Advancing Road Infrastructure Research in Europe

1. Research in Europe Steve Phillips Secretary-General

2. “Research in Europe”? • We are in Athens, but this is an international conference, so why Europe? • Road infrastructure research is changing in Europe and part of this change is reflected internationally.

3. Introduction • General information about research in the EU • Framework programmes • Current research activities including FP 7. • Planned future research aspects and opportunities. • Relevance of international research co-operation • FEHRL and the development of SERRP • The future challenges

4. Road research and Europe • The European Commission funds research in cycles through its ‘Framework programmes’ • FP4 - 1994-98, €13.2 Billion • FP5 - 1998-2002, €15 Billion • FP6 – 2002-06, €17.5 Billion • FP7 – 2007-13, €50 Billion • €4.2 Billion in ‘Cooperation’ for Transport • The majority of this budget is devoted to collaborative research projects but there are many “programmes”.

5. Road infrastructure research & EC • In FP6 (2002-2006), road infrastructure research had €21M of EC funding to over 145 contractors from 23 countries* • In FP7, ‘one-third’ of road transport research could be infrastructure related – 10 times the funding of FP6? • Plus other opportunities in “Materials”and in the Ideas Programme *EC - Andras Siegler to FEHRL General Assembly 2007

6. Some indications for road research in FP7 • Policy change from modal-shift to co-modality • Road infrastructure suffered previously from the pro-rail/water bias • Priorities of EU New Member States and Candidate Countries plus international cooperation have helped to raise profile • But multi-modal projects are still the most attractive • Road and rail • Possibly road and aviation

7. Some indications for road research in FP7 • Focus on technology developments to address EC priorities • greener, safer, smarter and competitive • Multidisciplinary ‘systems’ approach needed • No projects on bitumen properties alone • Large-scale (integrated projects) can include ‘traditional’ infrastructure topics within a multi-disciplinary project • For example, FP6 SILENCE project on road and rail noise • Small, short-term, projects support dissemination and knowledge transfer

8. EU FP7 International cooperation • International cooperation is a major priority • Fewer restrictions on ‘third’ countries - non-EU partners • Third Countries • Associated countries - ‘same status’ as full EU members • International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPC) • Mediterranean partner countries, • Western Balkans, • Eastern European and Central Asian countries • ACP, ASIA, Latin America • Emerging economies (e.g. China, India, Brazil, Russia, South Africa) • SIMBA project • Industrialised countries • USA – link with SHRP2

9. Getting recognition for infrastructure’s needs • Structurally - and politically - infrastructure research (and especially implementation) is not the same as ‘industrial’ research in related sectors (e.g automotive research). • EC programmes do not reflect this because partners appear to be duplicating work and expertise • COST was always more appropriate than Framework projects • To be successful, we need to involve a greater number of countries in our research in order to avoid the ‘not invented here’ and the ‘it cannot work here’ syndrome.

10. Reflecting Europe’s road needs Temperature Rainfall Geology FEHRL’s approach is that research on road transport needs to reflect national and regional differences

11. FEHRL’s objectives • Through research collaboration, FEHRL’s main objectives are to: • Provide scientific input to European and national government policy on highway engineering and road transport matters. • Create and maintain an efficient and safe road network in Europe. • Increase innovation in European road construction and road-using industries. • Improve the energy efficiency of highway engineering and operations. • Protect the environment and improve quality of life.

12. FEHRL Background • 18 years as the European Centre of Excellence in Road Research • Formed as the organisation of European National Road Research Centres • Currently consists of 29 institutes – all with a public service orientation – employing over 5,000 staff • Facilitates cooperative research projects for European Road Directorates, European Commission and others

13. FEHRL’s future programme • The Strategic European Road Research Programme (SERRP IV) considers four themes. • Mobility, Transport & Infrastructure • Energy, Environment & Resources • Safety & Security • Design & Production • The programme combines internal projects, collaborative projects with industry, individual national projects and EC projects.

14. FEHRL’s 4 SERRP themes 1. Mobility & Transport Optimising capacity Efficient goods transport Urban mobility 2. Safety & Security Preventative Road Engineering Impact mitigation & post- crash Road Transport system security Energy, Environment & Resources Energy consumption Pollution and Environmental Control Nuisance and societal/cultural impacts Sustainable construction 4. Design & production Implementation of innovation Flexibility of production & maintenance Lifetime resource use

15. Energy consumption & CO2 2000 2030 Trucks grow from second largest energy consumer in the transport sector in 2000 (EU-30) to the largest in 2030 Source: DG TREN

16. Design & production • Implementation of innovation • Flexible production • Lifetime resource use • Issues including • Standardisation issues • Vehicle-Tyre/road interaction studies • Simulation tools and models for life-cycle assessment • Pilot-scale assessment tools • High-speed diagnostic testing

17. Summary • Road infrastructure has an important place in European research and FP7 • Reduction of energy use • Heavy vehicle issues • Safety and congestion • Competitive products • International cooperation is a high priority • Now we need to prove that our sector has the innovation and the capacity…..