Final Report Summary - CENTRAL LOCO (Central European Network for Logistics Competence)
The aim of the 'Central European network for logistics competence' (Central LOCO) project was to promote dissemination and exploitation of results of RTD projects of the Fifth and Sixth Framework Programmes among the enterprises and research units operating in logistics and transport sector. These organisations were insufficiently experienced both in knowledge transfer from leading institutions in the EU and in coordinating the cooperation between the research and industry. This was particularly true regarding the issue of safe, secure and efficient intermodal transport where such transfer and cooperation were urgently needed. The project's area of influence were four Central European New Member States known as the Vysehrad Four: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.
The main activities performed during the Central LOCO project included:
%l - organisation of the kick-off meeting in June 2005, in Rajecke Teplice (Slovakia)
% During the first meeting of the consortium, partners had a chance to present their organisations and discuss important issues related to the project execution. Apart from discussing the content of the WP's, the presentation of the Commission's requirements and procedures was delivered by the coordinator on behalf of the Project Officer.
- launching the project website in October 2005: http://www.centralloco.net
The website presents the project, its activities, planned events and reports from the organised conference and workshop. It also enables interested users to subscribe for a project newsletters and to get access to the project documents, such as presentations, reports, photos, lists of participants, etc.
- organisation of the first project workshop Prague (Czech Republic)
Transport Research Centre organised a workshop held in Prague, on 7-8th November, 2005. During the first two-day workshop titled 'New telematic solutions in logistics' ten interesting presentations were presented and discussed. The expected result envisaged in the project proposal (at least 20 % of all participants should be companies) was reached as around 40 % of organisations present during the workshop were enterprises.
- organisation of the second project workshop Budapest (Hungary)
The partner responsible for organisation of the second project workshop was Institute for Transport Sciences (KTI). The event took place on 22 February 2007 in Budapest under the title 'Problems and new solutions in logistics with special regard to automatic identification'. The second workshop was to present new solutions in the advanced logistics especially with emphasis on RFID/EPC global system, as well as the objectives and results of the Central LOCO project. The expected result (at least 20 % of all participants should be companies) was reached as around 40 % of organisations present during workshop were enterprises. Furthermore, the events brought together the representatives of research and business environment mainly from Central Eastern Europe, so that they could start cooperation within new initiatives.
- identification of EU RTD projects in the field of logistics and intermodal transport
The database containing over 120 different projects in the field of logistics has been constantly updated. It is available in English and in Polish on the web site http://www.polloco.pl/projects/index.php.
- organisation of the project conference
The Central LOCO conference organised by ILIM took place in parallel with the Polish logistics congress LOGISTICS 2006, one of the most important European logistics and transportation events, with great national and international participation of companies, institutes, governmental organisations, and others. The coincidence of these two events assured Central LOCO conference with a great number of public, excellent advertising among the European institutions and enterprises. Three thematic sessions were prepared by the Central LOCO consortium. During the conference best practice solutions in different fields of logistics (i.e. ECR, SCM, reverse logistics, outsourcing, CRM, CPF, reengineering, intermodal transport, e-logistics, etc.) were presented and discussed. It was planned to achieve 200 participants and the result exceeded three times as there were more than 600 participants.
- regular newsletters were prepared in English and four national languages
Newsletters were emailed to the subscribers registered on the project's website, as well as to the databases of the partners. Within the project duration it was envisaged to prepare five project newsletters. However, Central LOCO consortium decided to issue seven Central LOCO newsletters (in five language version) and six newsletters under the auspices of the Centre of Logistics Competence Polloco (Polish / English version) member of ENLOCC, Central LOCO and Celtranet. At the beginning of the project newsletters were sent to over 1,400 receivers, but now, after 2-years project completion we had approximately 5,500 receivers thanks to the kindness of Hungarian Logistics Association that made its database available for our newsletter. Newsletters were sent to the receivers in the whole Europe, with a special attention to the entities in CEEC's.
- creation of opportunities for new projects among members of research and business communities and invitation of large numbers of companies to participate in Framework Programmes during organised events.
- provision of the access to conference and workshop materials both in English and national languages.
The main activities performed during the Central LOCO project included:
%l - organisation of the kick-off meeting in June 2005, in Rajecke Teplice (Slovakia)
% During the first meeting of the consortium, partners had a chance to present their organisations and discuss important issues related to the project execution. Apart from discussing the content of the WP's, the presentation of the Commission's requirements and procedures was delivered by the coordinator on behalf of the Project Officer.
- launching the project website in October 2005: http://www.centralloco.net
The website presents the project, its activities, planned events and reports from the organised conference and workshop. It also enables interested users to subscribe for a project newsletters and to get access to the project documents, such as presentations, reports, photos, lists of participants, etc.
- organisation of the first project workshop Prague (Czech Republic)
Transport Research Centre organised a workshop held in Prague, on 7-8th November, 2005. During the first two-day workshop titled 'New telematic solutions in logistics' ten interesting presentations were presented and discussed. The expected result envisaged in the project proposal (at least 20 % of all participants should be companies) was reached as around 40 % of organisations present during the workshop were enterprises.
- organisation of the second project workshop Budapest (Hungary)
The partner responsible for organisation of the second project workshop was Institute for Transport Sciences (KTI). The event took place on 22 February 2007 in Budapest under the title 'Problems and new solutions in logistics with special regard to automatic identification'. The second workshop was to present new solutions in the advanced logistics especially with emphasis on RFID/EPC global system, as well as the objectives and results of the Central LOCO project. The expected result (at least 20 % of all participants should be companies) was reached as around 40 % of organisations present during workshop were enterprises. Furthermore, the events brought together the representatives of research and business environment mainly from Central Eastern Europe, so that they could start cooperation within new initiatives.
- identification of EU RTD projects in the field of logistics and intermodal transport
The database containing over 120 different projects in the field of logistics has been constantly updated. It is available in English and in Polish on the web site http://www.polloco.pl/projects/index.php.
- organisation of the project conference
The Central LOCO conference organised by ILIM took place in parallel with the Polish logistics congress LOGISTICS 2006, one of the most important European logistics and transportation events, with great national and international participation of companies, institutes, governmental organisations, and others. The coincidence of these two events assured Central LOCO conference with a great number of public, excellent advertising among the European institutions and enterprises. Three thematic sessions were prepared by the Central LOCO consortium. During the conference best practice solutions in different fields of logistics (i.e. ECR, SCM, reverse logistics, outsourcing, CRM, CPF, reengineering, intermodal transport, e-logistics, etc.) were presented and discussed. It was planned to achieve 200 participants and the result exceeded three times as there were more than 600 participants.
- regular newsletters were prepared in English and four national languages
Newsletters were emailed to the subscribers registered on the project's website, as well as to the databases of the partners. Within the project duration it was envisaged to prepare five project newsletters. However, Central LOCO consortium decided to issue seven Central LOCO newsletters (in five language version) and six newsletters under the auspices of the Centre of Logistics Competence Polloco (Polish / English version) member of ENLOCC, Central LOCO and Celtranet. At the beginning of the project newsletters were sent to over 1,400 receivers, but now, after 2-years project completion we had approximately 5,500 receivers thanks to the kindness of Hungarian Logistics Association that made its database available for our newsletter. Newsletters were sent to the receivers in the whole Europe, with a special attention to the entities in CEEC's.
- creation of opportunities for new projects among members of research and business communities and invitation of large numbers of companies to participate in Framework Programmes during organised events.
- provision of the access to conference and workshop materials both in English and national languages.