ABSTRACT CONTINUED mentation of concepts such as door-to-door mobility, seamless con- The range of highly relevant transport research topics is broad. How- nectivity, and global interoperability can contribute to more customer- ever, there are three overriding challenges facing the development of oriented services. In the future, transport may be more vulnerable to a competitive and sustainable transport system which are absolutely extreme events, and this calls for research in resilient systems. crucial and particularly hard to solve and where research therefore should be prioritised as an essential part of the solutions: Finally, traffi c is still responsible for a death toll in the EU of about 35,000 annually and many more serious injuries. Hence, in spite of Smart: Congestion due to overexploitation of system capacity; dramatic improvements in traffi c safety over the last four decades, Green: Greenhouse gas emissions from transport’s oil dependency; substantial research efforts are still indispensable. Reaching the Integrated: A modally divided and vulnerable transport system. ‘close to zero’ vision will require a paradigm shift toward a holistic system approach. Meeting the political challenge of both improving mobility by smarter utilisation of a more integrated transport system and mak- A substantial part of the chapter on transport is devoted to present- ing it greener by radically reducing greenhouse gas emissions will ing a number of highly important yet indicative research topics require not only technological solutions but also better understand- organised under the following three headings: Mobility – behaviour ing of transport behaviour and the use of innovative and effective and modelling; Balancing demand and capacity; and Governance, policy instruments. This calls for a more pronounced role for social fi nancing and organisation. The goal has been to also inspire the sciences than in previous Framework Programmes. In many cases subsequent work with implementing Horizon 2020 in future work the effi ciency of research can also be improved by strengthening programmes and calls. the integration of scientifi c domains. VISION Technological innovation will still be of paramount importance Smart, green and integrated transport is vital for a sustainable and as development of novel and more effi cient technologies will be prosperous Europe of the future and strategic transport research will pivotal for reaching the main European transport policy goals: be crucial for its achievement. •Cleaner and safer vehicles for all modes; •Cost-effective alternative fuels, (electric) drives, propulsion Transport innovations have, along with scientifi c achievements, technologies, battery and chemical storage of energy and new technological developments and institution-building, been among materials for vehicle construction; the fundamental drivers of the economic development of Europe •Advanced ICT for personalised real-time travel information with throughout history. modal integration, metropolitan traffi c management and smart payment systems; From exploration of other continents over the industrial revolution to the ongoing globalisation and urbanisation of the world, transport to highlight a few exceedingly important areas which will require improvements have been a prerequisite for the gains made from inter- massive investments in R&D&I towards 2020 and beyond. continental trade, the economies of scale of industrial production, and agglomeration benefi ts of mega-cities and conurbations. Apart from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions the majority of the negative impacts from transport occur in and around major urban ar- But the need for transport innovations has not outplayed its role. eas where the majority and an increasing share of Europe’s popula- A radical transformation of the transport sector over the coming tion live. This calls for intensifi ed research in the challenges related to decades will be an essential part of the strategy, when economic urban mobility. A signifi cant change of modal split away from cars is recovery after the current downturn and fi scal debt crisis must necessarily an essential part of the solution. This will also make cities evolve into sustainable growth to meet the double challenge of more liveable, but it will require both sticks and carrots to achieve, addressing the global environmental imbalances and at the same e.g. urban road pricing schemes accompanied by more competitive time providing high welfare to an ageing European society. An public transport and facilities for cycling and walking. even more effi cient, as well as dramatically more environmentally friendly, transport system will be crucial for the European competi- Expectations for increasingly scarce funding for infrastructure tiveness in a globalised world. improvements highlights the need for cross-modal integration as a means to improve overall effi cient and sustainable mobility rather The 7th Framework Programme (as well as previous FPs) has TRANSPORT than effectiveness at modal level. Further development and imple- brought signifi cant technological advances and substantially better 51
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