Final Report Summary - THE ISSUE (Traffic- Health- Environment. Intelligent Solutions Sustaining Urban Economies)
Executive Summary:
THE ISSUE (Transport, Health and Environment: Intelligent Solutions Sustaining Urban Economies) Project was a three year “Coordination & Support Action” that received funding through the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme “Regions of Knowledge” Initiative. The Project was launched in December 2011 by a Consortium of 13 core partners in four European regional ‘triple-helix’ research-driven clusters and supported by 22 associate partners in 8 additional European regional clusters. The Project successfully completed its work programme at the end of November 2014.
THE ISSUE Project focussed on fostering cooperation, development and collaboration between European regional ‘triple-helix’ research-driven clusters, involving partners from industry, research institutions and government in each region. Its aim was to realise the potential for technology transfer from applications of ICT and Downstream Space Data Products & Services into the intelligent mobility and sustainable transport sectors to develop new research-based and innovation-driven solutions that will help improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions.
The Project’s key output was the preparation of a pioneering and state-of-the-art “Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014-2020)”. The Programme identifies 46 innovation actions that address a series of strategic objectives in six challenge areas. Each challenge area reflects one of the highest priorities in the transport and urban mobility sector where THE ISSUE identified that innovation and exploitation of newly-emerging and existing ICT and Space Technologies could offer major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of innovations in intelligent traffic management and urban mobility. Each innovation action is based on a strong evidence of user-need within urban and regional transport authorities and capable of being supported through harnessing RTD activities and competencies within THE ISSUE Consortium. Many of the innovation actions are already sufficiently mature to be the subject of proposals for funding aimed at demonstrating their market readiness through pilot studies, demonstration programmes and pre-operational roll-out. The recommended funding route for these actions is through European programmes such as Horizon 2020.
The Programme will be taken forward in a collaborative Pan-European approach by THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster, a new European Special Interest Group in Transport-Health-Environment established by the 12 regional clusters participating in THE ISSUE Project; although the outcomes of the Programme are widely transferrable. Implementing the Programme will help support the modernisation of the transport sector through developing smart, upgraded and fully interconnected transport and urban mobility solutions. It will make a significant contribution towards the EU’s “Smart, Green and Integrated Transport” agenda and deliver significant socio-economic impacts at regional and urban level, through stimulating supply chain development, business growth and the creation of new and better jobs. It will also offer programme planners for Horizon 2020 and other EU Programmes a clear evidence base for future work programme priorities. In particular, the expected impacts of the Programme are
a) Exploiting space based applications from Galileo and Copernicus in areas such as traffic congestion and transport-related health and environmental impacts
b) Advancing the work on Trans-European transport networks
c) Fostering cross-transport intermodality, seamless travel and modal integration
d) Enabling existing road infrastructure to become more effective and efficient;
e) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector
f) Improving the safety and security of citizens
In the process of developing its “Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility”, THE ISSUE Project also delivered a number of other important achievements, including:
1) Defining a Roadmap for Innovation in Transport & Urban Mobility to improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe
2) Championing a new dynamic for university-industry-government relationships in promoting innovation
3) Developing new perspectives on future patterns of urban mobility
4) Creating an extensive European network of collaborative partners
5) Expanding the “triple-helix” research-driven cluster concept into new European regions
6) Producing a major new publication: “Space and ICT Applications Supporting Smart, Green, Integrated Transport and Urban Mobility”
Project Context and Objectives:
1.0 INTRODUCTION
THE ISSUE (Transport, Health and Environment: Intelligent Solutions Sustaining Urban Economies) Project was awarded €2.75 million over a three year period from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under Grant Agreement No. 2011-287088. It was a “Coordination & Support Action” supported through the “Regions of Knowledge” Initiative. The Project was launched in December 2011 by a Consortium of 13 core partners in four European regional research-driven clusters. The Project successfully completed its programme of activities on 30 November 2014. This chapter provides an overview of the purpose, focus and structure of THE ISSUE Project.
THE ISSUE Project focussed on fostering cooperation, development and collaboration between European regional research-driven clusters to identify innovative new technological solutions to address some of the key challenges faced by urban and regional transport authorities in relation to the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions. THE ISSUE’s principle aim was to identify and harness relevant newly-emerging and existing Information & Communications Technologies and Downstream Space Data Products and Services found within THE ISSUE Consortium capable of supporting the development of new research-based or innovation-driven solutions that can deliver major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of innovations in intelligent traffic management and urban mobility.
2.0 POLICY CONTEXT
An overriding principle of the European Union (EU) is the promotion of free movement of goods, services, people and capital. Transport and intelligent mobility are global urban issues with far reaching impacts on economic sustainability, mobility, citizens’ heath and the environment. Economic costs attributable to urban traffic congestion are massive whilst ensuing traffic emissions are a substantial health risk to citizens. Reduced traffic congestion delivers economic gain and reduces risks to citizens’ health. Improvements to air quality follow from reduced traffic congestion through reduced air pollution and less adverse impacts on citizens’ health. Rising costs of hydrocarbon fuels and climate change concerns are creating demand for energy-efficient fuel technologies.
EU policy directives demand reductions in carbon emissions and a modal change in attitudes towards the use of public transport.
In Europe 2020, the EU’s growth strategy for the period to 2020, the key priority is to deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Investing more in research, innovation and entrepreneurship is seen as an important factor in enhancing Europe’s capacity to deliver this priority. Europe 2020 identifies transport as a key component in delivering sustainable growth. The above principles and priorities in European strategy and policy in relation to transport and urban mobility had an important bearing on the way in which THE ISSUE Project was envisaged and developed.
3.0 THE ISSUE’S VISION AND FOCUS
The development of transport technology and policy lies at the heart of achieving sustainable urban economies across Europe. In setting out its response to the EU’s invitation for proposals under the “Regions of Knowledge” Initiative, THE ISSUE Project recognised the tremendous potential of newly-emerging and existing technologies, particularly in the fields of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Downstream Space Data Products and Services, to support the development of innovative new solutions that could address key transport and mobility challenges and contribute to the economic growth of cities and regions.
THE ISSUE Project was underpinned by the following Vision: “To realise the potential for technology transfer from newly-emerging and existing applications of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Downstream Space Data Products and Services into the intelligent mobility and sustainable transport sectors to address key transport and urban mobility challenges impacting on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe”.
In order to realise this Vision, THE ISSUE Consortium agreed the following Mission Statement as a way of making clear THE ISSUE Project’s overriding core purpose and focus. Its Mission Statement was: “To identify opportunities to exploit newly-emerging and existing technologies, particularly in fields relating to ICT and Space Technologies, to deliver major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of innovations in intelligent traffic management and urban mobility to increase regional competitiveness and improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.”
In setting out its Vision and Mission Statement, THE ISSUE Project recognised that the task of introducing new innovative solutions within cities and regions should not be underestimated. In view of this, THE ISSUE Project acknowledged that to successfully exploit newly-emerging and existing technologies and develop innovative new solutions that can deliver major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of innovations in intelligent traffic management and urban mobility, THE ISSUE Project must identify innovative solutions that:
a) Match the vision and interest of markets as well as the highest priority policy objectives of transport, urban mobility and environmental impact policy makers.
b) Respond to key EU and national policy directives that relate to the impact of transport on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions.
c) Align with key priorities in major European and national funding programmes, such as the EU’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme and the Structural and Investment Funds.
4.0 THE ISSUE’S KEY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
At the outset of developing its proposal in response to the EU’s invitation for projects under its “Regions of Knowledge” Initiative, THE ISSUE Consortium agreed a clear set of aims and objectives for THE Project.
The overarching strategic aims of THE ISSUE Project were:
A. To achieve a more efficient use of existing transport infrastructures.
B. To promote innovation in the utilisation of transport infrastructures.
The overarching strategic objectives of THE ISSUE Project were:
1. To identify a programme of priority innovation actions that, when implemented, will deliver new and viable economy-driving, environmentally sensitive, transport and urban mobility solutions that match the vision and interest of markets as well as the highest priority policy objectives of transport, urban mobility and environmental impact policy makers in cities and regions across Europe.
2. To harness newly-emerging and existing research and technological development (RTD) expertise within THE ISSUE Consortium, particularly in the fields of Information and Communication Technologies and Downstream Space Data and Services, that were capable of supporting the development of new research-based or innovation-driven solutions that have the capability to increase regional competitiveness and improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions.
3. To foster trans-national cooperation, development and collaboration between innovative regional research-driven clusters in the areas of Transport-Health-Environment through the exchange of knowledge, best practice and mutual learning, in order to:
a) Develop a framework for coordinating and exploiting Transport-Health-Environmental-related research RTD programmes to achieve intelligent solutions for sustaining urban economies.
b) Strengthen the capacity of regions to invest in and conduct research and technological development activities that have a strong practical application in cities and regions across Europe and contribute in a significant way to economic development, business growth and the creation of more and better jobs.
c) Achieve closer alignment between RTD priorities and actions and the operational priorities of regional and local transport end-users.
d) Develop joint action plans to realise the potential for technology transfer from newly-emerging and existing applications of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Downstream Space Data Products and Services into the intelligent mobility and sustainable transport sectors.
4. To mentor regions with less well developed research profiles to support their capacity in setting up and developing regional research-driven clusters.
5. To take steps to ensure the continuity and sustainability of the extensive European network of regional clusters focussed on transport-health-environment created by THE ISSUE Project.
The Project also identified a number of specific economic and scientific/technological objectives:
THE ISSUE Economic Objectives:
EO1: Utilise Intelligent Traffic Management to boost the competitiveness of transport-related economies at urban, regional and local levels.
EO2: Identify market opportunities for mature RTD applications and develop action plans for commercial implementation.
EO3: Deliver innovative solutions to traffic management operations.
EO4: Deliver innovative solutions to reduce traffic emissions and improve air quality locally.
THE ISSUE Scientific and Technological Objectives:
STO1: Coordinate RTD actions between regions.
STO2: Identify the development path for widespread uptake of Intelligent Traffic Management.
STO3: Achieve modal shift towards public transport to reduce urban congestion and shorten journey times.
STO4: Study of applications of road charging in other European urban traffic systems.
STO5: To transfer Computer Intelligence technology to operational users.
STO6: To provide regional planners with comprehensive databases of transport infrastructures to support their regional strategic planning.
STO7: To introduce active air pollution monitoring and mitigation into regional transport and environmental strategies.
5.0 THE ISSUE’S GUIDING PRINCIPLES
THE ISSUE Consortium established a set of fundamental principles to guide the way in which the overall Project was taken forward and to realise the “triple-helix” structure and philosophy. These fundamental principles included:
1. Establishing a sustainable trans-national partnership comprised of regional “triple-helix” research-driven clusters that had an interest in stimulating the emergence of industrial innovations, products and services with the capability to enhance the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.
2. Bringing together scientists, engineers, development agencies and those responsible for managing traffic, transport and air quality in each regional cluster, who shared ideas and developed:
a) A common-vision for the future traveller experience that meets expectations of user groups and citizens.
b) A common understanding of the key challenges facing urban, transport and environmental policy makers in relation to addressing the impacts of transport on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions.
3. Identifying newly-emerging and existing RTD capabilities within the trans-national partnership that could be harnessed and exploited to support the development of new innovative solutions to achieve smart, green and integrated transport, increase regional competitiveness, stimulate supply chain development, promote business growth, particularly amongst SMEs and create more and better jobs.
6.0 THE ISSUE PROJECT CONSORTIUM AND THE 'TRIPLE-HELIX' PHILOSOPHY AND APPROACH
THE ISSUE Project was delivered through a Consortium of regional “triple-helix” research-driven clusters. The Consortium comprised of 13 original core partners in four European regional clusters. The Consortium was expanded during the implementation of the Project as part of the Project’s knowledge exchange and mentoring programme. This introduced 8 new associate regions into the Consortium. The four core European regional clusters regions included the East Midlands (UK), Midi-Pyrenees/Aquitaine Regions (France), Molise Region (Italy) and Mazovia Region (Poland). The eight European associate regions introduced a further 22 associate partners into the Project from Spain, Croatia, Greece, Romania, Finland, Italy and Northern Ireland.
Each regional cluster was based on a “triple-helix” structure and philosophy. In terms of structure, the Consortium comprised of regional clusters, each of which included representatives from three distinct sectors: industry, universities and local/regional government. In terms of philosophy, the Consortium’s research partners were all actively involved in complementary state-of-the-art RTD programmes in three key areas relating to: transport, health and the environment. Each regional cluster demonstrated a willingness and commitment to work together in the sharing of knowledge gained from tackling similar challenges in the fields of transport-health-environment, against a backdrop of diverse local and regional contexts, and a desire to identify ways in which their RTD activities could be more closely aligned with local economic development priorities and the needs of business.
Project Results:
INTRODUCTION
THE ISSUE Project focussed on fostering cooperation, development and collaboration between European regional research-driven clusters to identify and harness relevant newly-emerging and existing ICT and Downstream Space Data Products and Services found within THE ISSUE Consortium capable of supporting the development of new research-based or innovation-driven solutions that can deliver major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of innovations in intelligent traffic management and urban mobility to help improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions.
The primary achievement of THE ISSUE Project was the preparation of its pioneering and state-of-the-art “Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility: The Application of ICT and Space Technologies to Improve the Economic, Environmental & Social Health of Cities & Regions (2014-2020)”. This Programme identifies a range of innovation action responses that will deliver major advances towards the development of new and viable economy-driving, environmentally sensitive, transport and urban mobility solutions that match the vision and interest of markets and transport, urban mobility and environmental impact policy makers.
In the process of developing its “Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility”, THE ISSUE Project also delivered a number of other important achievements. Overall, the main results delivered by THE ISSUE Project were:
1. Preparing THE ISSUE “Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014 to 2020)
2. Defining a Roadmap for Innovation in Transport & Urban Mobility to improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe
3. Championing a new dynamic for university-industry-government relationships in promoting innovation
4. Developing new perspectives on future patterns of urban mobility
5. Creating an extensive European network of collaborative partners
6. Expanding the “triple-helix” research-driven cluster concept into new European regions
7. Establishing a European Special Interest Group in Transport-Health-Environment: THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster
8. Delivering a major programme of mentoring and knowledge exchange
9. Producing a major new publication: “Space and ICT Applications Supporting Smart, Green, Integrated Transport and Urban Mobility”
RESULT 1. THE ISSUE PROGRAMME OF INNOVATION IN SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT AND INTELLIGENT MOBILITY (2014-2020)
The cornerstone of THE ISSUE’s key results is its Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility: The Application of ICT and Space Technologies to Improve the Economic, Environmental & Social Health of Cities & Regions (2014-2020). This is a pioneering and state-of-the-art programme of research-based or innovation-driven actions that, when implemented, will deliver many new economy-driving, environmentally-sensitive transport and urban mobility solutions to help improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.
The Programme is structured into six challenge areas, which reflect the highest priorities in the transport and urban mobility sector where innovation and exploitation of newly-emerging and existing technologies could offer major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of new innovations in intelligent traffic management and urban mobility. These challenge areas relate closely to Horizon 2020’s Societal Challenges and its theme of ‘Smart, Green and Integrated Transport’. They also respond to important external policy drivers from EU transport, air quality and climate change directives.
This Programme identifies 46 innovation action responses. These are summarised in Table 5. Each innovation action is based on a strong evidence of need and capable of being supported through harnessing RTD activities and competencies found within THE ISSUE Consortium. Many of the innovation actions identified in the Programme are already sufficiently mature to be the subject of proposals for funding and have been identified as priority innovation actions. The priority innovation actions have a pan-European perspective and will be taken forward in a collaborative approach by THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster through developing project consortia comprising of appropriate partners from within (and outside) THE ISSUE Consortium. The recommended funding route for these priority actions is through European funding such as Horizon 2020. A number of the priority innovation actions have already successfully attracted funding and are currently being delivered. Others are in the process of being developed into firm project proposals.
The Programme will help support the modernisation of the transport sector through developing smart, upgraded and fully interconnected transport and urban mobility solutions that match both the vision and interest of markets and the key priorities of transport, urban mobility and environmental impact policy makers. It will make a significant contribution towards the EU’s “Smart, Green and Integrated Transport” agenda and deliver significant socio-economic impacts at regional and urban level, through stimulating supply chain development, business growth and the creation of new and better jobs. It will also offer programme planners for Horizon 2020 and other EU Programmes a clear evidence base for future work programme priorities.
In particular, the expected impacts of the Programme are:
a) Exploiting space based applications from Galileo and Copernicus in areas such as traffic congestion and transport-related health and environmental impacts.
b) Advancing the work on Trans-European transport networks
c) Fostering cross-transport Intermodality and promoting modal shift
d) Encouraging seamless travel
e) Enabling existing road infrastructure to become more effective and efficient;
f) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector
g) Improving the safety and security of citizens
1.1 THE ISSUE’S KEY TRANSPORT AND URBAN MOBILITY CHALLENGE AREAS
THE ISSUE’s Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility is centred on six key transport and urban mobility challenge areas. These are:
i. Addressing Traffic Congestion and Associated Impacts on the Urban Environment and Infrastructure
ii. Managing Urban Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
iii. Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Urban and Regional Road Networks
iv. Achieving Integrated and Seamless Travel and Modal Integration
v. Increasing Safety, Security and Health for Urban Communities
vi. Delivering a step-change in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility
The six challenge areas represent the highest priorities in the transport and urban mobility sector where THE ISSUE Project believes that innovation and exploitation of core RTD capabilities identified in the industry and research sectors within THE ISSUE Consortium can offer major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of new research-based and innovation-driven solutions to help increase regional competitiveness and improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions. Each challenge area is closely aligned with Societal Challenges in the EU’s Horizon 2020 Programme and respond to important external policy drivers coming from EU transport, air quality and climate change directives, as well as related national and regional transport and urban mobility policies and priorities.
1.2 THE ISSUE’S CORE RTD COMPETENCIES
A key objective of THE ISSUE Project was to harness newly-emerging and existing research and technological development (RTD) expertise within industry and academic sectors across THE ISSUE Consortium, particularly in the fields of Information and Communication Technologies and Downstream Space Data and Services, capable of supporting the development of new research-based or innovation-driven solutions that have the capability to increase regional competitiveness and improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions.
