infra4Dfuture (i4Df) origin and overall objectives
Facing a variety of emerging challenges, such as climate change, resilience, ageing infrastructure, maintenance, digitalisation, automation, energy and electrification, National Transport Infrastructure Authorities (NTIAs) have an urgent need to modernise their transport infrastructure and smarter manage infrastructure innovation and implementation. In view of the long cycle times in infrastructure management and the rapid mounting pressure from these challenges, there is a need for fast delivery of ready-to-implement, cost-effective innovative solutions matching the requirements of the NTIA that jointly build the TEN-T network. These challenges cannot be overcome on national level alone or within only one mode or sector.
New business models, organisational structures and transnational, cross-modal cooperation approaches are needed as well as consolidation of partnerships and alliances from NTIAs) with industry and the research community. From this background 19 NTIAs from 17 countries joined forces in the i4Df initiative, a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), funded by the H2020 programme, with a duration of 24 months (1 October 2018 – 30 September 2020)(Grant Agreement No 824269). In addition, the initiative was/is supported by the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR) and the European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM).
i4Df focused on transport infrastructure innovation and implementation for road, rail, waterborne and airborne transport of passengers and goods, from origin to destination. Its overall objective was to develop a ready-to-implement cross-modal coordination mechanism for demand driven innovation and implementation, including a common strategic vision on actions and priorities until 2030/2040, that should have the support of a wider range of relevant stakeholders and NTIAs from road, rail, industry and research.
