Road accidents and traffic congestion are causing serious problems for global transport systems. More than 1.2 million people die each year due to road accidents. Connected vehicles and autonomous vehicles are two promising technologies that can improve road transport safe and efficiency, but they both have inherent shortcomings. This project proposes an innovative solution of cooperative connected intelligent vehicles, where vehicular communications technology and resource sharing and cooperation are exploited, to tackle the road transport challenges, and deliver enhanced road safety and efficiency.

An international cross-sector and cross-disciplinary consortium consisting of world leading academic institutions, prominent industry and policymaker partners is created to collaborate on developing innovative CIV technologies and applications, with the support of novel vehicle communications and cooperative resource sharing. Advanced research technologies in vehicle communication, vehicle edge computing, machine learning, data fusion, advanced driving systems, and cellular network resource management will be applied to tackle the associated challenges.

The resulting CIV technologies and applications will help reduce road accidents, improve transportation efficiency and reduce traffic congestion. They hold great potential for technology innovation, and are directly applicable to autonomous driving, smart cities, and the wider scientific community. With competent and complementary expertise of the partners and their extensive international research collaboration experience, COSAFE will promote knowledge sharing, foster research innovation, enhance the potentials of participating researchers, and contribute to the European competitiveness and leadership in the automotive and ICT sectors.

Existing research links among the partners will be strengthened. New and sustainable collaborations will be developed to build up world-class research in road safe systems.