THE ISSUE Project undertook a mapping exercise to identify the best fit between world-class RTD competencies within THE ISSUE Consortium and the strategic policies and priorities of urban and regional transport authorities in relation to transport and its impact on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions. As a result of this mapping exercise, THE ISSUE Project identified 10 core RTD competencies that could underpin and support the delivery of the innovation action responses outlined in its Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility. These are:
• RTD1: Vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure real-time communications technologies supporting advanced urban traffic management systems and rapid response capability (including freight)
• RTD2: Advanced data sharing, data-fusion, collection and analysis infrastructure (including open data)
• RTD3: Road surface and infrastructure management research and technologies
• RTD4: Advanced sensor development for space, aerial and in-situ traffic management and control and air quality monitoring, analysis and evaluation
• RTD5: ICT and Computational Intelligence supporting advanced urban traffic management systems
• RTD6: Open GIS and crowd sourcing imagery augmenting mapping technologies
• RTD7: Application of Downstream space data products and services (e.g. Copernicus/Galileo) to support urban traffic management systems to provide real-time positioning, tracking, incident location, velocity and timing information
• RTD8: Specialised software for advanced management of multimodal transport network
• RTD9: Ultra-low emission vehicle research and technologies
• RTD10: Behavioural, societal, foresight and socio-economic research
1.3 THE ISSUE’S STRATEGIC TRANSPORT AND URBAN MOBILITY OBJECTIVES
For each of the six challenge areas selected by THE ISSUE Project, a number of specific strategic objectives where identified in the Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility. These correlated directly to the highest operational needs of urban and regional transport authorities within THE ISSUE Consortium with respect to each challenge area. A total of 18 strategic objectives were selected across the six challenge areas following a thorough analysis by THE ISSUE Project of the key transport and urban mobility challenges impacting on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions within THE ISSUE Consortium Network. This included an extensive consultation within THE ISSUE Consortium to review the key priorities of end-users in terms of transport and urban mobility policies, strategies and implementation plans with respect to each of the six challenge areas. The strategic objectives identified for each challenge area are outlined below:
Challenge Area 1. Addressing Traffic Congestion and Associated impacts on the Urban Environment, through:
SO1. Achieving greater optimisation of the road network and improving local air quality
SO2. Improving the efficiency of urban freight transport logistics
SO3. Minimising congestion difficulties and impeding access for emergency services during incidents and extreme weather events
SO4. Strengthening local transport and urban mobility planning
Challenge Area 2. Managing Urban Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, through:
SO5. Improving the calibration & validation of the accuracy of air quality models & traffic simulations
SO6. Improving sensor monitoring and model forecasting of emission levels
Challenge Area 3. Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of the Existing Urban and Regional Road Network, through:
SO7. Making the existing urban & regional road network more efficient, reliable, resilient & effective
SO8. Improving the management and maintenance of the existing road infrastructure
SO9. Improving the planning and development of the road infrastructure network
Challenge Area 4. Achieving Integrated and Seamless Travel and Modal Integration, through:
SO10. Promoting modal shift and offering more sustainable travel choices
SO11. Improving the performance, reliability & affordability of public transport services
SO12. Increasing the availability and interoperability of multi-modal transport data
SO13. Promoting multimodal integrated travel information, journey planning & ticketing services
Challenge Area 5. Increasing Safety, Security and Health in Urban Communities, through
SO14. Developing advanced safety and security measures to help reduce accidents, make roads safer (especially for Vulnerable Road Users) and create a better urban environment
SO15. Improving security and information about the transporting of freight in urban areas
SO16. Improving the health of citizens
Challenge Area 6. Delivering a Step-Change in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility, through
SO17. Facilitating the increased uptake of Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles
SO18. Identifying future changes in patterns of urban mobility and potential RTD challenges
1.4 THE ISSUE’S INNOVATION ACTION RESPONSES
For each of the strategic objectives, THE ISSUE Project identified a range of innovative action responses that will deliver new economy-driving, environmentally-sensitive transport and urban mobility solutions that will help improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe. Each innovation action is based on a strong evidence of need and is capable of being supported through harnessing RTD activities and competencies found within THE ISSUE Consortium.
THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility identified a total of 46 innovation action responses to address the 18 strategic objectives in the six challenge areas. These are identified below. For each innovation action response, THE ISSUE assessed its relative priority in terms of development and delivery in order to identify priority actions and longer-term actions. This assessment considered the relative strength of the evidence base for each action relating to impact and user-needs within each region and the level of maturity of the RTD competencies that would support the development of the innovative solution. Out of a total of 46 innovation action responses, 21 were identified as already sufficiently mature to be the subject of proposals for funding and these were highlighted as priority innovation actions within the Programme. The remaining actions were classified as longer-term actions.
The 21 priority innovation actions will be taken forward through THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster on the basis of a collaborative approach with a range of partners from within the Consortium forming appropriate project consortia to develop project proposals. The recommended funding route for these priority project areas is through European funding channels such as Horizon 2020.
In terms of those innovation actions responses identified as longer-term priorities, THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will periodically review their relative priority, in order to account for any policy changes at the European, national, regional or local level, changes in funding priorities and any technological advances:
1.5 THE ISSUE PROGRAMME OF INNOVATION ACTIONS (2014-2020): PRIORITY INNOVATION ACTIONS
CHALLENGE 1: ADDRESSING TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND ASSOCIATED IMPACTS ON THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT
Strategic Objective 1. Achieving greater optimisation of the road network and improving local air quality
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
1. Developing advanced ITM&C systems capable of the integrated real-time management and control of urban traffic and air quality, using ICT and Downstream Space Data Products and Services, leading to a greater optimisation of the road network, reductions in traffic delay, increased traffic flow and more optimised local air quality (IA01)
Strategic Objective 2. Improving the efficiency of urban freight transport logistics
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
2. Developing dynamic, integrated ITS systems that improve road network route planning and help optimise delivery patterns, by exploiting new developments in EGNSS, cloud computing, air quality data collection and seamless, multi-modal communications technology, leading to reductions in congestion, lower emissions and noise pollution and improved safety and security associated with urban freight transport operations (IA07)
3. Developing enhanced monitoring and tracking models and tools for integrated management of intermodal freight transport interface within Port Cities to deliver more efficient and sustainable onward movement of freight across urban areas (IA08)
Strategic Objective 3. Minimising congestion difficulties and impeding access for emergency services during incidents and extreme weather events
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
4. Developing tools that can enhance the ability of ITM&C systems to provide a rapid response for emergency situations, including enabling controlled access to specific urban areas, automatically re-routing traffic or changing traffic light sequences to provide priority and prompt access to the transport infrastructure for emergency services without compromising the safety and security of other user, as well as the ability to respond to public transport priorities and providing relevant traffic information (IA11)
Strategic Objective 4. Strengthening local transport and urban mobility planning
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
5. Enabling the collection and analysis of detailed and accurate data outputs of user demand from ITM&C systems for use as a support mechanism for planning the transportation system in future urban transport strategies, as guiding planning decisions, supporting spatial planning and the simulation of land use development in the urban areas. (IA14)
6. Enhancing the knowledge and capacities of local authorities to successfully plan and implement innovative sustainable mobility measures, by developing new instruments and mechanisms to study, model and plan future scenarios for the sustainable movement of people and goods, based on the collection, analysis and exchange of reliable and relevant data from multiple sources, including geo-positioning information, environmental data, residents and visitors’ behaviour (IA16)
7. Developing new tools, instruments and mechanisms for information exchange to strengthen the knowledge and capacity of local authorities in their preparation of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (IA15)
CHALLENGE 2. MANAGING URBAN AIR QUALITY AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Strategic Objective 5. Improving the calibration and validation of the accuracy of air quality models and traffic simulations
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
8. Improving public information services and historical reporting by developing new systems for the measuring and monitoring of short-term carbon emissions and providing air quality forecasts (IA21)
9. Developing tools to promote the use of earth observation data sets to improve the quality of local air quality models (IA19)
Strategic Objective 6. Improving sensor monitoring and model forecasting of emission levels
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
10. Acquiring emissions data from urban and rural networks by public and commercial users of the road network, together with the expanded use of social networking technologies (IA32)
11. Improving the measurement of height and spatial distribution of pollutants, using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (IA33)
12. Improving the calibration and validation of air quality estimations and traffic simulations, by integrating ground based sensors and remote sensing systems (IA31)
CHALLENGE 3. IMPROVING THE UTILIZATION, PLANNING & OPTIMIZATION OF URBAN & REGIONAL ROAD NETWORKS
Strategic Objective 7. Making the existing urban and regional road network more efficient, reliable, resilient and effective
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
13. Creating Open Data Platforms to improve the collection, assessment, fusion, trend monitoring, analysis and storage of transportation data from multiple sources, leading to a more efficient use of the existing infrastructure (IA35)
14. Designing advanced road equipment systems (e.g. smart signs, intelligent crossings) that contribute towards improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing road network (IA37)
15. Developing a real-time database of weather conditions, air pollution, traffic, road condition etc. (IA36)
16. Introducing advanced real-time information services for drivers and other road users to provide real-time traffic situation reports and options for choosing the best means of transport (IA38)
Strategic Objective 8. Improving the management and maintenance of the existing road infrastructure
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
17. Introducing more efficient and cost-effective ways of managing and maintaining the existing road infrastructure network by using ICT and Space technologies to develop new tools and mechanisms to gather and analyse information about the road infrastructure and its condition (IA39)
18. Developing tools that can improve the planning and management of road deviations during construction and maintenance works to maintain an efficient flow of traffic, especially in areas prone to congestion (IA42)
19. Developing a data, knowledge and information exchange panel (a dashboard) to improve communication between road infrastructure managers, road administrators and research institutions (IA43)
Strategic Objective 9. Improving the planning and development of the road infrastructure network
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
20. Developing real-time data collection networks that provide aggregated data to central ITM&C systems to enhance the ability to analyse multi-modal traffic and travel data from a range of data sources, including cooperative and crowd-sourced information, leading to improvements in transport system analysis and traffic model calibrations (IA45)
21. Developing new models and tools to study, model and plan future scenarios for the movement of people and goods, taking into account multiple sources of information, including geo-positioning information, environmental data, residents and visitors’ behaviour data (IA46)
22. Introducing new user-behaviour models in info-mobility schemes taking into account the needs of pedestrians and bicycles in urban planning, also for transport mode interchange (e.g. Bike & Ride) and including ensuring safe and convenient access to public transport stops. (IA47)
CHALLENGE 4. ACHIEVING INTEGRATED AND SEAMLESS TRAVEL AND MODAL INTEGRATION
Strategic Objective 10. Improving the competitiveness, performance, reliability and affordability of public transport services
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
23. Enabling public transport operators to increase reliability, accessibility, affordability and safety of public transport service, by developing and improving models and tools that enhance the collection, analysis and monitoring of relevant traffic and travel data from a range of sources to facilitate more optimised, coordinated and efficient service network planning (IA48)
Strategic Objective 11. Promoting modal shift and offering more sustainable travel choices
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
24. Developing advanced real-time multi-modal routing, information and journey decision support systems for drivers and other road users, including intelligent road equipment systems, to provide real-time traffic situation reports and options for choosing the best means of transport (IA51)
25. Providing innovative forms of travel information that focus on travellers’ personnel needs by creating new innovative tools and mechanisms, including GIS-based tools, which enable the collection, analysis and dissemination of quality, real-time, interactive and trustworthy multi-modal transport information to improve the capacity of travellers to make informed decisions about proposed journeys (IA53)
26. Developing advanced positioning technologies and delivering location-based services that provide continuity and reliability of user positioning services for both indoor and outdoor environments and the interface between the two, to support transport users, emergency communications, personal guidance in multimodal interfaces and social applications to create a more comfortable mobility experience; using services provided by Galileo and EGNOS signals, including data and signal fusion with 4G-5G networks, open geographical data, social networks, video processing, and machine-machine technologies. (IA55)
Strategic Objective 12. Increasing the availability and interoperability of multi-modal transport data
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
27. Developing standards of collective and multimodal data to allow better integration, comparison and accessibility between different users (IA63)
28. Developing GIS-based tools to localize, validate, visualize, modify, share and manage real-time multimodal data with spatial information for different kind of transport providers (IA62)
29. Improving the understanding of urban mobility and achieving further advances in intelligent mobility by developing new applications and tools that can unlock and exploit the potential of vast amounts of transport-related positioning, tracking and timing information available arising from the increasing connectivity of people and devices, the availability of GNSS location based services, advances in cloud computing, big, linked and open data and data crowd sourcing (IA65)
Strategic Objective 13. Promoting multimodal integrated travel information, journey planning and ticketing services
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
30. Implementing smart, multi-modal integrated ticketing systems to promote seamless mobility and ease of use of public transport in urban areas (IA66)
31. Developing real-time multi-modal personalised transport and travel information services, delivered through a fully integrated one-stop-shop user interface for travellers, which offers interactive on-line door-to-door multi modal journey comparison of real-time travel information including true financial costs, timings, and health and environmental impacts, as well as ticket purchase and redemption and interactive real-time notifications of incidents and delays (IA67)
32. Promoting Smart Ticketing for larger territories and different local and regional transport authorities (IA69)
CHALLENGE 5. INCREASING SAFETY, SECURITY AND HEALTH IN URBAN COMMUNITIES
Strategic Objective 14. Developing advanced safety and security measures to help reduce accidents, make roads safer (especially for Vulnerable Road Users) and create a better urban environment
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
33. Improving traveller safety and security by developing new automatic data collection and monitoring systems that provide a more in-depth understanding of user behaviour, accident causation and possible countermeasures and their impacts (IA72)
34. Developing innovative, low cost, flexible and mobile speed control systems that improve the monitoring, mapping and control of the speed of vehicles in urban and rural areas and improves road safety (IA71)
35. Developing innovative tools to improve the design and quality of road networks in order to enhance road safety (IA73)
Strategic Objective 15. Improving security and information about the transporting of freight in urban areas
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
36. Developing specific tools (software and hardware) for road safety enhancement relating to the transport of goods (IA78)
37. Developing location-based service solutions for improvement of freight transport functioning (IA76)
38. Developing automatic tracking systems for the transport of goods (IA77)
39. Developing a Trans-European freight transport information hub, with the aim of collecting and disseminating information from all possible users and providers (IA75)
Strategic Objective 16. Improving the health of citizens
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
40. Increasing the level of information available, directly or indirectly related to transport systems, about the presence of pollutants and noise levels, especially at local and regional levels (IA79)
41. Analysing the inter-linkages between currently used and newly identified parameters relating to health related air pollution or the impact of vehicle noise regulations (IA81)
42. Identifying, piloting and evaluating the most efficient and cost-effective measures to reduce exposure to pollutants and noise, and to help decision makers to find specific solutions (IA82)
CHALLENGE 6. DELIVERING A STEP-CHANGE IN SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT AND INTELLIGENT MOBILITY
Strategic Objective 17. Facilitating the increased uptake of Low Carbon Vehicles
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
43. Undertaking social studies to better understand lack of take-up of Low Carbon Vehicles. (IA84)
44. Implementing pilot studies deploying Low Carbon Vehicles (LCVs) to stimulate modal shift, evaluate barriers to uptake and evaluate new vehicles ownership and usage models (IA85)
45. Developing innovation in techniques to substantially increase the range of LCVs (particularly electric vehicles) (IA86)
Strategic Objective 18. Identifying Future Changes in Patterns of Urban Mobility and Potential RTD Challenges
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
46. Implementing a foresight-driven research programme involving science and technology, computer science, physical and human geography, social science and economics to assess how disruptive innovation can change resource allocations and distribution chains by creating new markets and replacing old ones (IA88)
RESULT 2. DEFINING A ROADMAP FOR INNOVATION IN TRANSPORT AND URBAN MOBILITY TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL HEALTH OF CITIES AND REGIONS
The Vision for THE ISSUE Project centred on the potential for technology transfer from newly emerging applications of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Downstream Space Data Products and Services into the intelligent mobility and sustainable transport sectors to address key transport and urban mobility challenges impacting on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.
In the process of developing its Programme of Innovation Actions 2014 to 2020, THE ISSUE Project defined a Roadmap for Innovation in Transport and Urban Mobility to improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions in Europe. This Roadmap sets out a best-practice approach for exploiting newly-emerging and existing research and technologies, particularly in the fields of ICT and Downstream Space Data Products and Services, to deliver major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of new economy-driving, environmentally-sensitive transport and intelligent mobility solutions that address key challenges arising from the impact of transport on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.
RESULT 3. CHAMPIONING A NEW DYNAMIC FOR UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY-GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIPS IN PROMOTING INNOVATION
THE ISSUE Project championed a new dynamic for Industry-University-Government relationships in promoting innovation. Through adopting a “triple-helix” approach, THE ISSUE Project was able to demonstrate the opportunity to stimulate the creation of a more favourable environment for innovation and the commercialisation of newly-emerging and existing technologies within its regional clusters.
The “triple-helix” approach defined the structure of THE ISSUE Consortium, the interactions between Project partners and the key themes of the Project. Each regional cluster was based on a “triple-helix” structure and philosophy. In terms of structure, the Consortium comprised of regional clusters, each of which included representatives from three distinct sectors: industry, universities and local/regional government. In terms of philosophy, the Consortium’s research partners were all actively involved in complementary state-of-the-art RTD programmes in three key areas relating to: transport, health and the environment. Each regional cluster demonstrated a willingness and commitment to work together in the sharing of knowledge gained from tackling similar challenges in the fields of transport-health-environment, against a backdrop of diverse local and regional contexts, and a desire to identify ways in which their RTD activities could be more closely aligned with local economic development priorities and the needs of business.
This new dynamic for Industry-University-Government relationships opened up opportunities for THE ISSUE Project to examine different perspectives for the way in which business and academia can work in partnership with local/regional authorities to promote innovation and exploit newly-emerging and existing technologies within the transport and urban mobility sectors.
For example, this “triple-helix” approach enabled THE ISSUE Project to:
a) Develop an information exchange portal, which facilitated a continuous exchange of flow of information and people between European regions and within regions – where key transport and urban mobility stakeholders were able to share ideas, knowledge, needs and solutions and mentoring was supported – in order to develop a common vision for the future traveller experience, and to be able to share this vision with local business, particularly SMEs as well as research institutions, user groups and citizens.
b) Identify key policy needs in the fields of transport-health-environment and map these against relevant newly-emerging and existing research outputs, which could be harnessed to shape the identification of innovative new solutions through the preparation and implementation of a Joint Action Plan.
c) Engage actors with a common interest in innovation and exploiting newly-emerging and existing research outputs, enabling the creation of new partnerships and pre-project teams to support the identification of new markets, development of new supply chains, promote technology transfer and address barriers to market uptake, leading to the development of new industrial innovations and products that match the vision and interest of markets and transport, urban mobility and environmental impact policy-makers.
d) Promote the creation of new collaborative partnerships and consortia for Horizon 2020 and other EU research and innovation funding opportunities.
As a result, THE ISSUE Project was able to facilitate a higher degree of inter-regional and intra-regional cooperation, development and collaboration within and between the regional clusters. This led to the creation of a more favourable environment for innovation and the commercialisation of newly-emerging and existing technologies. For example, by adopting a “triple-helix” approach, THE ISSUE Project was able to demonstrate the capability to:
a) Improve and broaden links and engagement between universities, local government and local and regional business and SMEs within the regional clusters.
b) Establish new working relationships within each region, where none existed previously in transport, traffic management, air quality management and logistics.
c) Explore and initiate new collaborations in the framework of transportation, health and the environment.
d) Develop a deeper understanding of the impact of transport on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.
e) Place transport issues higher in regional policy priorities.
f) Ensure research applications are more closely aligned with the economic development policies priorities and transport planning strategies for the local area and region.
g) Promote collaboration on small joint projects with SMEs and with local authorities, some of which have the potential to mature into bigger activities within triple helix partnerships.
