza Plaza) on 18-20 February 2014 in in Valencia, Zaragoza, Madrid (P&G, ALICE member)
[24] Debate at Rome City Council in presence of the Mayor on Digital Value Creation for Cities on 3-4 March 2014 in Roma, Italy (P&G, ALICE member)
[25] GS1 Board of Directors meeting in March 2014, Poznan, Poland (ILIM)
[26] Workshop with LSPs in March 2014 at Interporto Bologna, organized in the frame of the LogiCon Project (Bluegreen)
[27] ETP ALICE @LOG4GREEN Workshop: Tackling Logistics Challenges, 18 March 2014, Brussels, Belgium (ALICE presentation - CNC-LOGISTICA)
[28] SITL (Panel discussion) on 2 April 2014 Paris, France (P&G, ALICE member - Key note speech in the first Physical Internet congress)
[29] Alice stand and workshop at TRA 2014 on 14-17 April 2014 Paris, France (WINN)
[30] Clustering multi-modal research and innovation issues with other ETPs and ETPs joint meeting on 12 May 2014, Brussels, Belgium (CNC-LOGISTICA)
[31] Poland Logistic Congress on 15-16 May 2014 in Poznan, Poland (P&G, ALICE member - Keynote speech)
[32] LITC (Logistic Innovation & Training Centre) Workshop on 24 September 2014 in Brussels, Belgium (P&G, ALICE member - Presentation of Physical Internet concept and leading the workshop of 40 ppl)
[33] EARPA CONFERENCE, 1st of October 2014, Brussels, Belgium - ALICE presentation: “Developing a comprehensive strategy for logistics and supply chain innovation”
[34] Beverete Workshop on 9 October 2014 in Orvieto, Italy (P&G, ALICE member - Keynote speech on the value of Collaborative Logistics and the Physical Internet)
[35] European Cluster Conference (i.e. Joint final event of SoCool@EU and LOG4GREEN) on 14-15 October 2014 Brussels (Co-Organised by Dinalog, Coordinator of SoCool@EU; P&G, ALICE member - Presentation of ALICE roadmap in a panel debate form); ENIDE, WINN member - Session Moderation: Green investments in supply chains: the inevitable choice towards competitiveness & resilience
[36] BVL German Logistic congress on 22-24 October 2014 in Berlin, Germany (Multiple 121 meetings for ALICE involvement organised by P&G, ALICE member)
[37] The 7th European Conference on ICT for Transport and Logistics (ECITL) on 5-7 November 2014 in Dortmund, Germany (Dinalog, ENIDE) - ALICE session on: ICT needs of SMEs in the Logistics and Transport industries linked to ALICE WG3 on Information Systems for interconnected logistics
[38] Workshop on sustainable logistics on 10 November 2014 in The Hague, The Netherlands (Organised by Dinalog, Coordinator of the SoCool@EU project; P&G, ALICE member - Keynote speech)
[39] Intermodal Europe 2014 on 11-13 November 2014 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands (P&G, ALICE member - Keynote speech; Dinalog – Co-Organisor)
[40] 17-19 November 2014 JIIP (Joint Institute for Innovation Policy) The 6th Annual Symposium, European Parliament, Brussels; The 6th Europen innovation Summit, Brussels (Dinalog)
[41] 1st INTE-TRANSIT International Conference, “Information & Communications Technologies (ICT) as enablers for improved operations in modern ports”, 20th of November 2014, Valencia - ALICE presentation: “Developing a comprehensive strategy for logistics and supply chain innovation”
[42] Research Institutes Board meeting on 1 December 2014, Warsaw, Poland (Presentation about Alice and recent logistics challenges – ILIM)
[43] EFFRA on 2 December 2014 in Brussels, Belgium (P&G, ALICE member - Presentation of ALICE)
[44] BESTFACT conference on 4 December 2014 in Milan, Italy (P&G, ALICE member - Presentation of ALICE and PI concept)
[45] ECTRI Logistics Working Group Meeting, 5th of December 2014, Online - ALICE presentation: Vision Mission, objectives, structure and status of research and Innovation Roadmaps
[46] Urban Freight Platform, VREF (Volvo Research and Educational Foundations) on 5-6 March 2015 in Gothenburg (Dinalog/CNC-LOGISTICA/ENIDE) - ALICE Roadmap on Urban Freight Presentation
[47] ICT-EMMISSION final event on 31 March 2015 at Polis, Brussels. (Dinalog)
[48] Workshops of the iMobility Forum eRTD Working Group. Several meetings from 2013 to 2015 Used official ALICE presentations to establish connections with iMobility eRTD roadmapping activity. (Bluegreen)
During the lifetime of WINN project, ALICE has supported the organization of TRA 2014 in Paris and of TRA 2016 in Warsaw.
The Transport Research Arena is the major conference in transport in Europe, and was supported by the ETPs ERTRAC, ERRAC, WATERBORNE and since its creation in 2013, ALICE.
Indeed, ALICE held its 1st Mirror Group meeting and 1st General Assembly in the framework of TRA 2014.
Moreover, ALICE has participated in TRA 2016 PC and MC meetings (through their partners ENIDE and ILIM):
- TRA 2016 PC Meeting. 18th of November 2014.
- TRA 2016 MC Meeting. 9th of December 2014
- TRA 2016 P Meeting. 9th of March 2015
Every outcome of WINN project, including all deliverables (with dissemination level PU) was published on the web sites of WINN and ALICE.
A press release was published on 12-06-2013, one day after the official launch of the ETP on Logistics. Besides via de WINN web site, this was also distributed via the WINN consortium partners.
Additional newsletters were published by WINN partners.
WINN partners, together with some ALICE (potential) members, have published a book, which is supported by the EC. WINN partners have also presented papers in congress proceedings, and presented posters in various events.
In addition, a number of articles were published in LOGISTYKA magazine. ALICE is highly promoted in many aspects within Polish Technology Platform in Logistics, e.g. during meetings with stakeholders, and during the development of the Action Plan for logistics in Poland.
[1] Lu, M., De Bock, J. (Ed.) (2015). Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chains: Innovations and Integral Approaches, Springer.
[2] Lu, M. (2015). Research roadmaps of ALICE (Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe). In Proceedings: 22nd World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, Bordeaux. (accepted)
[3] Lu, M. (2014). Innovations for sustainable logistics and supply chain. LET‘S (Leading Enabling Technologies for Societal Challenges) 2014, Bologna. (Poster)
[4] Lu, M. (2014). Alliance for logistics innovation through collaboration in Europe. TRA (Transport Research Arena) 2014 Conference, Paris. (Poster)
[5] Lu, M. (2013). Innovation for intelligent freight transport systems. In Proceedings: 9th European Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, Paper Number: TP0082, Dublin.
WINN project has performed successfully in its dissemination activities. An adequate dissemination strategy was defined. Dissemination objectives were achieved according to the plan. Dissemination activities were carried out according to the plan.
There was a change in the plan for the dissemination strategy, i.e. the activities for promoting CO-TREE were replaced by promoting the European Technology Platform on Logistics, which was given the name Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe (ALICE), was launched in June 2013 in Brussels. WINN is a tool for establishing the new platform; therefore, all activities focus on ALICE since its formal establishment. All available dissemination channels were adequately used. Strong support was received from the European Commission. Consequently, both WINN and ALICE received high attention from industry, academy and authority.
Contact details: Carolina Cipres, ccipres@zlc.edu.es