Overview
The forecasted growth in transport confronts the entire transport system with major challenges. Accordingly, the themes of intermodality/co-modality and interoperability of transport systems currently stand right at the top of the agendas in national and international transport policy. In the European Transport White Paper and in its mid-term review, the importance of innovative intermodal transport networks and of interoperable transport systems needed for such networks is emphasised.
In the 7th Research Framework Programme, the approach adopted is to link innovation activities in the transport sector with the policy challenges for a sustainable, European total transport system. The conclusions of the European Council regarding a European energy strategy in the transport sector make reference inter alia to promoting measures across all transport modes for optimal linking of the individual modes of transport. In practical terms, the further growth in transport is to be managed by creating high-performance European transport corridors and increasing the use of intermodal transport chains and integrated routes. In technological terms, for instance the spread of RFID and other possibilities for automating goods logistics is expected to result in a similar technical revolution like the one achieved 50 years ago with the introduction of the standard container. The increased use of intermodal transport chains and integrated routes is also intended to make a key contribution to solving transport-related environmental problems in Europe.
I2V is the Austrian impulse programme to promote cooperative research and development projects in the area of intermodality and interoperability of transport systems.
The goal is to increase the efficiency of the overall transport system by improving the smooth interoperation of different modes of transport, increasing integration of environmentally sustainable modes of transport and more efficient use of the existing infrastructure. New technologies and system solutions are to be developed and tested, both for goods transport and for passenger transport.
In the programme line I2V, encouraging implementation of already-existing R&D findings from the forerunner programmes is a major focus, particularly by transferring results from pilot schemes which have already been accomplished successfully into lighthouse projects and thus implementing them as convincing reference applications. Support is also to be given to R&D projects, to the development of new system components and national and international research co-operations, e.g. under the framework of ERA-NET TRANSPORT.
In recent years, an active research community has emerged in Austria in the field of transport telematics. In addition, the country has seen long-standing activities in the area of combined transport and has expertise in integrated transport and logistics solutions. To date, however, there has been relatively little systematic networking between the various research communities involved. Accordingly, one strategic goal of the programme line I2V is to drive forward the systematic integration of what to date has been a relatively fragmented research community under the research priority of intermodality and interoperability.
Calls for proposals for research projects are scheduled annually for the duration of the programme. In addition, the demonstration and real implementation of larger-scale R&D proposals are to be promoted in the form of lighthouse projects, involving developers, producers, users and operators.
CORE AREAS
Intermodality
- Innovative and trend-setting trans-shipment technologies
- (Continuing) development of container systems and containers for combined and intermodal transport (especially for lightweight construction)
- New and continued development of innovative transport systems to create new markets and to increase the attractiveness of intermodal transport
- Increasing the competitive capability of environmentally compatible modes of transport (e.g. reducing noise emissions as a precondition for an expanded offer of night transport)
Interoperability between modes of transport and between transport systems
- Further development of connection assurance systems
- Further development of application-ready travel information systems
- Electronic fare management systems (across different transport providers)
- Application of satellite-assisted navigation systems in the transport sector (Galileo)
- Transport management and transport control across different modes of transport
- Provision of travel time information and information on deviations in real-time from the infrastructure systems (transport control, transport monitoring)
Transport and logistics systems
- Intermodal trans-shipment terminals and logistics centres
- Efficient ‘first mile’ and ‘last mile’ concepts (optimising road-based feed and delivery involved in combined and intermodal transport)
- Goods logistics operating across transport modes
- Integration of transport information in logistics planning
- Control of the logistics chain, while taking into account avoiding peak traffic
Funding
Funding is provided for universities, non-university institutes, industrial institutes, companies, competence centres, industry clusters and association. (National institutions and foreign organizations are welcome to participate, but are not eligible to receive national funding.)
The programme comprises yearly calls within the programme duration. The first call 2007 has an budget of EUR 5 million. Funding rates account for 75% - 25%, subject to technology readiness level / marketability, company size and structure of the consortium. Basic studies are financed up to 100%.