As a result, the “triple-helix” approach enabled business, research institutions and local/regional authorities to build a common understanding of key transport and urban mobility challenges and to stimulate the identification of innovative new solutions and methodologies for traffic control and management for introduction into the realm of local and regional transport policy and environmental impact planning to help improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.
In the case of THE ISSUE Project, the long term benefits for the regional clusters adopting this new dynamic for Industry-University-Government relationships will be:
a) Research institutions becoming more informed by Societal Challenges
b) Policy makers becoming better informed of emerging technology
c) Industry becoming better placed to commercialise new technology
d) Universities becoming more aware of commercial needs
e) Businesses becoming more enabled to support policy delivery
f) Government needs and market opportunities becoming more visible
g) Regions becoming better placed to invest in and conduct research and technological development activities that contribute in a significant way to economic development, business growth and the creation of more and better jobs.
RESULT 4. DEVELOPING NEW PERSPECTIVES ON FUTURE PATTERNS OF URBAN MOBILITY
As part of the process of developing its methodology for THE ISSUE Project, THE ISSUE Consortium recognised the importance of exploring possible scenarios (i.e. Futures) for future changes to patterns of urban mobility. THE ISSUE Consortium acknowledged that a wide range of change factors could shape the future evolution of urban mobility and that these could have a profound impact on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions. This could include changes in peoples’ behaviour, lifestyle choices, economic factors and political developments as well as impacts of technological innovations. The Consortium also recognised that it was important for THE ISSUE Project to understand these change factors, their potential impacts and the challenges these may pose for cities and regions in the future. It also accepted that changes in future patterns of urban mobility could also bring about challenges for research and technological development and that its Programme of Innovation Actions must seek to identify potential solutions. As part of Work Package 3, THE ISSUE Project examined two future scenarios looking at the impact of a range of change factors on patterns of urban mobility over the next 10 years and over the next 20 years:
A. FUTURES I anticipates that over the next 10 years the affordability of mobility will decline as costs rise, both for users, who will pay more for fuel and for pollution and for governments, who will have less to spend infrastructure and services. This will increase limitations on car use, but cost pressures and a continuing emphasis on environmental sustainability may encourage innovation in smart service provision and the adoption of alternative energy systems to counter environmental impacts of traffic-induced air pollution.
Private car usage/ownership will shift towards greater shared vehicle use, with market responses leading to the growth of alternative means of service provision offering better, greener services and smarter integration, either provided through public transport services or entrepreneurial initiatives. New parking nodes for modal transfer will develop.
Solutions will need to offer lower cost and more efficient utilization of existing infrastructures, involving incremental upgrades to transport management systems with near-market smart technologies as alternatives to building new infrastructures. System development and validation testing through pilot and demonstration projects will be necessary to establish operational capability, economic viability and market readiness.
B. FUTURES II assumes that over the next 20 years, ICT developments, autonomous vehicles and ultra-low energy vehicles, coupled with higher levels of environmental protection, could fundamentally change the way that the road infrastructure is used, allocated and paid for; encouraging both managed network access and facilitating the introduction of autonomous vehicle systems, which together with lower cost of energy will satisfy continuing preference for individual mobility within a sustainable and low carbon environment.
Suburbanization of work and jobs could lead to a dispersal of journey-to-work flows, mitigating peak congestion problems; though the effects of urban sprawl and limitations to the extension of public transport networks could lead to some areas of cities being excluded from transport access.
There will be a recognition that augmented reality might begin to change peoples’ perceptions of real places and the freedom to choose where and when to meet, which will encourage new mobility preferences. Social networks will be merely the precursor to this new behavioural space. Far from inhibiting the desire for mobility, they will encourage new travel preferences and a willingness to use autonomous systems to cater for growth of individual mobility on demand at lower cost, increasing still further the diversity of travel demand within and beyond the immediate urban area.
Radical technology solutions and innovation built on a vibrant science base together with studies of social and economic impacts of change in urban mobility patterns will both drive and respond to the changing environment of transport and mobility well into the 20-year timeframe. This will require foundation research and new technical solutions to be demonstrated. The management of change will also require socio-economic studies to test public acceptance of technological change and to assess the impact of changing behaviour patterns and lifestyle choices. Economic and policy judgements will also be needed to inform investment decisions and assess risks and establish the potential for economic growth.
THE ISSUE Consortium concluded that it may be possible to reconcile these two seemingly divergent futures over the longer term. However, it also recognised that this transition poses a number of critical challenges which THE ISSUE’s Programme of Innovation Actions must seek to address.
RESULT 5. CREATING AN EXTENSIVE EUROPEAN NETWORK OF COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS
As outlined earlier, a number of the key objectives for THE ISSUE Project, were to:
a) Foster transnational co-operation and collaboration between innovative research-driven clusters in the areas of traffic, health and the environment.
b) Promote synergies between research and economic development policies by aligning research strategies to the economic development priorities for regions.
c) Stimulate the exchange of knowledge, best practice and mutual learning.
d) Improve links between local government, research institutes and the local business community.
THE ISSUE built an extensive network of partners from industry/research/government in 12 European regions willing to work together in the sharing of knowledge gained from tackling similar challenges in the fields of transport-health-environment, against a backdrop of diverse local and regional contexts, which has facilitated a higher degree of inter-regional and intra-regional cooperation, development and collaboration, resulting in:
a) Improved and broadened links and engagement between universities, local government and local and regional business and SMEs
b) New working relationships within each region, where none existed previously in transport, traffic management, air quality management and logistics
c) Exploration and initiation of new collaborations in the framework of transportation, health and the environment.
d) A deeper understanding of the impact of transport on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe
e) Putting transport issue higher in regional policy priorities
f) Ensuring research applications are more closely aligned with the economic development policies priorities and transport planning strategies for the local area and region.
g) Promoting collaboration on small joint projects with SMEs and with local authorities, some of which have the potential to mature into bigger activities within triple helix partnerships
To realise this objective, a key priority for THE ISSUE Project was to strengthen and develop a network of regional triple-helix research-driven clusters focussed on transport, health and the environment. A number of key tasks in Work Packages 4 and 5 served to strengthen and expand this network of clusters, both in the core regions and associate regions. Each cluster brought together representatives from industry (particularly SMEs), research institutions and public authorities with an interest in traffic, health and the environment. Through this “triple-helix” approach, each cluster is:
a) Providing a forum for key transport and urban mobility stakeholders in the region to share ideas and develop a common vision for the future traveller experience, and to share this vision with business, particularly SMEs as well as research institutions, user groups and citizens.
b) Engaging key actors within the region with an interest in exploiting emerging RTDs, leading to new industrial innovations and products that match the vision and interest of markets and transport, urban mobility and environmental impact policy-makers.
c) Coordinating RTD activities regarding Horizon 2020, Urban Europe and other European innovation programmes as well as relevant national and regional innovation programmes.
d) Stimulating local innovation and growth in SMEs.
e) Improving the capacity of industry and research institutions in the region to invest in and develop their emerging RTD capabilities in ways that are more closely aligned with the key transport and urban mobility challenges facing the region and contribute more significantly to economic development, business growth and the creation of more and better jobs.
Of particular significance in relation to this objective was the work to develop stronger regional cooperation and cluster development in the Mazovia and East Midlands regions. For example, on 10th September 2014 the “Mazovia Regional Initiatives Forum – transport, health, environment” (FIRM) was launched by the Office of the Marshall of Mazowieckie Voivodeship. The aim of this new Regional Special Interest Group (RSIG) is to support cooperation between regional stakeholders actively participating in the area of transport, health and environment. Also, the recent funding successes to develop Regional Centres of Excellence in the East and West Midlands in the UK in fields relating to transport and intelligent mobility and the application of space technologies, by key partners in THE ISSUE Project in partnership with the Transport Systems Catapult and the Satellite Applications Catapult will provide a framework within which to develop a new regional cluster for the Midlands.
RESULT 6. EXPANDING THE RESEARCH CLUSTER CONCEPT INTO NEW EUROPEAN REGIONS
THE ISSUE utilised the expertise and capabilities within the Consortium to support the development of new and emerging European regional triple-helix clusters focussed on traffic-health-environment. As a result of the actions of THE ISSUE Project, eight additional European regions were accepted into the Project as associate regions. Each associate region shares an interest in the regional research cluster concept and in identifying innovative ITS traffic management solutions to address challenges in the combined fields of traffic-health-environment. Each associate region contributed a significant effort to the realisation of some of the key deliverables achieved by THE ISSUE Project. A significant mentoring programme was conducted by THE ISSUE Project, which has contributed to the development and maturity of a number of new research clusters that will ultimately enable these regions to gain wider European and global recognition and encourage their inclusion in the European Research Area.
A key overarching objective for the Project was to expand THE ISSUE Consortium to invite new, existing or emerging research clusters from other European regions that share common priorities and areas of interest with THE ISSUE Project to participate in the Project. This activity formed the key focus of Work Package 4 (WP4). During the first reporting period significant progress was made. Following a process to identify potential regional candidates, eight new associate regions were invited to participate in the Project in June 2012:
• Andalusia, Spain
• Attica, Greece
• Basque Country, Spain
• Calabria, Italy
• North-West Region of Romania, Romania
• Northern Ireland, United-Kingdom
• Primorje-Gorski, Croatia
• Uusimaa, Finland
The eight associate regions represented a wide range of regional organizations; from mature clusters to university actors/researchers who were willing to join/establish a regional research-driven cluster in THE ISSUE related fields. A Collaboration Action Plan was drawn up for each associate region and implemented during Years 2 and 3. These plans were informed by the mapping and audit exercises carried out in Stage One and the development of the JAP in Stage Two. These action plans were presented in the deliverable D4.3 SWOT and Mentoring Action Plan for Each Mentored Region.
The key outcomes for this task were:
• Actors from within the Associate Regions collaborated in pre project study teams formed as part of WP5 and had opportunities to transfer their knowledge and expertise to the rest of the Consortium by knowledge exchange actions.
• Actors from within the Associate Regions who participated in the pre project teams also benefitted from a transfer the knowledge and expertise from the other Consortium actors involved by knowledge exchange actions.
• Emerging regional clusters benefitted from mentoring and knowledge exchange activities, where best practise and know-how of existing triple helix cluster in THE ISSUE Consortium could transfer their expertise and experience to the mentored regions.
RESULT 7. ESTABLISHING A NEW LEGAL ENTITY, THE ISSUE META-CLUSTER
Another key achievement for THE ISSUE Project was the establishment of a European Special Interest Group in Transport, Health and Environment, called THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster. THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster is an independent legal association that will ensure the long-term economic sustainability of THE ISSUE Consortium. This will ensure the continuity and sustainability of the extensive European network of regional clusters focussed on transport-health-environment that was created by THE ISSUE Project.
THE ISSUE established a new European Special Interest Group in transport-health-environment, comprising of The Meta-Cluster will provide a legacy for THE ISSUE Project and coordinate the delivery of THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility through preparing and implementing collaborative trans-national funding proposals to the EU’s Horizon 2020 and other funding programmes.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster comprises of a network of European regional triple-helix clusters. In the first instance, 11 European regional clusters from within THE ISSUE Consortium indicated their desire to become members of the Meta-Cluster. This represents over 380 industry actors, including 300 SMEs, as well as 110 research centres and 135 local authorities. Each regional cluster will be linked to a Regional Special Interest Group (RSIG) or formal cluster, which will be a legally constituted body, where possible. Each RSIG will represent the appropriate regional cluster on the Meta-Cluster Board. This approach follows best practice of other successful networks such as NEREUS and ERRIN.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster’s goals are:
a) To exploit the application of Downstream Space Data Products & Services and Information & Communication Technologies in the fields of traffic, health and the environment.
b) To work in close association with NEREUS (Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies) & other European networks in traffic-health-environment fields.
c) To formalise the triple-helix approach in all the regions participating in the Meta-Cluster.
d) To boost the participation of regional stakeholders, in particular SMEs, in EU R&D projects.
e) To facilitate the development of supply chains, business growth and job creation across Europe.
f) To implement activities for business collaboration and SME internationalisation through the network.
g) To provide a forum for knowledge transfer between THE ISSUE members, coordination of RTD activities regarding Horizon 2020, the sharing and dissemination of information on key issues at European and World level.
h) To promote regional triple-helix cluster initiatives, lobbying in favour of regional RTD competencies and projects towards the EU institutions, as well as stimulating new policy developments.
i) To promote collaboration and cooperation in research and education activities and local and regional transport and urban mobility planning.
j) To expand the “triple-helix” cluster network to new European regions.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will be engaged in a number of key activity areas in its first two years:
1. Coordinating the delivery the priority innovation actions identified within THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014-2020), by adopting a coordinated approach to preparing and submitting funding proposals through Thematic Working Groups and Pre-Project Teams.
2. Undertaking a prioritisation exercise every year within and between the regions to ensure the priority project areas are kept current and up-to-date and take account of any changing objectives within local, national and European policies.
3. Boosting the participation of regional stakeholders, in particular SMEs, in EU-funded RTD projects, through:
a) Maintaining an up-to-date database of EU funding-call information.
b) Providing regular information updates on key EU funding programmes.
c) Developing a partner search facility/capability ‘for matchmaking’.
d) Exploiting Social Media and “Grey Networking” opportunities.
4. Acting as a lobbying body to the EC on transport/health/environment issues.
5. Restructuring and re-shaping THE ISSUE Project database of RTD capabilities and expertise of the Cluster Partners.
6. Implementing activities for business collaboration and SME internationalisation through the network.
7. Continuing to support mentoring and knowledge exchange activities to promote knowledge transfer within and beyond the Meta-Cluster.
8. Working towards expanding the “triple-helix” cluster network to new European regions in the future.
9. Undertaking lobbying activities in favour of regional RTD capabilities and projects towards the EU institutions, as well as boosting new policy developments.
10. Developing a Collaboration Strategy for working in cooperation and in association with other current networks with similar remits and focus.
11. Improving communication actions at the European level, including through Regional Authorities’ offices in Brussels.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster has already established a close association with NEREUS, the Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies. THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will lead a new Transport Working Group on behalf of NEREUS, which will aim to promote the Downstream application of Space Technologies within the transport sector across Europe. In return, NEREUS will provide Secretarial support for the Meta-Cluster, as well as host the Meta-Cluster (legal address), provide meeting space in Brussels for Meta-Cluster activities and participate in common events with the Meta-Cluster.
RESULT 8. DELIVERING A MAJOR PROGRAMME OF MENTORING AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE ACTIVITIES
THE ISSUE promoted an exchange of knowledge, best practice and mutual learning between the regional clusters, in order to create additional capacity within the Consortium to deliver THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014-2020). Delivered through a programme of international conferences, webinars and workshops, including hosting the highly successful “THE ISSUE 2014: Sustainable Transport Technologies - Collaboration for Innovation Conference” in Loughborough, United Kingdom, from 11 to 13 February 2014, where over 600 delegates, 40 exhibitors and trade delegations from across Europe explored ways of bridging the gap between local and regional policy priorities and technological innovation with regard to sustainable transport and urban mobility.
A Mentoring and Knowledge Exchange Programme (MKEP) was developed and delivered as part of the activities undertaken in Work Package 5. The aim of the MKEP Programme was to promote an exchange of knowledge, best practice and mutual learning between regional clusters, in order to create additional capacity within the Consortium to deliver THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014-2020). This involved the delivery of 7 international on-site knowledge exchange and mentoring activities, as well as a programme of 14 webinars, topic-based workshops and case studies, posted on THE ISSUE website and the publication of 10 quarterly Project Newsletters.
8.1 THE ISSUE ON-SITE KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AND MENTORING ACTIVITIES
A total of 12 MKEP on-site knowledge exchange and mentoring activities were proposed and agreed by partners within THE ISSUE. In the end, a total of seven activities were actually delivered. These were:
• MKEP1: Analysis of European Maritime Port System regarding the development of Motorways of the Sea (Participants: Molise and Primorje-Gorskie, in Rijeka, Croatia - November 2014)
• MKEP2: Traffic and Mobility Management in Town Centres (Participants: Molise and Midi-Pyrénées/Aquitaine, in Toulouse – July 2014)
• MKEP4: Air Pollution Data Portal: The integration of GIS, Open Source and Sustainability of the Environment (Participants: Mazovia, Molise and East Midlands, in Nottingham, UK – August 2014)
• MKEP5: Mentoring for Excellence in Cluster Management in North West Romania (Participants: North-West Region – Midi-Pyrénées/Aquitaine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania – November 2014)
• MKEP10: Smart Ticketing: E-ticketing best Practices (Participants: North-West Region of Romania, East Midlands and Midi-Pyrénées/Aquitaine, in Toulouse, France – September 2014)
• MKEP11: Open GIS Capacity Building for Local Authorities (Participants: Mazovia, Molise and East Midlands, in Nottingham, UK – August 2014)
• MKEP12: Best Practice Exchanges and Mentoring Actions with Greece’s Emerging Clusters: CHORUS, Si-Cluster (Participants: Midi-Pyrénées/Aquitaine, East Midlands and Attica, in Athens/Thessalonica – April 2014)
8.2 THE ISSUE WEBINAR AND WORKSHOP PROGRAMME
As part of the Mentoring and Knowledge Exchange Programme, THE ISSUE also delivered a series of "Master Classes" to facilitate knowledge exchange and the sharing of best practice between core and associate regions. Master Classes began in the Month 19 of the Project and were delivered via a series of Webinars and Workshops available to core and associate partners and for all others project subscribers.
THE ISSUE Master Class Programme was developed by DMU and the University of Molise as part of the tasks undertaken in Work Package 5. A range of Master Class materials was prepared by relevant partners within THE ISSUE. This included information and materials gathered through WP2 on the expertise of the consortium partners as part of the research and technology capabilities published in THE ISSUE RTD Audit. The Programme also drew on the joint THE ISSUE/NEREUS publication “Space and ICT Applications supporting Smart, Green, Integrated Transport and Urban Mobility”.
