TRC (EXTR@WEB II) - EXploitation of TRansport Research Results via the Web II
Overview
Background & policy context:
The White Paper on Transport Policy and its Mid-term Review describe the challenges and the objectives for efficient, sustainable and user-friendly energy and transport systems in Europe. Research plays an important role in achieving these objectives. In this respect, transport research can contribute to the development of transport market/systems and new European standards. It also paves the way for preparing and launching new legal initiatives and other transport policy measures.
It is important to disseminate and communicate project results in order to improve the visibility and impact of transport research activities supported by the EU RTD programmes and National Research Programmes. It can also help to shorten the time it takes for research results to develop into actual market applications. Because of this DG TREN considers dissemination of research results from transport projects a priority issue.
The DG TREN project Transport Research Knowledge Centre (TRKC) - now known as TRIP - plays a key role in this context. The overall goal of the project is to disseminate and promote the results of transport research activities at European and national levels to policy makers, industry and other relevant stakeholders. TRKC was funded under the 6th RTD Framework Programme and is a follow-up of EXTRA (1999-2001) and EXTR@Web (2002-2006).
Objectives:
The overarching goal of the project is to disseminate and promote the results of transport research conducted in the Framework Programmes, in the European Research Area and beyond.
The three key objectives are:
- to enhance and maintain the web-based Transport Research Knowledge Centre (TRKC), providing structured and timely access to information on EU, national and international transport research activities and results;
- to provide focused aggregated analysis of transport research results against a thematic structure and emerging policy priorities;and
- to stimulate innovation in transport by accelerating the application of research results
through extended networking.
Methodology:
To achieve its objectives, the project gathered data on research organisations, programmes and projects in a structured way, using the existing 'Reporting Scheme' and supported by a network of institutional subcontractors across the ERA. It presented the results of research projects through key thematic findings; thematic analysis reports for some 30 themes; and policy reviews for agreed policy topics.
All knowledge and outputs were disseminated through the TRKC site on Europa (annual compendia, policy brochures etc.) or marketed through e-bulletins, event attendance and press packs.
User feedback was regularly assessed to re-focus the scope of ongoing activities. The project actively pursued the collaborative exploitation of research results with ERA-NET Transport, Accession Countries and New Member States and the developers of TEN-T and the MIP, and together with training and education providers, developed facilities for the effective transfer of research results into training programmes.
Two innovation pilots, in areas of major advancement in transport policy, will accelerate the application of research results. Also a roadmap for future transport research knowledge application was developed, based on the active knowledge outputs piloted in the project.
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