SIMBA - Transforming Road Transport through Worldwide Cooperation
Overview
Background & policy context:
As emerging markets experienced unprecedented economic growth, their transport and mobility needs increased. Problems such as road accidents, congestion, and air pollution are faced worldwide. The SIMBA project recognised that EU cooperation with emerging markets in developing the technologies within the fields of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), infrastructure and automotive development to improve road safety and mobility is a pre-requisite to continued economic growth in all regions, as well as to better the quality of life for citizens.
Objectives:
SIMBA aimed to increase road transport research cooperation between Europe and the emerging markets of Brazil, China, India, and South Africa by establishing a collaboration network that would bring together the key stakeholders in the fields of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), infrastructure and automotive development.
The objectives of SIMBA were to increase road safety, mobility and transport efficiency through the exchange of technological know-how and best practices. The project mapped national and regional research activities, policies and future requirements as well as organised regular events in order to establish each country's priorities and define areas for future joint road transport cooperation.
Methodology:
In order to achieve the goals, the SIMBA project:
- prepared, supported and facilitated the rapid adoption and transfer of technologies and research results;
- defined R&D priorities and future cooperation areas;
- made recommendations for new innovative road research activities to be launched locally and in the EU;
- increased the visibility of the European industry and support the industry to respond to emerging business opportunities.
This was done through the following three enablers: ITS, automotive technological development and road infrastructure. The main activities of SIMBA were to organise events in the EU and the emerging markets (EM) that served as a means for fostering closer ties between Europe and the EM in the road transport sector and exchanging knowledge in the fields of ITS, road infrastructure and automotive technological development. The main outcome was transnational networks of key road transport stakeholders that helped define the priorities, research needs and future cooperation areas for road transport.
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