In the period to October 2014, twelve webinars and two workshops were delivered, to a live audience of over 260 interested participants from across Europe. Many more have further engaged with the programme, accessing the recorded material after the broadcasted events. The details of the Master Class programme are summarised in Table 7. All information, presentations and recordings are available on THE ISSUE website in the webinar’s section: (http://www.theissue.eu/en/webinars)
• Workshop 1 (Warsaw Conference), 3rd July 2013, by UNOTT on Location-Based Intelligence and Open Data: Facilitating Smart City Citizen-Centered Intelligent Transport Systems
• Webinar 1, 1st October 2013 by LCC and DMU on Introduction to THE ISSUE
• Webinar 2, 5th November 2013 by University of Rome, Italy on Transport planning methodologies for the assessment of ITS measures
• Webinar 3, 3rd December 2013 by Aerospace Valley, France on European ambitions for triple helix clusters
• Webinar 4 (internal webinar), 17th December 2013 by De Montfort University, UK on Transport in Horizon 2020
• Webinar 5, 7th January 2014 by the Public Transport Authority of Warsaw, Poland on the Development of cycle traffic in Warsaw – public bike system, infrastructural and organizational measures
• Webinar 6 (internal webinar), 29th January 2014 by Aerospace Valley on an overview and opportunities from H2020 projects bids emerging from THE ISSUE
• Webinar 7 (Workshop 2 in Loughborough), 12th February 2014 by University of Leicester and University of Rome on Urban Air Quality; Regulation, Monitoring and Management
• Webinar 8, 25th March 2014 by Intergraph Poland (SME) on Urban and Regional Road Networks
• Webinar 9, 8th April 2014 by Heller Consult (SME) Poland on the Use of data on the road infrastructure for evaluation of traffic safety in the cities
• Webinar 10, 13th May 2014 by University of Molise on The sustainability of urban mobility as a result of territorial integrated models
• Webinar 11, 3rd June 2014 by Centre for Research and Technology Hellas on Promoting passenger intermodality together with environmental objectives – The case of Athens- International Airport
• Webinar 12, 10th July 2014 by UNOTT on Open Geospatial Science and Applications- Challenges and Opportunities
• Webinar 13, 7th October 2014 by the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania on Applications of ITS technology in road traffic monitoring and urban mobility, in the case of Cluj Napoca, Romania
• Webinar 14, 6th November 2014 by Aerospace Valley, France on H2020 and the SME instrument
RESULT 9. PRODUCING A MAJOR NEW PUBLICATION: “SPACE AND ICT APPLICATIONS SUPPORTING SMART, GREEN, INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AND URBAN MOBILITY” (THE ISSUE PROJECT/NEREUS)
The publication of the Joint Action Plan also resulted in THE ISSUE Project delivering another key output in the form of an additional publication, called “Space and ICT Applications Supporting Smart, Green, Integrated Transport and Urban Mobility”.
This document, produced in collaboration with NEREUS (Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies), presents a collection of 40 short case studies of research and technological development that has been carried out within THE ISSUE Consortium. It illustrates the emerging role of new technologies, particularly from the fields of ICT and Downstream Space data Products and Services, in providing viable and sustainable solutions to many high priority problems that urban and regional transport authorities currently face.
The publication was launched at the joint THE ISSUE/NEREUS event as part of the EU Open Days in October 2013. But it was primarily prepared to form part of the conference materials for the major international conference organised by THE ISSUE in Loughborough in the United Kingdom in February 2014, which saw over 600 delegates attend this three day event. Further information on the publication can be found at www.theissue.eu).
Potential Impact:
INTRODUCTION
This section sets out the potential impact of THE ISSUE Project, including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the Project so far. It also describes the main dissemination activities undertaken and the exploitation of results.
POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE ISSUE PROJECT SO FAR
In the original Project Proposal, THE ISSUE Consortium identified seven key impacts for THE ISSUE Project, some of which would be realised within the life of the Project and others that will not manifest themselves until some years after the end of the Project. Outlined below is consideration of the impacts of THE ISSUE Project so far, in terms of:
1. Establishing a trans-national, inter-regional network
2. Achieving closer integration with local industry and regional policy makers and planners.
3. Achieving the extension of research driven clusters into regions with less-well developed research structures.
4. Consolidated and strengthened regional clusters
5. Coordinated and integrated regional RTD Programmes
6. Environmental benefits and economic growth
7. New European Regional Clusters
1. Establishing a Trans-National, Inter-Regional Network
A key impact for THE ISSUE Project was to establish a trans-national, inter-regional network that will focus existing and emerging RTD activity, and related industrial developments, to help develop and deliver regional transport policy objectives.
So far, THE ISSUE Project has established THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster as a legal association. This will comprise of regional clusters from THE ISSUE Consortium and provide a lasting legacy for THE ISSUE Project. Some of the key goal for THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster include:
a) Formalising the triple-helix approach in all the regions participating in the Meta-Cluster.
b) Exploiting the application of Downstream Space Data Products & Services and Information & Communication Technologies in the fields of traffic, health and the environment.
c) Boosting the participation of regional stakeholders, in particular SMEs, in EU R&D projects.
d) Facilitating the development of supply chains, business growth and job creation across Europe.
e) Implementing activities for business collaboration and SME internationalisation through the network.
f) Providing a forum for knowledge transfer between THE ISSUE members, coordination of RTD activities regarding Horizon 2020, the sharing and dissemination of information on key issues at European and World level.
g) Promoting regional triple-helix cluster initiatives, lobbying in favour of regional RTD competencies and projects towards the EU institutions, as well as stimulating new policy developments.
h) Promoting collaboration and cooperation in research and education activities and local and regional transport and urban mobility planning.
2. Achieving Closer Integration with Local Industry and Regional Policy Makers and Planners
A key impact for THE ISSUE Project was to enable existing and emerging RTD clusters to develop structures that will achieve closer integration with local industry and regional policy makers and planners.
So far, a number of core and associate regional clusters within THE ISSUE Consortium have an established formal legal structure (Aerospace Valley in France, MLC Cluster in the Basque Country, Spain and the Intermodal Transport Cluster in Croatia). For those that entered the Project without such legal structures, the Mazovia and Molise regions have now established formal cluster structures. A number of other regions, including the East Midlands, Northern Ireland have made significant progress during the Project to develop a more formal “triple-helix” structures focusing on transport-health-environment. Other associate regions, such as the Attica Region in Greece, the North West Regional Development Area in Romania and the Calabria Region in Italy have made a commitment to developing formal cluster structures in the near future.
A key goal for THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster is to formalise the triple-helix approach in all the regions participating in the Meta-Cluster.
3. Achieving the Extension of Research Driven Clusters into Regions with Less-Well Developed Research Structures
A key impact for THE ISSUE Project was to achieve the extension of research driven clusters into regions with less-well developed research structures.
So far, through THE ISSUE Project’s Work Package 4 – “Mentoring Regions, Mutual Learning”, the Project has been able to expand THE ISSUE consortium with new, existing or emerging research clusters from other European regions that shared common priority areas and areas of interest with THE ISSUE Project. A total of eight European regions have become associate regions within THE ISSUE Project, namely:
1. Calabria Region, Italy
2. MLC Cluster, Basque Country, Spain
3. Andalucía Region, Spain
4. Attica Region, Greece,
5. North West Development Region, Romania
6. Primorje-Gorskie Region, Croatia
7. Uusimaa Region, Finland
8. Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with each associate region and a collaboration action plan was also prepared for each associate region and was implemented during Years 2 and 3 of the Project. The outcome of implementing these plans were:
• Helping the emerging regional clusters achieve better integration between research actors, industries and local/regional authorities.
• Enabling all the associate regions to participate in the Project through attending conferences and participating in project teams developing pre-project feasibility studies.
• Encouraging all the associate regions to participate in THE ISSUE Mentoring and Knowledge Exchange and Master Class Programmes.
• Supporting an expanding network in each associate region and develop new clusters of RTD/Industry and Policy Makers.
A key goal for THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster is to work towards expanding the “triple-helix” cluster network to new European regions in the future.
4. Consolidated and Strengthened Regional Clusters
THE ISSUE Project has provided the foundations for the consolidation and strengthening of regional ‘triple-helix’ clusters across Europe. Each regional cluster in THE ISSUE has a triple-helix structure comprising of representatives from industry, academic research, and local/regional authorities. While the full impact of THE ISSUE Project in this area will not be realised for a few years yet, the foundations has been set down.
For example, the “triple-helix” approach has enabled each region to begin to establish closer strategic links and foster stronger cooperation and collaboration between industry (particularly SMEs), universities and local authorities within each region and between regions. For example, the “triple-helix” approach has already delivered the following impacts within each region in THE ISSUE Consortium:
• Industry is becoming better placed to commercialise new and emerging research and technology.
• Universities are becoming more aware of market forces and user-needs
• RTD strategies are becoming more responsive to local and regional strategic and economic objectives
• Business is more enabled to support policy delivery
• Local and national government needs and market opportunities are becoming more visible to business and research institutions.
• Public authorities are becoming better informed of the economic, social and environmental potential of current RTD actions in their regions.
• Barriers preventing market uptake of emerging technologies at high levels of technical readiness are being addressed through pilot studies, demonstration programmes and pre-operational roll-out.
• New industrial innovations and products are being developed that match the vision and interest of markets as well as transport, urban mobility and environmental impact policy-makers.
THE ISSUE Project also identified best practice in the development of Local Transport Plans (LTP) in mature Regions using a strong evidence base drawn from transport users (industry and the travelling public), clear understanding of the scope of the RTD base and identified transport operational priorities in sub-regional and regional government.
Transport is a high priority in most regional development strategies. Sub-regional and urban transport policy-making bodies cooperate in public transport planning for rail, train and emergency services and work together to develop local or regional transport plans. THE ISSUE Project helped formalise links between regional cluster partners and local and regional authority administrations, which will lead to better integrated policy objectives that take account of innovation and RTD outputs. To strengthen the expertise in the development and operation of regional transport policy each consortium regional partner added a transport expert to their regional working group teams at the start of the Project to advise on how transport user requirements may impact on RTD policies and programmes. These experts have participated in THE ISSUE conferences and other mentoring or exchange programmes.
Within core and associate regions, THE ISSUE Project has already contributed towards some specific major impacts:
• In the Midi-Pyrenees-Aquitaine Regions in France, Aerospace Valley is a World Competitiveness Cluster that has achieved “Gold” status by the European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI).
• In the Mazovia Region in Poland, the Mazovia Marshals Office has established a formal triple-helix cluster: “Regional Special Interest Group” to coordinate actions in the fields of traffic-health-environment.
• In the East Midlands Region in the UK, three new Regional Centres of Excellence (outreach partnerships) were established with the Transport Systems Catapult and the Satellite Applications Catapult. All three Catapult partnerships involve partners that were active in THE ISSUE Project and will provide the framework to establish a formal Regional Special Interest Group in traffic-health-environment to promote cooperation and collaboration between the three Catapult partnerships.
• In the Molise Region, the Molise Regional Development Agency (SI Molise), has established a Regional Special Interest Group in traffic-health-environment.
• In the associate regions, there are formal cluster structures in:
a) The Basque Country (the MLC Euskadi Cluster)
b) The Primorje-Gorskie Region in Croatia (the Intermodal transport Cluster)
• In the associate regions, the following regions have made a commitment to establish Regional Special Interest Group in traffic-health-environment, in:
a) Attica Region, Greece
b) Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
c) Calabria Region, Italy
d) North West Development Region, Romania
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will continue to work to build on these impacts after the end of the Project and to consolidate and strengthen the regional clusters in the future. This will ensure the sustainability of THE ISSUE Consortium after the end of the Project. This is being achieved in two ways:
• By continuing to support the development of a network of regional “triple-helix” clusters, including all 12 core and associate regional clusters in THE ISSUE Consortium; and
• By coordinating the actions of the regional clusters and drive forward the transport-health-environment agenda on a European stage.
5. Coordinated and Integrated RTD Programmes
THE ISSUE Project has laid the foundations for the development of a coordinated and integrated RTD programme across THE ISSUE Consortium. It has brought together regional research-driven clusters in four core regions and 8 associate regions across Europe that are all involved in transport related RTD actions. All 12 regions were committed to achieving high levels of coordination between their regional programmes and were actively integrating their RTD outputs through knowledge exchange, joint programmes and increased inter-regional collaboration.
The publication of THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility: The Application of ICT & Space Technologies to Improve the Economic, Environmental and Social Health of Cities and Regions (2014-2020) represents a major legacy programme for THE ISSUE Project and provide the foundation for a coordinated and integrated RTD programme across THE ISSUE Consortium. The Programme will be taken forward by THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster in the period to 2020 and beyond.
The effective integration of RTD and policy across the research clusters is already providing significant value added for the activities of each of the regions. Each core region is focusing their collective RTD strategies and prioritise their future actions towards lead markets and areas of potential economic growth through the implementation of THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014-2020).
The effective integration of RTD and policy across these research clusters will provide significant value added for the activities of each of the regions. Furthermore, through the development of the Associate Region clusters and exemplars provided by the Project, cooperation and dissemination of best practice will be extended across a wider grouping of European clusters.
The Project also introduced mechanisms to increase synergy between RTD outputs and local and regional authority needs through a programme of mentoring and knowledge exchanges activities between the triple-helix sectors. The programme included:
• Mentoring and knowledge exchange between technical scientific experts in the core and associate region partners.
• Advice from experts to management boards of existing and emerging regional research clusters.
The exchange of knowledge, informed scientific advice and guidance between specialists and local and regional authority departments was highly beneficial. In view of the inherently high science/technology content in many transport issues. At the same time, RTD leaders have benefitted from greater understanding of the needs of local and regional users of their technological advances. The knowledge exchange programmes implemented by THE ISSUE Project are specific examples where current policy and planning actions in local and regional authorities were augmented through increased science/technology awareness.
6. Environmental Benefits and Socio-Economic Growth
The environmental and socio-economic benefits of the Project will be realised in the longer term. The implementation of THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014-2020) will play a key part in helping to stimulate supply chain development, business growth and the creation of more and better jobs. It will also deliver a range of environmental benefits in the local and regional economies of its cluster partners.
The development and integration of research-driven clusters across Europe through THE ISSUE has strengthened the engagement of local industry in the planning and development process and with research institutions, ensuring more relevance to local economic need and promoting sustainable economic development. THE ISSUE helped to create a framework that will support the long-term commercial exploitation of ITS systems into markets across Europe. Innovative transport technologies being developed by THE ISSUE Consortium’s research clusters, such as urban air quality initiatives will help develop Europe’s future low carbon economy.
The development and integration of research-driven clusters across Europe through THE ISSUE Project will help to promote regional economic development and competitiveness (increased cost efficiency, increase in jobs, in foreign direct investment, in patents, additional GDP or growth in Value added) in transport economics, also facilitating the emergence of lead markets. The engagement of local industry in the planning and development process through THE ISSUE Project, using existing infrastructures in the EU-15 states and developing infrastructures in accession states, will ensure more relevance to local economic need, thus helping to develop regional economies. The benefits arising as a result of THE ISSUE Project will include new collaborations of academic researchers with local and international companies searching for specific expertise in innovative traffic management solutions, and the establishment of companies linked to ITS solutions that are looking for close collaborations with researchers in this field.
The successful deployment of ITS systems within the EU will also assist with its commercial exploitation outside of the EU. Emerging nations such as India, China and the Far East all offer strong markets for the export of ITS systems where they have a growing need to manage their own congestion and air qualities issues. Despite the shift in focus of new developments to the Far East, India and China, it is essential that Europe has capacity to deliver low energy transport solutions into these emerging markets. THE ISSUE Project created a framework that will support delivery into these emerging markets.
Environmental benefits can arise from reduced congestion and the promotion of intermodal travel, while improved health outcomes can be achieved by improvements in air-quality. Emerging green transport initiatives and innovative transport technologies being developed by the Consortium’s research clusters, such as alternative fuel systems (hydrogen vehicles, low carbon technologies etc.) and urban air quality initiatives will help develop Europe’s future low carbon economy. Such initiatives being developed through the core and associate region clusters are becoming more user-focused through the early engagement of local industry, and will be fed into Local Government Transport Plans through the triple-helix networks.
7. New European Regional Clusters
THE ISSUE Project has been able to utilize the expertise and capabilities within its Core Regions to inform and mentor eight new associate research clusters within the European Union interested in ITS traffic management solutions or specific projects identified by the Project’s Joint Action Plan. This also ensured that the impact of the Project will be delivered across a wider group of European clusters and enable a European network of clusters to be established that can achieve sustainable development in this area.
A total of eight associate regions were introduced into THE ISSUE Project. As a result of RTD and industry organisations from developing regions participating in mentoring with more mature regions, this enabled some of the associate regions to develop into clusters of RTD/Industry and policy makers in their own regions. As these clusters develop and mature, this will enable them to gain wider European and global recognition thus encouraging the inclusion of these developing regions in the European Research Area. The associate regions have participated in many Project conferences and were involved in knowledge exchange workshops and pre-project feasibility studies that have emerged out of the Joint Action Plan.
MAIN DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
THE ISSUE Project established fast and reliable communication, dissemination and knowledge exchange mechanisms that will enable THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster to continue to disseminate and communicate the results of the Project in the future to project partners, the wider community of stakeholders, local and regional authority planners, European Commission officials, the industry base and the general public across all the regional research clusters and beyond.
THE ISSUE Project undertook a large number of different dissemination activities. Again, many of these will be continued by THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster. This includes dissemination activities relating to:
• Development of a Project website, used both to publish project information and act as a means of communication and knowledge exchange between partners and other stakeholders.
• Publication of a quarterly newsletter.
• Presentation of developments through press releases, reports, and presentation of papers at conferences.
• Project Conferences.
• Implementation of a mentoring and knowledge exchange programme.
8.1 Project Website
THE ISSUE Project website (www.theissue.eu) was used both to publish project information and to act as a means of communication and knowledge exchange between partners and other stakeholders. The Project website was able to deliver electronic services for storing and exchanging information, documents, newsletters, etc. The public section of the website holds all information that can be released into the public domain during the Project including general project information, published reports and action plans. Access to the private section of the website is limited via password security to designated participants only.
8.2 Project Newsletter
THE ISSUE Project newsletter was produced quarterly and prepared under the editorial leadership of Work Package 7. A total of 10 newsletters were produced during the lifetime of the Project and all were posted on the Project website and distributed electronically to all registered website users and stakeholders. The Project newsletter was distributed to 777 subscribers, who signed up for the newsletter via the project website. In the reporting period the Project gained 186 new recipients. In order to raise the success of dissemination through the newsletter, links to it were put on a various forums and trade websites.
8.3 Presentation of Developments
THE ISSUE prepared a large number of documents relating to the latest news about the Project, the results achieved, the work conducted, the main Project events and other relevant issues. These were all posted on to the Project website. This included press releases, reports, papers at conferences, reviews of meetings and knowledge exchange programmes.
8.4 Project Conferences
A formal programme of open conference events were organised throughout the Project to facilitate the dissemination and communication of information relating to the Project. Announcements, registration, results and reports for these events were placed in the public section of the Project website, which achieved maximum dissemination to existing and new research clusters, regional authorities, stakeholders and end-users. These events included:
• THE ISSUE Kick-Off Conference, Leicester, UK - January 2012
• THE ISSUE Conference, Toulouse, France - July 2012
• THE ISSUE Conference, Isernia, Molise, Italy - January 2013
• THE ISSUE Mazovia Conference, Warsaw, Poland - July 2013
• THE ISSUE Conference, Loughborough, UK - February 2014
• THE ISSUE Final Conference, Brussels, Belgium - November 2014
8.5 Mentoring and Knowledge Exchange Programme
As part of the Mentoring and Knowledge Exchange Programme, THE ISSUE also launched a series of "Master Classes" to facilitate knowledge exchange and the sharing of best practice between core and associate regions. Master Classes began in the Month 19 of the project. These have all been identified earlier in this report. The Master Classes were delivered via a series of webinars and workshops available to core and associate partners and for all others project subscribers. In the period to October 2014, twelve webinars, including two workshops were delivered, to a live audience of over 260 interested participants from across Europe. Many more have further engaged with the programme, accessing the recorded material after the broadcasted events. The details of the full Master Class programme are given below. All information, presentations and recordings are available on THE ISSUE website in the webinar’s section: (http://www.theissue.eu/en/webinars)
EXPLOITATION OF RESULTS (FOREGROUND)
The principle output (foreground) produced by THE ISSUE Project was its Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014 to 2020). THE ISSUE Project has established a new European Special Interest Group in transport, health and the environment, called THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster. The primary purpose of THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster is to coordinate the implementation and dissemination of this foreground.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster is a new legal association established by THE ISSUE Project that will comprise of a network of regional triple-helix clusters from across Europe working together to exploit the application of Downstream Space Data Products and Services and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the fields of transport, health and the environment. In the first instance, 11 European regional clusters from within THE ISSUE Consortium have indicated their desire to become members of the Meta-Cluster. This represents over 380 industry actors, including 300 SMEs, as well as 110 research centres and 135 local authorities. Each regional cluster will be linked to a Regional Special Interest Group (RSIG) or formal cluster, which will be a legally constituted body, where possible. Each RSIG will represent the appropriate regional cluster on the Meta-Cluster Board. This approach follows best practice of other successful networks such as NEREUS and ERRIN.
