Overview
The operation of seamless intermodal door-to-door transport chains across Europe requires research to enable the cost-effective development and maintenance of infrastructures and nodal areas as well as to identify and realise promising alternative transport concepts.
The further development, interconnection and interoperability of transport networks, in particular the Trans-European Transport Networks (TENs) require research to address specifications for technical and administrative interoperability within and across modes, the identification of Trans-European and network effects of TENs and strategies to maximise their beneficial impacts, and methodologies and best practices for improving the integration between local, regional and Trans-European and Pan-European networks.
The main objective of the project was to support the development of the intermodal transport infrastructure that would allow interoperability and facilitate integration of the Candidate Countries (now New Member States) into the Trans-European Transport Network.
Performing the project activities, the Institute of Logistics and Warehousing (ILIM) served as a Centre of Competence in Logistics, covering not only Poland but also the whole region of Central and Eastern Europe.
The project’s main outcomes have been various forms of collaboration among companies, RTD units and institutions. The centre has supported the development of logistics initiatives, projects and implementations, and also set new directions for the future.
The centre’s activities have been focused on the development of knowledge and competence in the field of design, set-up and functioning of logistics centres, as well as advancement of IT solutions supporting activities of logistics operators, logistics centres and their networks. This general objective has been realised by:
- promotion of the idea of intermodality as a systematic solution to the problem of underdevelopment of transport infrastructure;
- popularisation of the methodology of construction of the most technologically advanced, highly efficient and environmentally friendly logistics centres and terminals;
- support for the development of tools for decision-making;
- development and dissemination of knowledge in logistics, particularly in the field of Internet-based tools and platforms providing logistics operators with information and allowing transactions.
As a result of the project, interested individuals and institutions from the research, business and government spheres - both at the local and national level – were offered access to the accumulated logistics knowledge, and the Centre of Competence become a real platform of knowledge dissemination and exchange for Poland and other New Member States.
During three years of the project activity, the informal POLLOCO network has been established. Institutions, organisations, research and academic units and individual experts have been invited not only to tap into the Centre’s resources but also to contribute with their own knowledge and experience. The sources of knowledge for the network were mainly organisations and individuals from the EU-15. The Institute has established numerous new contacts, invited participants to benefit from project resources and events, and organised a successful network meeting in Budapest.
Other activities of the project were mostly devoted to strengthening competence and setting-up platforms of knowledge transfer. In this respect, the team identified best practices, created data bases of RTD projects and units, prepared and offered a number distance learning of courses, organised four workshops, organised a well-attended international conference, organised three working visits aiming at acquaintance with best practices, and promoted and disseminated information via the web, newsletter and multimedia CD.
Funding
Results
Through realisation of the project, together with some auxiliary activities funded from other sources or by ILIM (Instytut Logistyki i Magazynowania) itself, the Institute has strengthened its position as a centre of competence in logistics and increased its operational range. In particular, the following strategic goals were achieved:
- ILIM has extended its range of contacts, both in the EU15 and the New Member States, in all categories (research, industry, NGO, government) – these contacts are utilised both within and outside POLLOCO project;
- ILIM has broadened and deepened its knowledge of RTD projects in related fields and is prepared to transfer this knowledge further – the centre acts as a reliable source of information;
- ILIM has built an informal network of interested organisations brought together by materials, events and projects – the centre is an excellent contact point for new consortia to be formed or extended eastwards;
- ILIM has developed technical capabilities and trained a team able to produce high quality distance learning materials – they are able to transfer related knowledge into this new medium and have started a library of courses in order to commercialise them later;
- ILIM has organised workshops in the fields of logistics, distance learning and decision support – their high quality should further increase the position of the centre;
- ILIM has ensured that its bi-annual logistics conference is the most important sectoral event in Central and Eastern Europe;
- ILIM has organised a series of working visits to logistics infrastructure locations identified as best practice – their participants are able to have a good look into the technicalities but also to speak to people behind them;
- ILIM makes its competence known by means of publishing an irregular newsletter, updating project website, releasing a promotional CD and showing a stand at relevant trade fairs – all these activities improve the visibility of other tasks and enhance response within the community.
The activities performed within the POLLOCO project did not generate any profit but can lead to long-term benefits in the future both for ILIM and for many members of the informal POLLOCO network.
The activities performed in order to achieve these goals have had a posit
Policy implications
In general terms, the project has proved its merits and constituted a tremendous added value for the European RTD community. Co-operations, initiatives and projects started during POLLOCO duration and thanks to its events and networking, are positively influencing logistics environments in New Member States. New technologies and solutions are implemented in CEEC’s and as a result - bring added value for the whole European logistics community. It is expected that the project results will be long lasting and will lead to new benefits for all parties involved.