The aim is to speed up the deployment of new transport means and solutions to achieve a competitive and affordable European transport system. The definition of a set of roadmaps focusing on the deployment of technologies and innovation in 10 critical areas of transport will start in September 2012.

In the coming months the Joint Research Center will be involved in the development of these and will study the creation of a new Information and Monitoring Systems for the implementation of the initiative.

Scientific Assessment of Strategic Transport Technologies

This Joint Research Center assessment covered all transport sectors (road, rail, aviation, waterborne - maritime/inland) and issues: fuels, energy, urban mobility, logistics and intelligent transport systems across modes, providing a short overview of the current status of the sector. It also took into account the input from the stakeholder hearings held during the preparation of the Communication and included the visions and roadmaps already created by the technology platforms and partnerships in the transport field. The outcome was extensively reviewed by the scientific panel created for this reason and by several Commission experts.

On the basis of the description of the status and vision for all transport modes and cross-modal aspects, a prioritisation exercise was performed with the participation of the members of the scientific panel. The analysis of the results of the prioritisation was a valuable (but not the sole) input in the final selection of the Research and Innovation Areas for the Communication. While no clear winner technology was identified in the report, the analysis indicated those technologies which contributed towards achieving EU policy goals, had added-value at EU level and needed demonstration and deployment support.

Source: JRC support to the transport and innovation initiative