The aim of THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster is to implement THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014 to 2020). This will deliver innovations in intelligent traffic management and urban mobility to address six key challenge areas relating to the impact of transport on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster’s goals are:
a) To exploit the application of Downstream Space Data Products & Services and Information & Communication Technologies in the fields of traffic, health and the environment.
b) To work in close association with NEREUS (Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies) & other European networks in traffic-health-environment fields.
c) To formalise the triple-helix approach in all the regions participating in the Meta-Cluster.
d) To boost the participation of regional stakeholders, in particular SMEs, in EU R&D projects.
e) To facilitate the development of supply chains, business growth and job creation across Europe.
f) To implement activities for business collaboration and SME internationalisation through the network.
g) To provide a forum for knowledge transfer between THE ISSUE members, coordination of RTD activities regarding Horizon 2020, the sharing and dissemination of information on key issues at European and World level.
h) To promote regional triple-helix cluster initiatives, lobbying in favour of regional RTD competencies and projects towards the EU institutions, as well as stimulating new policy developments.
i) To promote collaboration and cooperation in research and education activities and local and regional transport and urban mobility planning.
j) To expand the “triple-helix” cluster network to new European regions.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will be engaged in a number of key activity areas in its first two years in order to use and disseminate the exploitable foreground from THE ISSUE Project. This includes:
1. Coordinating the delivery the priority innovation actions identified within THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014-2020), by adopting a coordinated approach to preparing and submitting funding proposals through Thematic Working Groups and Pre-Project Teams.
2. Undertaking a prioritisation exercise every year within and between the regions to ensure the priority project areas are kept current and up-to-date and take account of any changing objectives within local, national and European policies.
3. Boosting the participation of regional stakeholders, in particular SMEs, in EU-funded RTD projects, through:
a) Maintaining an up-to-date database of EU funding-call information.
b) Providing regular information updates on key EU funding programmes.
c) Developing a partner search facility/capability ‘for matchmaking’.
d) Exploiting Social Media and “Grey Networking” opportunities.
4. Acting as a lobbying body to the EC on transport/health/environment issues
5. Restructuring and re-shaping THE ISSUE Project database of RTD capabilities and expertise of the Cluster Partners.
6. Implementing activities for business collaboration and SME internationalisation through the network.
7. Continuing to support mentoring and knowledge exchange activities to promote knowledge transfer within and beyond the Meta-Cluster.
8. Working towards expanding the “triple-helix” cluster network to new European regions in the future.
9. Undertaking lobbying activities in favour of regional RTD capabilities and projects towards the EU institutions, as well as boosting new policy developments.
10. Developing a Collaboration Strategy for working in cooperation and in association with other current networks with similar remits and focus, including NEREUS, ERTICO, ERRIN, and POLIS.
11. Improving communication actions at the European level, including through Regional Authorities’ offices in Brussels.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster has already established a close association with NEREUS, the Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies. THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will lead a new Transport Working Group on behalf of NEREUS, which will aim to promote the Downstream application of Space Technologies within the transport sector across Europe. In return, NEREUS will provide Secretarial support for the Meta-Cluster, as well as host the Meta-Cluster (legal address), provide meeting space in Brussels for Meta-Cluster activities and participate in common events with the Meta-Cluster.
Building on THE ISSUE Project
A key objective for THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will be promoting knowledge transfer. To achieve this objective, THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will build on the Master Class Programme developed under THE ISSUE Project. This will involve continuing the programme of webinars, topic-based workshops, mentoring activities and secondments, where possible.
A new website is being created for THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster. This will be linked to the existing website for THE ISSUE project which will be utilized and adapted to meet the needs of the newly established Meta-Cluster. Additionally, the branding for THE ISSUE Project will be taken forward by the new Meta-Cluster. This will enable THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster to access all aspects developed under the FP7 funding and then adapt them at minimal cost to continue the promotional activities carried out to date.
The Master Class Programme implemented in THE ISSUE Project will be continued by THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster. A range of new Master Class materials will be prepared by relevant partners within THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster. The Master Classes will continue to be delivered using a range of dissemination platforms including webinars and workshops. The Master Class materials will be hosted on THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster Website. The Master Class Knowledge Exchange Programme will be developed in relation to the applicable technology and expertise within THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster Regions as well as drawing on published material and outputs from other programmes within the European Technology Platform. Some Master Class activity will be open to the wider community, while others will only be available to Meta-Cluster and Regional Cluster members. The purpose of this is to help develop the benefits of membership of THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will also endeavor to continue the webinar programme delivered by THE ISSUE Project. This could include interactive video conferencing discussions or Skype-type discussions over a specific theme. Some of these webinars may be of commercial value with the potential of providing an income to THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster thereby developing a sustainable body with an income. Webinars should be available live, but also available after the event on THE ISSUE Project website to ensure all parties have an opportunity to view. Topic-based Workshops will include face-to-face activities to debate, discuss and share ideas about a particular topic. Material from the workshops will be available through THE ISSUE Project website and follow-up activities will be coordinated through the online Forum. The majority of workshops will be available only for members of the Meta-Cluster or Regional Clusters. In some cases, aspects of the workshops may be streamed live online.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will aim to continue the mentoring and knowledge exchange programme implemented by THE ISSUE Project. This will be subject to securing additional external funding.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will also aim to collaborate with other networks such as NEREUS, ERRIN, POLIS and ERTICO, and other Regions of Knowledge project partnerships. The ESIG Board will enter into discussions with other networks and organisations with a view to developing close working relationships with these bodies to develop the transport, environment and health themes of THE ISSUE Project.
List of Websites:
www.theissue.eu
Steve Dibnah
Project Coordinator THE ISSUE Project
Leicester City Council
City Hall
115 Charles Street
Leicester
LE1 1FZ
United Kingdom
steve.dibnah@leicester.gov.uk
THE ISSUE (Transport, Health and Environment: Intelligent Solutions Sustaining Urban Economies) Project was a three year “Coordination & Support Action” that received funding through the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme “Regions of Knowledge” Initiative. The Project was launched in December 2011 by a Consortium of 13 core partners in four European regional ‘triple-helix’ research-driven clusters and supported by 22 associate partners in 8 additional European regional clusters. The Project successfully completed its work programme at the end of November 2014.
THE ISSUE Project focussed on fostering cooperation, development and collaboration between European regional ‘triple-helix’ research-driven clusters, involving partners from industry, research institutions and government in each region. Its aim was to realise the potential for technology transfer from applications of ICT and Downstream Space Data Products & Services into the intelligent mobility and sustainable transport sectors to develop new research-based and innovation-driven solutions that will help improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions.
The Project’s key output was the preparation of a pioneering and state-of-the-art “Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014-2020)”. The Programme identifies 46 innovation actions that address a series of strategic objectives in six challenge areas. Each challenge area reflects one of the highest priorities in the transport and urban mobility sector where THE ISSUE identified that innovation and exploitation of newly-emerging and existing ICT and Space Technologies could offer major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of innovations in intelligent traffic management and urban mobility. Each innovation action is based on a strong evidence of user-need within urban and regional transport authorities and capable of being supported through harnessing RTD activities and competencies within THE ISSUE Consortium. Many of the innovation actions are already sufficiently mature to be the subject of proposals for funding aimed at demonstrating their market readiness through pilot studies, demonstration programmes and pre-operational roll-out. The recommended funding route for these actions is through European programmes such as Horizon 2020.
The Programme will be taken forward in a collaborative Pan-European approach by THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster, a new European Special Interest Group in Transport-Health-Environment established by the 12 regional clusters participating in THE ISSUE Project; although the outcomes of the Programme are widely transferrable. Implementing the Programme will help support the modernisation of the transport sector through developing smart, upgraded and fully interconnected transport and urban mobility solutions. It will make a significant contribution towards the EU’s “Smart, Green and Integrated Transport” agenda and deliver significant socio-economic impacts at regional and urban level, through stimulating supply chain development, business growth and the creation of new and better jobs. It will also offer programme planners for Horizon 2020 and other EU Programmes a clear evidence base for future work programme priorities. In particular, the expected impacts of the Programme are
a) Exploiting space based applications from Galileo and Copernicus in areas such as traffic congestion and transport-related health and environmental impacts
b) Advancing the work on Trans-European transport networks
c) Fostering cross-transport intermodality, seamless travel and modal integration
d) Enabling existing road infrastructure to become more effective and efficient;
e) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector
f) Improving the safety and security of citizens
In the process of developing its “Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility”, THE ISSUE Project also delivered a number of other important achievements, including:
1) Defining a Roadmap for Innovation in Transport & Urban Mobility to improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe
2) Championing a new dynamic for university-industry-government relationships in promoting innovation
3) Developing new perspectives on future patterns of urban mobility
4) Creating an extensive European network of collaborative partners
5) Expanding the “triple-helix” research-driven cluster concept into new European regions
6) Producing a major new publication: “Space and ICT Applications Supporting Smart, Green, Integrated Transport and Urban Mobility”
Project Context and Objectives:
1.0 INTRODUCTION
THE ISSUE (Transport, Health and Environment: Intelligent Solutions Sustaining Urban Economies) Project was awarded €2.75 million over a three year period from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under Grant Agreement No. 2011-287088. It was a “Coordination & Support Action” supported through the “Regions of Knowledge” Initiative. The Project was launched in December 2011 by a Consortium of 13 core partners in four European regional research-driven clusters. The Project successfully completed its programme of activities on 30 November 2014. This chapter provides an overview of the purpose, focus and structure of THE ISSUE Project.
THE ISSUE Project focussed on fostering cooperation, development and collaboration between European regional research-driven clusters to identify innovative new technological solutions to address some of the key challenges faced by urban and regional transport authorities in relation to the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions. THE ISSUE’s principle aim was to identify and harness relevant newly-emerging and existing Information & Communications Technologies and Downstream Space Data Products and Services found within THE ISSUE Consortium capable of supporting the development of new research-based or innovation-driven solutions that can deliver major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of innovations in intelligent traffic management and urban mobility.
2.0 POLICY CONTEXT
An overriding principle of the European Union (EU) is the promotion of free movement of goods, services, people and capital. Transport and intelligent mobility are global urban issues with far reaching impacts on economic sustainability, mobility, citizens’ heath and the environment. Economic costs attributable to urban traffic congestion are massive whilst ensuing traffic emissions are a substantial health risk to citizens. Reduced traffic congestion delivers economic gain and reduces risks to citizens’ health. Improvements to air quality follow from reduced traffic congestion through reduced air pollution and less adverse impacts on citizens’ health. Rising costs of hydrocarbon fuels and climate change concerns are creating demand for energy-efficient fuel technologies.
EU policy directives demand reductions in carbon emissions and a modal change in attitudes towards the use of public transport.
In Europe 2020, the EU’s growth strategy for the period to 2020, the key priority is to deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Investing more in research, innovation and entrepreneurship is seen as an important factor in enhancing Europe’s capacity to deliver this priority. Europe 2020 identifies transport as a key component in delivering sustainable growth. The above principles and priorities in European strategy and policy in relation to transport and urban mobility had an important bearing on the way in which THE ISSUE Project was envisaged and developed.
3.0 THE ISSUE’S VISION AND FOCUS
The development of transport technology and policy lies at the heart of achieving sustainable urban economies across Europe. In setting out its response to the EU’s invitation for proposals under the “Regions of Knowledge” Initiative, THE ISSUE Project recognised the tremendous potential of newly-emerging and existing technologies, particularly in the fields of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Downstream Space Data Products and Services, to support the development of innovative new solutions that could address key transport and mobility challenges and contribute to the economic growth of cities and regions.
THE ISSUE Project was underpinned by the following Vision: “To realise the potential for technology transfer from newly-emerging and existing applications of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Downstream Space Data Products and Services into the intelligent mobility and sustainable transport sectors to address key transport and urban mobility challenges impacting on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe”.
In order to realise this Vision, THE ISSUE Consortium agreed the following Mission Statement as a way of making clear THE ISSUE Project’s overriding core purpose and focus. Its Mission Statement was: “To identify opportunities to exploit newly-emerging and existing technologies, particularly in fields relating to ICT and Space Technologies, to deliver major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of innovations in intelligent traffic management and urban mobility to increase regional competitiveness and improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.”
In setting out its Vision and Mission Statement, THE ISSUE Project recognised that the task of introducing new innovative solutions within cities and regions should not be underestimated. In view of this, THE ISSUE Project acknowledged that to successfully exploit newly-emerging and existing technologies and develop innovative new solutions that can deliver major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of innovations in intelligent traffic management and urban mobility, THE ISSUE Project must identify innovative solutions that:
a) Match the vision and interest of markets as well as the highest priority policy objectives of transport, urban mobility and environmental impact policy makers.
b) Respond to key EU and national policy directives that relate to the impact of transport on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions.
c) Align with key priorities in major European and national funding programmes, such as the EU’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme and the Structural and Investment Funds.
4.0 THE ISSUE’S KEY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
At the outset of developing its proposal in response to the EU’s invitation for projects under its “Regions of Knowledge” Initiative, THE ISSUE Consortium agreed a clear set of aims and objectives for THE Project.
The overarching strategic aims of THE ISSUE Project were:
A. To achieve a more efficient use of existing transport infrastructures.
B. To promote innovation in the utilisation of transport infrastructures.
The overarching strategic objectives of THE ISSUE Project were:
1. To identify a programme of priority innovation actions that, when implemented, will deliver new and viable economy-driving, environmentally sensitive, transport and urban mobility solutions that match the vision and interest of markets as well as the highest priority policy objectives of transport, urban mobility and environmental impact policy makers in cities and regions across Europe.
2. To harness newly-emerging and existing research and technological development (RTD) expertise within THE ISSUE Consortium, particularly in the fields of Information and Communication Technologies and Downstream Space Data and Services, that were capable of supporting the development of new research-based or innovation-driven solutions that have the capability to increase regional competitiveness and improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions.
3. To foster trans-national cooperation, development and collaboration between innovative regional research-driven clusters in the areas of Transport-Health-Environment through the exchange of knowledge, best practice and mutual learning, in order to:
a) Develop a framework for coordinating and exploiting Transport-Health-Environmental-related research RTD programmes to achieve intelligent solutions for sustaining urban economies.
b) Strengthen the capacity of regions to invest in and conduct research and technological development activities that have a strong practical application in cities and regions across Europe and contribute in a significant way to economic development, business growth and the creation of more and better jobs.
c) Achieve closer alignment between RTD priorities and actions and the operational priorities of regional and local transport end-users.
d) Develop joint action plans to realise the potential for technology transfer from newly-emerging and existing applications of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Downstream Space Data Products and Services into the intelligent mobility and sustainable transport sectors.
4. To mentor regions with less well developed research profiles to support their capacity in setting up and developing regional research-driven clusters.
5. To take steps to ensure the continuity and sustainability of the extensive European network of regional clusters focussed on transport-health-environment created by THE ISSUE Project.
The Project also identified a number of specific economic and scientific/technological objectives:
THE ISSUE Economic Objectives:
EO1: Utilise Intelligent Traffic Management to boost the competitiveness of transport-related economies at urban, regional and local levels.
EO2: Identify market opportunities for mature RTD applications and develop action plans for commercial implementation.
EO3: Deliver innovative solutions to traffic management operations.
EO4: Deliver innovative solutions to reduce traffic emissions and improve air quality locally.
THE ISSUE Scientific and Technological Objectives:
STO1: Coordinate RTD actions between regions.
STO2: Identify the development path for widespread uptake of Intelligent Traffic Management.
STO3: Achieve modal shift towards public transport to reduce urban congestion and shorten journey times.
STO4: Study of applications of road charging in other European urban traffic systems.
STO5: To transfer Computer Intelligence technology to operational users.
STO6: To provide regional planners with comprehensive databases of transport infrastructures to support their regional strategic planning.
STO7: To introduce active air pollution monitoring and mitigation into regional transport and environmental strategies.
5.0 THE ISSUE’S GUIDING PRINCIPLES
THE ISSUE Consortium established a set of fundamental principles to guide the way in which the overall Project was taken forward and to realise the “triple-helix” structure and philosophy. These fundamental principles included:
1. Establishing a sustainable trans-national partnership comprised of regional “triple-helix” research-driven clusters that had an interest in stimulating the emergence of industrial innovations, products and services with the capability to enhance the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.
2. Bringing together scientists, engineers, development agencies and those responsible for managing traffic, transport and air quality in each regional cluster, who shared ideas and developed:
a) A common-vision for the future traveller experience that meets expectations of user groups and citizens.
b) A common understanding of the key challenges facing urban, transport and environmental policy makers in relation to addressing the impacts of transport on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions.
3. Identifying newly-emerging and existing RTD capabilities within the trans-national partnership that could be harnessed and exploited to support the development of new innovative solutions to achieve smart, green and integrated transport, increase regional competitiveness, stimulate supply chain development, promote business growth, particularly amongst SMEs and create more and better jobs.
6.0 THE ISSUE PROJECT CONSORTIUM AND THE 'TRIPLE-HELIX' PHILOSOPHY AND APPROACH
THE ISSUE Project was delivered through a Consortium of regional “triple-helix” research-driven clusters. The Consortium comprised of 13 original core partners in four European regional clusters. The Consortium was expanded during the implementation of the Project as part of the Project’s knowledge exchange and mentoring programme. This introduced 8 new associate regions into the Consortium. The four core European regional clusters regions included the East Midlands (UK), Midi-Pyrenees/Aquitaine Regions (France), Molise Region (Italy) and Mazovia Region (Poland). The eight European associate regions introduced a further 22 associate partners into the Project from Spain, Croatia, Greece, Romania, Finland, Italy and Northern Ireland.
Each regional cluster was based on a “triple-helix” structure and philosophy. In terms of structure, the Consortium comprised of regional clusters, each of which included representatives from three distinct sectors: industry, universities and local/regional government. In terms of philosophy, the Consortium’s research partners were all actively involved in complementary state-of-the-art RTD programmes in three key areas relating to: transport, health and the environment. Each regional cluster demonstrated a willingness and commitment to work together in the sharing of knowledge gained from tackling similar challenges in the fields of transport-health-environment, against a backdrop of diverse local and regional contexts, and a desire to identify ways in which their RTD activities could be more closely aligned with local economic development priorities and the needs of business.
Project Results:
INTRODUCTION
THE ISSUE Project focussed on fostering cooperation, development and collaboration between European regional research-driven clusters to identify and harness relevant newly-emerging and existing ICT and Downstream Space Data Products and Services found within THE ISSUE Consortium capable of supporting the development of new research-based or innovation-driven solutions that can deliver major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of innovations in intelligent traffic management and urban mobility to help improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions.
The primary achievement of THE ISSUE Project was the preparation of its pioneering and state-of-the-art “Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility: The Application of ICT and Space Technologies to Improve the Economic, Environmental & Social Health of Cities & Regions (2014-2020)”. This Programme identifies a range of innovation action responses that will deliver major advances towards the development of new and viable economy-driving, environmentally sensitive, transport and urban mobility solutions that match the vision and interest of markets and transport, urban mobility and environmental impact policy makers.
In the process of developing its “Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility”, THE ISSUE Project also delivered a number of other important achievements. Overall, the main results delivered by THE ISSUE Project were:
1. Preparing THE ISSUE “Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014 to 2020)
2. Defining a Roadmap for Innovation in Transport & Urban Mobility to improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe
3. Championing a new dynamic for university-industry-government relationships in promoting innovation
4. Developing new perspectives on future patterns of urban mobility
5. Creating an extensive European network of collaborative partners
6. Expanding the “triple-helix” research-driven cluster concept into new European regions
7. Establishing a European Special Interest Group in Transport-Health-Environment: THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster
8. Delivering a major programme of mentoring and knowledge exchange
9. Producing a major new publication: “Space and ICT Applications Supporting Smart, Green, Integrated Transport and Urban Mobility”
RESULT 1. THE ISSUE PROGRAMME OF INNOVATION IN SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT AND INTELLIGENT MOBILITY (2014-2020)
The cornerstone of THE ISSUE’s key results is its Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility: The Application of ICT and Space Technologies to Improve the Economic, Environmental & Social Health of Cities & Regions (2014-2020). This is a pioneering and state-of-the-art programme of research-based or innovation-driven actions that, when implemented, will deliver many new economy-driving, environmentally-sensitive transport and urban mobility solutions to help improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.
The Programme is structured into six challenge areas, which reflect the highest priorities in the transport and urban mobility sector where innovation and exploitation of newly-emerging and existing technologies could offer major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of new innovations in intelligent traffic management and urban mobility. These challenge areas relate closely to Horizon 2020’s Societal Challenges and its theme of ‘Smart, Green and Integrated Transport’. They also respond to important external policy drivers from EU transport, air quality and climate change directives.
This Programme identifies 46 innovation action responses. These are summarised in Table 5. Each innovation action is based on a strong evidence of need and capable of being supported through harnessing RTD activities and competencies found within THE ISSUE Consortium. Many of the innovation actions identified in the Programme are already sufficiently mature to be the subject of proposals for funding and have been identified as priority innovation actions. The priority innovation actions have a pan-European perspective and will be taken forward in a collaborative approach by THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster through developing project consortia comprising of appropriate partners from within (and outside) THE ISSUE Consortium. The recommended funding route for these priority actions is through European funding such as Horizon 2020. A number of the priority innovation actions have already successfully attracted funding and are currently being delivered. Others are in the process of being developed into firm project proposals.
The Programme will help support the modernisation of the transport sector through developing smart, upgraded and fully interconnected transport and urban mobility solutions that match both the vision and interest of markets and the key priorities of transport, urban mobility and environmental impact policy makers. It will make a significant contribution towards the EU’s “Smart, Green and Integrated Transport” agenda and deliver significant socio-economic impacts at regional and urban level, through stimulating supply chain development, business growth and the creation of new and better jobs. It will also offer programme planners for Horizon 2020 and other EU Programmes a clear evidence base for future work programme priorities.
In particular, the expected impacts of the Programme are:
a) Exploiting space based applications from Galileo and Copernicus in areas such as traffic congestion and transport-related health and environmental impacts.
b) Advancing the work on Trans-European transport networks
c) Fostering cross-transport Intermodality and promoting modal shift
d) Encouraging seamless travel
e) Enabling existing road infrastructure to become more effective and efficient;
f) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector
g) Improving the safety and security of citizens
1.1 THE ISSUE’S KEY TRANSPORT AND URBAN MOBILITY CHALLENGE AREAS
THE ISSUE’s Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility is centred on six key transport and urban mobility challenge areas. These are:
i. Addressing Traffic Congestion and Associated Impacts on the Urban Environment and Infrastructure
ii. Managing Urban Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
iii. Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Urban and Regional Road Networks
iv. Achieving Integrated and Seamless Travel and Modal Integration
v. Increasing Safety, Security and Health for Urban Communities
vi. Delivering a step-change in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility
The six challenge areas represent the highest priorities in the transport and urban mobility sector where THE ISSUE Project believes that innovation and exploitation of core RTD capabilities identified in the industry and research sectors within THE ISSUE Consortium can offer major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of new research-based and innovation-driven solutions to help increase regional competitiveness and improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions. Each challenge area is closely aligned with Societal Challenges in the EU’s Horizon 2020 Programme and respond to important external policy drivers coming from EU transport, air quality and climate change directives, as well as related national and regional transport and urban mobility policies and priorities.
1.2 THE ISSUE’S CORE RTD COMPETENCIES
A key objective of THE ISSUE Project was to harness newly-emerging and existing research and technological development (RTD) expertise within industry and academic sectors across THE ISSUE Consortium, particularly in the fields of Information and Communication Technologies and Downstream Space Data and Services, capable of supporting the development of new research-based or innovation-driven solutions that have the capability to increase regional competitiveness and improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions.
THE ISSUE Project undertook a mapping exercise to identify the best fit between world-class RTD competencies within THE ISSUE Consortium and the strategic policies and priorities of urban and regional transport authorities in relation to transport and its impact on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions. As a result of this mapping exercise, THE ISSUE Project identified 10 core RTD competencies that could underpin and support the delivery of the innovation action responses outlined in its Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility. These are:
• RTD1: Vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure real-time communications technologies supporting advanced urban traffic management systems and rapid response capability (including freight)
• RTD2: Advanced data sharing, data-fusion, collection and analysis infrastructure (including open data)
• RTD3: Road surface and infrastructure management research and technologies
• RTD4: Advanced sensor development for space, aerial and in-situ traffic management and control and air quality monitoring, analysis and evaluation
• RTD5: ICT and Computational Intelligence supporting advanced urban traffic management systems
• RTD6: Open GIS and crowd sourcing imagery augmenting mapping technologies
• RTD7: Application of Downstream space data products and services (e.g. Copernicus/Galileo) to support urban traffic management systems to provide real-time positioning, tracking, incident location, velocity and timing information
• RTD8: Specialised software for advanced management of multimodal transport network
• RTD9: Ultra-low emission vehicle research and technologies
• RTD10: Behavioural, societal, foresight and socio-economic research
1.3 THE ISSUE’S STRATEGIC TRANSPORT AND URBAN MOBILITY OBJECTIVES
For each of the six challenge areas selected by THE ISSUE Project, a number of specific strategic objectives where identified in the Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility. These correlated directly to the highest operational needs of urban and regional transport authorities within THE ISSUE Consortium with respect to each challenge area. A total of 18 strategic objectives were selected across the six challenge areas following a thorough analysis by THE ISSUE Project of the key transport and urban mobility challenges impacting on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions within THE ISSUE Consortium Network. This included an extensive consultation within THE ISSUE Consortium to review the key priorities of end-users in terms of transport and urban mobility policies, strategies and implementation plans with respect to each of the six challenge areas. The strategic objectives identified for each challenge area are outlined below:
Challenge Area 1. Addressing Traffic Congestion and Associated impacts on the Urban Environment, through:
SO1. Achieving greater optimisation of the road network and improving local air quality
SO2. Improving the efficiency of urban freight transport logistics
SO3. Minimising congestion difficulties and impeding access for emergency services during incidents and extreme weather events
SO4. Strengthening local transport and urban mobility planning
Challenge Area 2. Managing Urban Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, through:
SO5. Improving the calibration & validation of the accuracy of air quality models & traffic simulations
SO6. Improving sensor monitoring and model forecasting of emission levels
Challenge Area 3. Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of the Existing Urban and Regional Road Network, through:
SO7. Making the existing urban & regional road network more efficient, reliable, resilient & effective
SO8. Improving the management and maintenance of the existing road infrastructure
SO9. Improving the planning and development of the road infrastructure network
Challenge Area 4. Achieving Integrated and Seamless Travel and Modal Integration, through:
SO10. Promoting modal shift and offering more sustainable travel choices
SO11. Improving the performance, reliability & affordability of public transport services
SO12. Increasing the availability and interoperability of multi-modal transport data
SO13. Promoting multimodal integrated travel information, journey planning & ticketing services
Challenge Area 5. Increasing Safety, Security and Health in Urban Communities, through
SO14. Developing advanced safety and security measures to help reduce accidents, make roads safer (especially for Vulnerable Road Users) and create a better urban environment
SO15. Improving security and information about the transporting of freight in urban areas
SO16. Improving the health of citizens
Challenge Area 6. Delivering a Step-Change in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility, through
SO17. Facilitating the increased uptake of Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles
SO18. Identifying future changes in patterns of urban mobility and potential RTD challenges
1.4 THE ISSUE’S INNOVATION ACTION RESPONSES
For each of the strategic objectives, THE ISSUE Project identified a range of innovative action responses that will deliver new economy-driving, environmentally-sensitive transport and urban mobility solutions that will help improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe. Each innovation action is based on a strong evidence of need and is capable of being supported through harnessing RTD activities and competencies found within THE ISSUE Consortium.
THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility identified a total of 46 innovation action responses to address the 18 strategic objectives in the six challenge areas. These are identified below. For each innovation action response, THE ISSUE assessed its relative priority in terms of development and delivery in order to identify priority actions and longer-term actions. This assessment considered the relative strength of the evidence base for each action relating to impact and user-needs within each region and the level of maturity of the RTD competencies that would support the development of the innovative solution. Out of a total of 46 innovation action responses, 21 were identified as already sufficiently mature to be the subject of proposals for funding and these were highlighted as priority innovation actions within the Programme. The remaining actions were classified as longer-term actions.
The 21 priority innovation actions will be taken forward through THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster on the basis of a collaborative approach with a range of partners from within the Consortium forming appropriate project consortia to develop project proposals. The recommended funding route for these priority project areas is through European funding channels such as Horizon 2020.
In terms of those innovation actions responses identified as longer-term priorities, THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will periodically review their relative priority, in order to account for any policy changes at the European, national, regional or local level, changes in funding priorities and any technological advances:
1.5 THE ISSUE PROGRAMME OF INNOVATION ACTIONS (2014-2020): PRIORITY INNOVATION ACTIONS
CHALLENGE 1: ADDRESSING TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND ASSOCIATED IMPACTS ON THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT
Strategic Objective 1. Achieving greater optimisation of the road network and improving local air quality
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
1. Developing advanced ITM&C systems capable of the integrated real-time management and control of urban traffic and air quality, using ICT and Downstream Space Data Products and Services, leading to a greater optimisation of the road network, reductions in traffic delay, increased traffic flow and more optimised local air quality (IA01)
Strategic Objective 2. Improving the efficiency of urban freight transport logistics
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
2. Developing dynamic, integrated ITS systems that improve road network route planning and help optimise delivery patterns, by exploiting new developments in EGNSS, cloud computing, air quality data collection and seamless, multi-modal communications technology, leading to reductions in congestion, lower emissions and noise pollution and improved safety and security associated with urban freight transport operations (IA07)
3. Developing enhanced monitoring and tracking models and tools for integrated management of intermodal freight transport interface within Port Cities to deliver more efficient and sustainable onward movement of freight across urban areas (IA08)
Strategic Objective 3. Minimising congestion difficulties and impeding access for emergency services during incidents and extreme weather events
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
4. Developing tools that can enhance the ability of ITM&C systems to provide a rapid response for emergency situations, including enabling controlled access to specific urban areas, automatically re-routing traffic or changing traffic light sequences to provide priority and prompt access to the transport infrastructure for emergency services without compromising the safety and security of other user, as well as the ability to respond to public transport priorities and providing relevant traffic information (IA11)
Strategic Objective 4. Strengthening local transport and urban mobility planning
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
5. Enabling the collection and analysis of detailed and accurate data outputs of user demand from ITM&C systems for use as a support mechanism for planning the transportation system in future urban transport strategies, as guiding planning decisions, supporting spatial planning and the simulation of land use development in the urban areas. (IA14)
6. Enhancing the knowledge and capacities of local authorities to successfully plan and implement innovative sustainable mobility measures, by developing new instruments and mechanisms to study, model and plan future scenarios for the sustainable movement of people and goods, based on the collection, analysis and exchange of reliable and relevant data from multiple sources, including geo-positioning information, environmental data, residents and visitors’ behaviour (IA16)
7. Developing new tools, instruments and mechanisms for information exchange to strengthen the knowledge and capacity of local authorities in their preparation of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (IA15)
CHALLENGE 2. MANAGING URBAN AIR QUALITY AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Strategic Objective 5. Improving the calibration and validation of the accuracy of air quality models and traffic simulations
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
8. Improving public information services and historical reporting by developing new systems for the measuring and monitoring of short-term carbon emissions and providing air quality forecasts (IA21)
9. Developing tools to promote the use of earth observation data sets to improve the quality of local air quality models (IA19)
Strategic Objective 6. Improving sensor monitoring and model forecasting of emission levels
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
10. Acquiring emissions data from urban and rural networks by public and commercial users of the road network, together with the expanded use of social networking technologies (IA32)
11. Improving the measurement of height and spatial distribution of pollutants, using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (IA33)
12. Improving the calibration and validation of air quality estimations and traffic simulations, by integrating ground based sensors and remote sensing systems (IA31)
CHALLENGE 3. IMPROVING THE UTILIZATION, PLANNING & OPTIMIZATION OF URBAN & REGIONAL ROAD NETWORKS
Strategic Objective 7. Making the existing urban and regional road network more efficient, reliable, resilient and effective
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
13. Creating Open Data Platforms to improve the collection, assessment, fusion, trend monitoring, analysis and storage of transportation data from multiple sources, leading to a more efficient use of the existing infrastructure (IA35)
14. Designing advanced road equipment systems (e.g. smart signs, intelligent crossings) that contribute towards improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing road network (IA37)
15. Developing a real-time database of weather conditions, air pollution, traffic, road condition etc. (IA36)
16. Introducing advanced real-time information services for drivers and other road users to provide real-time traffic situation reports and options for choosing the best means of transport (IA38)
Strategic Objective 8. Improving the management and maintenance of the existing road infrastructure
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
17. Introducing more efficient and cost-effective ways of managing and maintaining the existing road infrastructure network by using ICT and Space technologies to develop new tools and mechanisms to gather and analyse information about the road infrastructure and its condition (IA39)
18. Developing tools that can improve the planning and management of road deviations during construction and maintenance works to maintain an efficient flow of traffic, especially in areas prone to congestion (IA42)
19. Developing a data, knowledge and information exchange panel (a dashboard) to improve communication between road infrastructure managers, road administrators and research institutions (IA43)
Strategic Objective 9. Improving the planning and development of the road infrastructure network
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
20. Developing real-time data collection networks that provide aggregated data to central ITM&C systems to enhance the ability to analyse multi-modal traffic and travel data from a range of data sources, including cooperative and crowd-sourced information, leading to improvements in transport system analysis and traffic model calibrations (IA45)
21. Developing new models and tools to study, model and plan future scenarios for the movement of people and goods, taking into account multiple sources of information, including geo-positioning information, environmental data, residents and visitors’ behaviour data (IA46)
22. Introducing new user-behaviour models in info-mobility schemes taking into account the needs of pedestrians and bicycles in urban planning, also for transport mode interchange (e.g. Bike & Ride) and including ensuring safe and convenient access to public transport stops. (IA47)
CHALLENGE 4. ACHIEVING INTEGRATED AND SEAMLESS TRAVEL AND MODAL INTEGRATION
Strategic Objective 10. Improving the competitiveness, performance, reliability and affordability of public transport services
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
23. Enabling public transport operators to increase reliability, accessibility, affordability and safety of public transport service, by developing and improving models and tools that enhance the collection, analysis and monitoring of relevant traffic and travel data from a range of sources to facilitate more optimised, coordinated and efficient service network planning (IA48)
Strategic Objective 11. Promoting modal shift and offering more sustainable travel choices
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
24. Developing advanced real-time multi-modal routing, information and journey decision support systems for drivers and other road users, including intelligent road equipment systems, to provide real-time traffic situation reports and options for choosing the best means of transport (IA51)
25. Providing innovative forms of travel information that focus on travellers’ personnel needs by creating new innovative tools and mechanisms, including GIS-based tools, which enable the collection, analysis and dissemination of quality, real-time, interactive and trustworthy multi-modal transport information to improve the capacity of travellers to make informed decisions about proposed journeys (IA53)
26. Developing advanced positioning technologies and delivering location-based services that provide continuity and reliability of user positioning services for both indoor and outdoor environments and the interface between the two, to support transport users, emergency communications, personal guidance in multimodal interfaces and social applications to create a more comfortable mobility experience; using services provided by Galileo and EGNOS signals, including data and signal fusion with 4G-5G networks, open geographical data, social networks, video processing, and machine-machine technologies. (IA55)
Strategic Objective 12. Increasing the availability and interoperability of multi-modal transport data
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
27. Developing standards of collective and multimodal data to allow better integration, comparison and accessibility between different users (IA63)
28. Developing GIS-based tools to localize, validate, visualize, modify, share and manage real-time multimodal data with spatial information for different kind of transport providers (IA62)
29. Improving the understanding of urban mobility and achieving further advances in intelligent mobility by developing new applications and tools that can unlock and exploit the potential of vast amounts of transport-related positioning, tracking and timing information available arising from the increasing connectivity of people and devices, the availability of GNSS location based services, advances in cloud computing, big, linked and open data and data crowd sourcing (IA65)
Strategic Objective 13. Promoting multimodal integrated travel information, journey planning and ticketing services
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
30. Implementing smart, multi-modal integrated ticketing systems to promote seamless mobility and ease of use of public transport in urban areas (IA66)
31. Developing real-time multi-modal personalised transport and travel information services, delivered through a fully integrated one-stop-shop user interface for travellers, which offers interactive on-line door-to-door multi modal journey comparison of real-time travel information including true financial costs, timings, and health and environmental impacts, as well as ticket purchase and redemption and interactive real-time notifications of incidents and delays (IA67)
32. Promoting Smart Ticketing for larger territories and different local and regional transport authorities (IA69)
CHALLENGE 5. INCREASING SAFETY, SECURITY AND HEALTH IN URBAN COMMUNITIES
Strategic Objective 14. Developing advanced safety and security measures to help reduce accidents, make roads safer (especially for Vulnerable Road Users) and create a better urban environment
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
33. Improving traveller safety and security by developing new automatic data collection and monitoring systems that provide a more in-depth understanding of user behaviour, accident causation and possible countermeasures and their impacts (IA72)
34. Developing innovative, low cost, flexible and mobile speed control systems that improve the monitoring, mapping and control of the speed of vehicles in urban and rural areas and improves road safety (IA71)
35. Developing innovative tools to improve the design and quality of road networks in order to enhance road safety (IA73)
Strategic Objective 15. Improving security and information about the transporting of freight in urban areas
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
36. Developing specific tools (software and hardware) for road safety enhancement relating to the transport of goods (IA78)
37. Developing location-based service solutions for improvement of freight transport functioning (IA76)
38. Developing automatic tracking systems for the transport of goods (IA77)
39. Developing a Trans-European freight transport information hub, with the aim of collecting and disseminating information from all possible users and providers (IA75)
Strategic Objective 16. Improving the health of citizens
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
40. Increasing the level of information available, directly or indirectly related to transport systems, about the presence of pollutants and noise levels, especially at local and regional levels (IA79)
41. Analysing the inter-linkages between currently used and newly identified parameters relating to health related air pollution or the impact of vehicle noise regulations (IA81)
42. Identifying, piloting and evaluating the most efficient and cost-effective measures to reduce exposure to pollutants and noise, and to help decision makers to find specific solutions (IA82)
CHALLENGE 6. DELIVERING A STEP-CHANGE IN SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT AND INTELLIGENT MOBILITY
Strategic Objective 17. Facilitating the increased uptake of Low Carbon Vehicles
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
43. Undertaking social studies to better understand lack of take-up of Low Carbon Vehicles. (IA84)
44. Implementing pilot studies deploying Low Carbon Vehicles (LCVs) to stimulate modal shift, evaluate barriers to uptake and evaluate new vehicles ownership and usage models (IA85)
45. Developing innovation in techniques to substantially increase the range of LCVs (particularly electric vehicles) (IA86)
Strategic Objective 18. Identifying Future Changes in Patterns of Urban Mobility and Potential RTD Challenges
THE ISSUE Innovation Action Response:
46. Implementing a foresight-driven research programme involving science and technology, computer science, physical and human geography, social science and economics to assess how disruptive innovation can change resource allocations and distribution chains by creating new markets and replacing old ones (IA88)
RESULT 2. DEFINING A ROADMAP FOR INNOVATION IN TRANSPORT AND URBAN MOBILITY TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL HEALTH OF CITIES AND REGIONS
The Vision for THE ISSUE Project centred on the potential for technology transfer from newly emerging applications of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Downstream Space Data Products and Services into the intelligent mobility and sustainable transport sectors to address key transport and urban mobility challenges impacting on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.
In the process of developing its Programme of Innovation Actions 2014 to 2020, THE ISSUE Project defined a Roadmap for Innovation in Transport and Urban Mobility to improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions in Europe. This Roadmap sets out a best-practice approach for exploiting newly-emerging and existing research and technologies, particularly in the fields of ICT and Downstream Space Data Products and Services, to deliver major advances towards the operational implementation and market growth of new economy-driving, environmentally-sensitive transport and intelligent mobility solutions that address key challenges arising from the impact of transport on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.
RESULT 3. CHAMPIONING A NEW DYNAMIC FOR UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY-GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIPS IN PROMOTING INNOVATION
THE ISSUE Project championed a new dynamic for Industry-University-Government relationships in promoting innovation. Through adopting a “triple-helix” approach, THE ISSUE Project was able to demonstrate the opportunity to stimulate the creation of a more favourable environment for innovation and the commercialisation of newly-emerging and existing technologies within its regional clusters.
The “triple-helix” approach defined the structure of THE ISSUE Consortium, the interactions between Project partners and the key themes of the Project. Each regional cluster was based on a “triple-helix” structure and philosophy. In terms of structure, the Consortium comprised of regional clusters, each of which included representatives from three distinct sectors: industry, universities and local/regional government. In terms of philosophy, the Consortium’s research partners were all actively involved in complementary state-of-the-art RTD programmes in three key areas relating to: transport, health and the environment. Each regional cluster demonstrated a willingness and commitment to work together in the sharing of knowledge gained from tackling similar challenges in the fields of transport-health-environment, against a backdrop of diverse local and regional contexts, and a desire to identify ways in which their RTD activities could be more closely aligned with local economic development priorities and the needs of business.
This new dynamic for Industry-University-Government relationships opened up opportunities for THE ISSUE Project to examine different perspectives for the way in which business and academia can work in partnership with local/regional authorities to promote innovation and exploit newly-emerging and existing technologies within the transport and urban mobility sectors.
For example, this “triple-helix” approach enabled THE ISSUE Project to:
a) Develop an information exchange portal, which facilitated a continuous exchange of flow of information and people between European regions and within regions – where key transport and urban mobility stakeholders were able to share ideas, knowledge, needs and solutions and mentoring was supported – in order to develop a common vision for the future traveller experience, and to be able to share this vision with local business, particularly SMEs as well as research institutions, user groups and citizens.
b) Identify key policy needs in the fields of transport-health-environment and map these against relevant newly-emerging and existing research outputs, which could be harnessed to shape the identification of innovative new solutions through the preparation and implementation of a Joint Action Plan.
c) Engage actors with a common interest in innovation and exploiting newly-emerging and existing research outputs, enabling the creation of new partnerships and pre-project teams to support the identification of new markets, development of new supply chains, promote technology transfer and address barriers to market uptake, leading to the development of new industrial innovations and products that match the vision and interest of markets and transport, urban mobility and environmental impact policy-makers.
d) Promote the creation of new collaborative partnerships and consortia for Horizon 2020 and other EU research and innovation funding opportunities.
As a result, THE ISSUE Project was able to facilitate a higher degree of inter-regional and intra-regional cooperation, development and collaboration within and between the regional clusters. This led to the creation of a more favourable environment for innovation and the commercialisation of newly-emerging and existing technologies. For example, by adopting a “triple-helix” approach, THE ISSUE Project was able to demonstrate the capability to:
a) Improve and broaden links and engagement between universities, local government and local and regional business and SMEs within the regional clusters.
b) Establish new working relationships within each region, where none existed previously in transport, traffic management, air quality management and logistics.
c) Explore and initiate new collaborations in the framework of transportation, health and the environment.
d) Develop a deeper understanding of the impact of transport on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.
e) Place transport issues higher in regional policy priorities.
f) Ensure research applications are more closely aligned with the economic development policies priorities and transport planning strategies for the local area and region.
g) Promote collaboration on small joint projects with SMEs and with local authorities, some of which have the potential to mature into bigger activities within triple helix partnerships.
As a result, the “triple-helix” approach enabled business, research institutions and local/regional authorities to build a common understanding of key transport and urban mobility challenges and to stimulate the identification of innovative new solutions and methodologies for traffic control and management for introduction into the realm of local and regional transport policy and environmental impact planning to help improve the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.
In the case of THE ISSUE Project, the long term benefits for the regional clusters adopting this new dynamic for Industry-University-Government relationships will be:
a) Research institutions becoming more informed by Societal Challenges
b) Policy makers becoming better informed of emerging technology
c) Industry becoming better placed to commercialise new technology
d) Universities becoming more aware of commercial needs
e) Businesses becoming more enabled to support policy delivery
f) Government needs and market opportunities becoming more visible
g) Regions becoming better placed to invest in and conduct research and technological development activities that contribute in a significant way to economic development, business growth and the creation of more and better jobs.
RESULT 4. DEVELOPING NEW PERSPECTIVES ON FUTURE PATTERNS OF URBAN MOBILITY
As part of the process of developing its methodology for THE ISSUE Project, THE ISSUE Consortium recognised the importance of exploring possible scenarios (i.e. Futures) for future changes to patterns of urban mobility. THE ISSUE Consortium acknowledged that a wide range of change factors could shape the future evolution of urban mobility and that these could have a profound impact on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions. This could include changes in peoples’ behaviour, lifestyle choices, economic factors and political developments as well as impacts of technological innovations. The Consortium also recognised that it was important for THE ISSUE Project to understand these change factors, their potential impacts and the challenges these may pose for cities and regions in the future. It also accepted that changes in future patterns of urban mobility could also bring about challenges for research and technological development and that its Programme of Innovation Actions must seek to identify potential solutions. As part of Work Package 3, THE ISSUE Project examined two future scenarios looking at the impact of a range of change factors on patterns of urban mobility over the next 10 years and over the next 20 years:
A. FUTURES I anticipates that over the next 10 years the affordability of mobility will decline as costs rise, both for users, who will pay more for fuel and for pollution and for governments, who will have less to spend infrastructure and services. This will increase limitations on car use, but cost pressures and a continuing emphasis on environmental sustainability may encourage innovation in smart service provision and the adoption of alternative energy systems to counter environmental impacts of traffic-induced air pollution.
Private car usage/ownership will shift towards greater shared vehicle use, with market responses leading to the growth of alternative means of service provision offering better, greener services and smarter integration, either provided through public transport services or entrepreneurial initiatives. New parking nodes for modal transfer will develop.
Solutions will need to offer lower cost and more efficient utilization of existing infrastructures, involving incremental upgrades to transport management systems with near-market smart technologies as alternatives to building new infrastructures. System development and validation testing through pilot and demonstration projects will be necessary to establish operational capability, economic viability and market readiness.
B. FUTURES II assumes that over the next 20 years, ICT developments, autonomous vehicles and ultra-low energy vehicles, coupled with higher levels of environmental protection, could fundamentally change the way that the road infrastructure is used, allocated and paid for; encouraging both managed network access and facilitating the introduction of autonomous vehicle systems, which together with lower cost of energy will satisfy continuing preference for individual mobility within a sustainable and low carbon environment.
Suburbanization of work and jobs could lead to a dispersal of journey-to-work flows, mitigating peak congestion problems; though the effects of urban sprawl and limitations to the extension of public transport networks could lead to some areas of cities being excluded from transport access.
There will be a recognition that augmented reality might begin to change peoples’ perceptions of real places and the freedom to choose where and when to meet, which will encourage new mobility preferences. Social networks will be merely the precursor to this new behavioural space. Far from inhibiting the desire for mobility, they will encourage new travel preferences and a willingness to use autonomous systems to cater for growth of individual mobility on demand at lower cost, increasing still further the diversity of travel demand within and beyond the immediate urban area.
Radical technology solutions and innovation built on a vibrant science base together with studies of social and economic impacts of change in urban mobility patterns will both drive and respond to the changing environment of transport and mobility well into the 20-year timeframe. This will require foundation research and new technical solutions to be demonstrated. The management of change will also require socio-economic studies to test public acceptance of technological change and to assess the impact of changing behaviour patterns and lifestyle choices. Economic and policy judgements will also be needed to inform investment decisions and assess risks and establish the potential for economic growth.
THE ISSUE Consortium concluded that it may be possible to reconcile these two seemingly divergent futures over the longer term. However, it also recognised that this transition poses a number of critical challenges which THE ISSUE’s Programme of Innovation Actions must seek to address.
RESULT 5. CREATING AN EXTENSIVE EUROPEAN NETWORK OF COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS
As outlined earlier, a number of the key objectives for THE ISSUE Project, were to:
a) Foster transnational co-operation and collaboration between innovative research-driven clusters in the areas of traffic, health and the environment.
b) Promote synergies between research and economic development policies by aligning research strategies to the economic development priorities for regions.
c) Stimulate the exchange of knowledge, best practice and mutual learning.
d) Improve links between local government, research institutes and the local business community.
THE ISSUE built an extensive network of partners from industry/research/government in 12 European regions willing to work together in the sharing of knowledge gained from tackling similar challenges in the fields of transport-health-environment, against a backdrop of diverse local and regional contexts, which has facilitated a higher degree of inter-regional and intra-regional cooperation, development and collaboration, resulting in:
a) Improved and broadened links and engagement between universities, local government and local and regional business and SMEs
b) New working relationships within each region, where none existed previously in transport, traffic management, air quality management and logistics
c) Exploration and initiation of new collaborations in the framework of transportation, health and the environment.
d) A deeper understanding of the impact of transport on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe
e) Putting transport issue higher in regional policy priorities
f) Ensuring research applications are more closely aligned with the economic development policies priorities and transport planning strategies for the local area and region.
g) Promoting collaboration on small joint projects with SMEs and with local authorities, some of which have the potential to mature into bigger activities within triple helix partnerships
To realise this objective, a key priority for THE ISSUE Project was to strengthen and develop a network of regional triple-helix research-driven clusters focussed on transport, health and the environment. A number of key tasks in Work Packages 4 and 5 served to strengthen and expand this network of clusters, both in the core regions and associate regions. Each cluster brought together representatives from industry (particularly SMEs), research institutions and public authorities with an interest in traffic, health and the environment. Through this “triple-helix” approach, each cluster is:
a) Providing a forum for key transport and urban mobility stakeholders in the region to share ideas and develop a common vision for the future traveller experience, and to share this vision with business, particularly SMEs as well as research institutions, user groups and citizens.
b) Engaging key actors within the region with an interest in exploiting emerging RTDs, leading to new industrial innovations and products that match the vision and interest of markets and transport, urban mobility and environmental impact policy-makers.
c) Coordinating RTD activities regarding Horizon 2020, Urban Europe and other European innovation programmes as well as relevant national and regional innovation programmes.
d) Stimulating local innovation and growth in SMEs.
e) Improving the capacity of industry and research institutions in the region to invest in and develop their emerging RTD capabilities in ways that are more closely aligned with the key transport and urban mobility challenges facing the region and contribute more significantly to economic development, business growth and the creation of more and better jobs.
Of particular significance in relation to this objective was the work to develop stronger regional cooperation and cluster development in the Mazovia and East Midlands regions. For example, on 10th September 2014 the “Mazovia Regional Initiatives Forum – transport, health, environment” (FIRM) was launched by the Office of the Marshall of Mazowieckie Voivodeship. The aim of this new Regional Special Interest Group (RSIG) is to support cooperation between regional stakeholders actively participating in the area of transport, health and environment. Also, the recent funding successes to develop Regional Centres of Excellence in the East and West Midlands in the UK in fields relating to transport and intelligent mobility and the application of space technologies, by key partners in THE ISSUE Project in partnership with the Transport Systems Catapult and the Satellite Applications Catapult will provide a framework within which to develop a new regional cluster for the Midlands.
RESULT 6. EXPANDING THE RESEARCH CLUSTER CONCEPT INTO NEW EUROPEAN REGIONS
THE ISSUE utilised the expertise and capabilities within the Consortium to support the development of new and emerging European regional triple-helix clusters focussed on traffic-health-environment. As a result of the actions of THE ISSUE Project, eight additional European regions were accepted into the Project as associate regions. Each associate region shares an interest in the regional research cluster concept and in identifying innovative ITS traffic management solutions to address challenges in the combined fields of traffic-health-environment. Each associate region contributed a significant effort to the realisation of some of the key deliverables achieved by THE ISSUE Project. A significant mentoring programme was conducted by THE ISSUE Project, which has contributed to the development and maturity of a number of new research clusters that will ultimately enable these regions to gain wider European and global recognition and encourage their inclusion in the European Research Area.
A key overarching objective for the Project was to expand THE ISSUE Consortium to invite new, existing or emerging research clusters from other European regions that share common priorities and areas of interest with THE ISSUE Project to participate in the Project. This activity formed the key focus of Work Package 4 (WP4). During the first reporting period significant progress was made. Following a process to identify potential regional candidates, eight new associate regions were invited to participate in the Project in June 2012:
• Andalusia, Spain
• Attica, Greece
• Basque Country, Spain
• Calabria, Italy
• North-West Region of Romania, Romania
• Northern Ireland, United-Kingdom
• Primorje-Gorski, Croatia
• Uusimaa, Finland
The eight associate regions represented a wide range of regional organizations; from mature clusters to university actors/researchers who were willing to join/establish a regional research-driven cluster in THE ISSUE related fields. A Collaboration Action Plan was drawn up for each associate region and implemented during Years 2 and 3. These plans were informed by the mapping and audit exercises carried out in Stage One and the development of the JAP in Stage Two. These action plans were presented in the deliverable D4.3 SWOT and Mentoring Action Plan for Each Mentored Region.
The key outcomes for this task were:
• Actors from within the Associate Regions collaborated in pre project study teams formed as part of WP5 and had opportunities to transfer their knowledge and expertise to the rest of the Consortium by knowledge exchange actions.
• Actors from within the Associate Regions who participated in the pre project teams also benefitted from a transfer the knowledge and expertise from the other Consortium actors involved by knowledge exchange actions.
• Emerging regional clusters benefitted from mentoring and knowledge exchange activities, where best practise and know-how of existing triple helix cluster in THE ISSUE Consortium could transfer their expertise and experience to the mentored regions.
RESULT 7. ESTABLISHING A NEW LEGAL ENTITY, THE ISSUE META-CLUSTER
Another key achievement for THE ISSUE Project was the establishment of a European Special Interest Group in Transport, Health and Environment, called THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster. THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster is an independent legal association that will ensure the long-term economic sustainability of THE ISSUE Consortium. This will ensure the continuity and sustainability of the extensive European network of regional clusters focussed on transport-health-environment that was created by THE ISSUE Project.
THE ISSUE established a new European Special Interest Group in transport-health-environment, comprising of The Meta-Cluster will provide a legacy for THE ISSUE Project and coordinate the delivery of THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility through preparing and implementing collaborative trans-national funding proposals to the EU’s Horizon 2020 and other funding programmes.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster comprises of a network of European regional triple-helix clusters. In the first instance, 11 European regional clusters from within THE ISSUE Consortium indicated their desire to become members of the Meta-Cluster. This represents over 380 industry actors, including 300 SMEs, as well as 110 research centres and 135 local authorities. Each regional cluster will be linked to a Regional Special Interest Group (RSIG) or formal cluster, which will be a legally constituted body, where possible. Each RSIG will represent the appropriate regional cluster on the Meta-Cluster Board. This approach follows best practice of other successful networks such as NEREUS and ERRIN.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster’s goals are:
a) To exploit the application of Downstream Space Data Products & Services and Information & Communication Technologies in the fields of traffic, health and the environment.
b) To work in close association with NEREUS (Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies) & other European networks in traffic-health-environment fields.
c) To formalise the triple-helix approach in all the regions participating in the Meta-Cluster.
d) To boost the participation of regional stakeholders, in particular SMEs, in EU R&D projects.
e) To facilitate the development of supply chains, business growth and job creation across Europe.
f) To implement activities for business collaboration and SME internationalisation through the network.
g) To provide a forum for knowledge transfer between THE ISSUE members, coordination of RTD activities regarding Horizon 2020, the sharing and dissemination of information on key issues at European and World level.
h) To promote regional triple-helix cluster initiatives, lobbying in favour of regional RTD competencies and projects towards the EU institutions, as well as stimulating new policy developments.
i) To promote collaboration and cooperation in research and education activities and local and regional transport and urban mobility planning.
j) To expand the “triple-helix” cluster network to new European regions.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will be engaged in a number of key activity areas in its first two years:
1. Coordinating the delivery the priority innovation actions identified within THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014-2020), by adopting a coordinated approach to preparing and submitting funding proposals through Thematic Working Groups and Pre-Project Teams.
2. Undertaking a prioritisation exercise every year within and between the regions to ensure the priority project areas are kept current and up-to-date and take account of any changing objectives within local, national and European policies.
3. Boosting the participation of regional stakeholders, in particular SMEs, in EU-funded RTD projects, through:
a) Maintaining an up-to-date database of EU funding-call information.
b) Providing regular information updates on key EU funding programmes.
c) Developing a partner search facility/capability ‘for matchmaking’.
d) Exploiting Social Media and “Grey Networking” opportunities.
4. Acting as a lobbying body to the EC on transport/health/environment issues.
5. Restructuring and re-shaping THE ISSUE Project database of RTD capabilities and expertise of the Cluster Partners.
6. Implementing activities for business collaboration and SME internationalisation through the network.
7. Continuing to support mentoring and knowledge exchange activities to promote knowledge transfer within and beyond the Meta-Cluster.
8. Working towards expanding the “triple-helix” cluster network to new European regions in the future.
9. Undertaking lobbying activities in favour of regional RTD capabilities and projects towards the EU institutions, as well as boosting new policy developments.
10. Developing a Collaboration Strategy for working in cooperation and in association with other current networks with similar remits and focus.
11. Improving communication actions at the European level, including through Regional Authorities’ offices in Brussels.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster has already established a close association with NEREUS, the Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies. THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will lead a new Transport Working Group on behalf of NEREUS, which will aim to promote the Downstream application of Space Technologies within the transport sector across Europe. In return, NEREUS will provide Secretarial support for the Meta-Cluster, as well as host the Meta-Cluster (legal address), provide meeting space in Brussels for Meta-Cluster activities and participate in common events with the Meta-Cluster.
RESULT 8. DELIVERING A MAJOR PROGRAMME OF MENTORING AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE ACTIVITIES
THE ISSUE promoted an exchange of knowledge, best practice and mutual learning between the regional clusters, in order to create additional capacity within the Consortium to deliver THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014-2020). Delivered through a programme of international conferences, webinars and workshops, including hosting the highly successful “THE ISSUE 2014: Sustainable Transport Technologies - Collaboration for Innovation Conference” in Loughborough, United Kingdom, from 11 to 13 February 2014, where over 600 delegates, 40 exhibitors and trade delegations from across Europe explored ways of bridging the gap between local and regional policy priorities and technological innovation with regard to sustainable transport and urban mobility.
A Mentoring and Knowledge Exchange Programme (MKEP) was developed and delivered as part of the activities undertaken in Work Package 5. The aim of the MKEP Programme was to promote an exchange of knowledge, best practice and mutual learning between regional clusters, in order to create additional capacity within the Consortium to deliver THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014-2020). This involved the delivery of 7 international on-site knowledge exchange and mentoring activities, as well as a programme of 14 webinars, topic-based workshops and case studies, posted on THE ISSUE website and the publication of 10 quarterly Project Newsletters.
8.1 THE ISSUE ON-SITE KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AND MENTORING ACTIVITIES
A total of 12 MKEP on-site knowledge exchange and mentoring activities were proposed and agreed by partners within THE ISSUE. In the end, a total of seven activities were actually delivered. These were:
• MKEP1: Analysis of European Maritime Port System regarding the development of Motorways of the Sea (Participants: Molise and Primorje-Gorskie, in Rijeka, Croatia - November 2014)
• MKEP2: Traffic and Mobility Management in Town Centres (Participants: Molise and Midi-Pyrénées/Aquitaine, in Toulouse – July 2014)
• MKEP4: Air Pollution Data Portal: The integration of GIS, Open Source and Sustainability of the Environment (Participants: Mazovia, Molise and East Midlands, in Nottingham, UK – August 2014)
• MKEP5: Mentoring for Excellence in Cluster Management in North West Romania (Participants: North-West Region – Midi-Pyrénées/Aquitaine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania – November 2014)
• MKEP10: Smart Ticketing: E-ticketing best Practices (Participants: North-West Region of Romania, East Midlands and Midi-Pyrénées/Aquitaine, in Toulouse, France – September 2014)
• MKEP11: Open GIS Capacity Building for Local Authorities (Participants: Mazovia, Molise and East Midlands, in Nottingham, UK – August 2014)
• MKEP12: Best Practice Exchanges and Mentoring Actions with Greece’s Emerging Clusters: CHORUS, Si-Cluster (Participants: Midi-Pyrénées/Aquitaine, East Midlands and Attica, in Athens/Thessalonica – April 2014)
8.2 THE ISSUE WEBINAR AND WORKSHOP PROGRAMME
As part of the Mentoring and Knowledge Exchange Programme, THE ISSUE also delivered a series of "Master Classes" to facilitate knowledge exchange and the sharing of best practice between core and associate regions. Master Classes began in the Month 19 of the Project and were delivered via a series of Webinars and Workshops available to core and associate partners and for all others project subscribers.
THE ISSUE Master Class Programme was developed by DMU and the University of Molise as part of the tasks undertaken in Work Package 5. A range of Master Class materials was prepared by relevant partners within THE ISSUE. This included information and materials gathered through WP2 on the expertise of the consortium partners as part of the research and technology capabilities published in THE ISSUE RTD Audit. The Programme also drew on the joint THE ISSUE/NEREUS publication “Space and ICT Applications supporting Smart, Green, Integrated Transport and Urban Mobility”.
In the period to October 2014, twelve webinars and two workshops were delivered, to a live audience of over 260 interested participants from across Europe. Many more have further engaged with the programme, accessing the recorded material after the broadcasted events. The details of the Master Class programme are summarised in Table 7. All information, presentations and recordings are available on THE ISSUE website in the webinar’s section: (http://www.theissue.eu/en/webinars)
• Workshop 1 (Warsaw Conference), 3rd July 2013, by UNOTT on Location-Based Intelligence and Open Data: Facilitating Smart City Citizen-Centered Intelligent Transport Systems
• Webinar 1, 1st October 2013 by LCC and DMU on Introduction to THE ISSUE
• Webinar 2, 5th November 2013 by University of Rome, Italy on Transport planning methodologies for the assessment of ITS measures
• Webinar 3, 3rd December 2013 by Aerospace Valley, France on European ambitions for triple helix clusters
• Webinar 4 (internal webinar), 17th December 2013 by De Montfort University, UK on Transport in Horizon 2020
• Webinar 5, 7th January 2014 by the Public Transport Authority of Warsaw, Poland on the Development of cycle traffic in Warsaw – public bike system, infrastructural and organizational measures
• Webinar 6 (internal webinar), 29th January 2014 by Aerospace Valley on an overview and opportunities from H2020 projects bids emerging from THE ISSUE
• Webinar 7 (Workshop 2 in Loughborough), 12th February 2014 by University of Leicester and University of Rome on Urban Air Quality; Regulation, Monitoring and Management
• Webinar 8, 25th March 2014 by Intergraph Poland (SME) on Urban and Regional Road Networks
• Webinar 9, 8th April 2014 by Heller Consult (SME) Poland on the Use of data on the road infrastructure for evaluation of traffic safety in the cities
• Webinar 10, 13th May 2014 by University of Molise on The sustainability of urban mobility as a result of territorial integrated models
• Webinar 11, 3rd June 2014 by Centre for Research and Technology Hellas on Promoting passenger intermodality together with environmental objectives – The case of Athens- International Airport
• Webinar 12, 10th July 2014 by UNOTT on Open Geospatial Science and Applications- Challenges and Opportunities
• Webinar 13, 7th October 2014 by the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania on Applications of ITS technology in road traffic monitoring and urban mobility, in the case of Cluj Napoca, Romania
• Webinar 14, 6th November 2014 by Aerospace Valley, France on H2020 and the SME instrument
RESULT 9. PRODUCING A MAJOR NEW PUBLICATION: “SPACE AND ICT APPLICATIONS SUPPORTING SMART, GREEN, INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AND URBAN MOBILITY” (THE ISSUE PROJECT/NEREUS)
The publication of the Joint Action Plan also resulted in THE ISSUE Project delivering another key output in the form of an additional publication, called “Space and ICT Applications Supporting Smart, Green, Integrated Transport and Urban Mobility”.
This document, produced in collaboration with NEREUS (Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies), presents a collection of 40 short case studies of research and technological development that has been carried out within THE ISSUE Consortium. It illustrates the emerging role of new technologies, particularly from the fields of ICT and Downstream Space data Products and Services, in providing viable and sustainable solutions to many high priority problems that urban and regional transport authorities currently face.
The publication was launched at the joint THE ISSUE/NEREUS event as part of the EU Open Days in October 2013. But it was primarily prepared to form part of the conference materials for the major international conference organised by THE ISSUE in Loughborough in the United Kingdom in February 2014, which saw over 600 delegates attend this three day event. Further information on the publication can be found at www.theissue.eu).
Potential Impact:
INTRODUCTION
This section sets out the potential impact of THE ISSUE Project, including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the Project so far. It also describes the main dissemination activities undertaken and the exploitation of results.
POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE ISSUE PROJECT SO FAR
In the original Project Proposal, THE ISSUE Consortium identified seven key impacts for THE ISSUE Project, some of which would be realised within the life of the Project and others that will not manifest themselves until some years after the end of the Project. Outlined below is consideration of the impacts of THE ISSUE Project so far, in terms of:
1. Establishing a trans-national, inter-regional network
2. Achieving closer integration with local industry and regional policy makers and planners.
3. Achieving the extension of research driven clusters into regions with less-well developed research structures.
4. Consolidated and strengthened regional clusters
5. Coordinated and integrated regional RTD Programmes
6. Environmental benefits and economic growth
7. New European Regional Clusters
1. Establishing a Trans-National, Inter-Regional Network
A key impact for THE ISSUE Project was to establish a trans-national, inter-regional network that will focus existing and emerging RTD activity, and related industrial developments, to help develop and deliver regional transport policy objectives.
So far, THE ISSUE Project has established THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster as a legal association. This will comprise of regional clusters from THE ISSUE Consortium and provide a lasting legacy for THE ISSUE Project. Some of the key goal for THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster include:
a) Formalising the triple-helix approach in all the regions participating in the Meta-Cluster.
b) Exploiting the application of Downstream Space Data Products & Services and Information & Communication Technologies in the fields of traffic, health and the environment.
c) Boosting the participation of regional stakeholders, in particular SMEs, in EU R&D projects.
d) Facilitating the development of supply chains, business growth and job creation across Europe.
e) Implementing activities for business collaboration and SME internationalisation through the network.
f) Providing a forum for knowledge transfer between THE ISSUE members, coordination of RTD activities regarding Horizon 2020, the sharing and dissemination of information on key issues at European and World level.
g) Promoting regional triple-helix cluster initiatives, lobbying in favour of regional RTD competencies and projects towards the EU institutions, as well as stimulating new policy developments.
h) Promoting collaboration and cooperation in research and education activities and local and regional transport and urban mobility planning.
2. Achieving Closer Integration with Local Industry and Regional Policy Makers and Planners
A key impact for THE ISSUE Project was to enable existing and emerging RTD clusters to develop structures that will achieve closer integration with local industry and regional policy makers and planners.
So far, a number of core and associate regional clusters within THE ISSUE Consortium have an established formal legal structure (Aerospace Valley in France, MLC Cluster in the Basque Country, Spain and the Intermodal Transport Cluster in Croatia). For those that entered the Project without such legal structures, the Mazovia and Molise regions have now established formal cluster structures. A number of other regions, including the East Midlands, Northern Ireland have made significant progress during the Project to develop a more formal “triple-helix” structures focusing on transport-health-environment. Other associate regions, such as the Attica Region in Greece, the North West Regional Development Area in Romania and the Calabria Region in Italy have made a commitment to developing formal cluster structures in the near future.
A key goal for THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster is to formalise the triple-helix approach in all the regions participating in the Meta-Cluster.
3. Achieving the Extension of Research Driven Clusters into Regions with Less-Well Developed Research Structures
A key impact for THE ISSUE Project was to achieve the extension of research driven clusters into regions with less-well developed research structures.
So far, through THE ISSUE Project’s Work Package 4 – “Mentoring Regions, Mutual Learning”, the Project has been able to expand THE ISSUE consortium with new, existing or emerging research clusters from other European regions that shared common priority areas and areas of interest with THE ISSUE Project. A total of eight European regions have become associate regions within THE ISSUE Project, namely:
1. Calabria Region, Italy
2. MLC Cluster, Basque Country, Spain
3. Andalucía Region, Spain
4. Attica Region, Greece,
5. North West Development Region, Romania
6. Primorje-Gorskie Region, Croatia
7. Uusimaa Region, Finland
8. Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with each associate region and a collaboration action plan was also prepared for each associate region and was implemented during Years 2 and 3 of the Project. The outcome of implementing these plans were:
• Helping the emerging regional clusters achieve better integration between research actors, industries and local/regional authorities.
• Enabling all the associate regions to participate in the Project through attending conferences and participating in project teams developing pre-project feasibility studies.
• Encouraging all the associate regions to participate in THE ISSUE Mentoring and Knowledge Exchange and Master Class Programmes.
• Supporting an expanding network in each associate region and develop new clusters of RTD/Industry and Policy Makers.
A key goal for THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster is to work towards expanding the “triple-helix” cluster network to new European regions in the future.
4. Consolidated and Strengthened Regional Clusters
THE ISSUE Project has provided the foundations for the consolidation and strengthening of regional ‘triple-helix’ clusters across Europe. Each regional cluster in THE ISSUE has a triple-helix structure comprising of representatives from industry, academic research, and local/regional authorities. While the full impact of THE ISSUE Project in this area will not be realised for a few years yet, the foundations has been set down.
For example, the “triple-helix” approach has enabled each region to begin to establish closer strategic links and foster stronger cooperation and collaboration between industry (particularly SMEs), universities and local authorities within each region and between regions. For example, the “triple-helix” approach has already delivered the following impacts within each region in THE ISSUE Consortium:
• Industry is becoming better placed to commercialise new and emerging research and technology.
• Universities are becoming more aware of market forces and user-needs
• RTD strategies are becoming more responsive to local and regional strategic and economic objectives
• Business is more enabled to support policy delivery
• Local and national government needs and market opportunities are becoming more visible to business and research institutions.
• Public authorities are becoming better informed of the economic, social and environmental potential of current RTD actions in their regions.
• Barriers preventing market uptake of emerging technologies at high levels of technical readiness are being addressed through pilot studies, demonstration programmes and pre-operational roll-out.
• New industrial innovations and products are being developed that match the vision and interest of markets as well as transport, urban mobility and environmental impact policy-makers.
THE ISSUE Project also identified best practice in the development of Local Transport Plans (LTP) in mature Regions using a strong evidence base drawn from transport users (industry and the travelling public), clear understanding of the scope of the RTD base and identified transport operational priorities in sub-regional and regional government.
Transport is a high priority in most regional development strategies. Sub-regional and urban transport policy-making bodies cooperate in public transport planning for rail, train and emergency services and work together to develop local or regional transport plans. THE ISSUE Project helped formalise links between regional cluster partners and local and regional authority administrations, which will lead to better integrated policy objectives that take account of innovation and RTD outputs. To strengthen the expertise in the development and operation of regional transport policy each consortium regional partner added a transport expert to their regional working group teams at the start of the Project to advise on how transport user requirements may impact on RTD policies and programmes. These experts have participated in THE ISSUE conferences and other mentoring or exchange programmes.
Within core and associate regions, THE ISSUE Project has already contributed towards some specific major impacts:
• In the Midi-Pyrenees-Aquitaine Regions in France, Aerospace Valley is a World Competitiveness Cluster that has achieved “Gold” status by the European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI).
• In the Mazovia Region in Poland, the Mazovia Marshals Office has established a formal triple-helix cluster: “Regional Special Interest Group” to coordinate actions in the fields of traffic-health-environment.
• In the East Midlands Region in the UK, three new Regional Centres of Excellence (outreach partnerships) were established with the Transport Systems Catapult and the Satellite Applications Catapult. All three Catapult partnerships involve partners that were active in THE ISSUE Project and will provide the framework to establish a formal Regional Special Interest Group in traffic-health-environment to promote cooperation and collaboration between the three Catapult partnerships.
• In the Molise Region, the Molise Regional Development Agency (SI Molise), has established a Regional Special Interest Group in traffic-health-environment.
• In the associate regions, there are formal cluster structures in:
a) The Basque Country (the MLC Euskadi Cluster)
b) The Primorje-Gorskie Region in Croatia (the Intermodal transport Cluster)
• In the associate regions, the following regions have made a commitment to establish Regional Special Interest Group in traffic-health-environment, in:
a) Attica Region, Greece
b) Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
c) Calabria Region, Italy
d) North West Development Region, Romania
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will continue to work to build on these impacts after the end of the Project and to consolidate and strengthen the regional clusters in the future. This will ensure the sustainability of THE ISSUE Consortium after the end of the Project. This is being achieved in two ways:
• By continuing to support the development of a network of regional “triple-helix” clusters, including all 12 core and associate regional clusters in THE ISSUE Consortium; and
• By coordinating the actions of the regional clusters and drive forward the transport-health-environment agenda on a European stage.
5. Coordinated and Integrated RTD Programmes
THE ISSUE Project has laid the foundations for the development of a coordinated and integrated RTD programme across THE ISSUE Consortium. It has brought together regional research-driven clusters in four core regions and 8 associate regions across Europe that are all involved in transport related RTD actions. All 12 regions were committed to achieving high levels of coordination between their regional programmes and were actively integrating their RTD outputs through knowledge exchange, joint programmes and increased inter-regional collaboration.
The publication of THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility: The Application of ICT & Space Technologies to Improve the Economic, Environmental and Social Health of Cities and Regions (2014-2020) represents a major legacy programme for THE ISSUE Project and provide the foundation for a coordinated and integrated RTD programme across THE ISSUE Consortium. The Programme will be taken forward by THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster in the period to 2020 and beyond.
The effective integration of RTD and policy across the research clusters is already providing significant value added for the activities of each of the regions. Each core region is focusing their collective RTD strategies and prioritise their future actions towards lead markets and areas of potential economic growth through the implementation of THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014-2020).
The effective integration of RTD and policy across these research clusters will provide significant value added for the activities of each of the regions. Furthermore, through the development of the Associate Region clusters and exemplars provided by the Project, cooperation and dissemination of best practice will be extended across a wider grouping of European clusters.
The Project also introduced mechanisms to increase synergy between RTD outputs and local and regional authority needs through a programme of mentoring and knowledge exchanges activities between the triple-helix sectors. The programme included:
• Mentoring and knowledge exchange between technical scientific experts in the core and associate region partners.
• Advice from experts to management boards of existing and emerging regional research clusters.
The exchange of knowledge, informed scientific advice and guidance between specialists and local and regional authority departments was highly beneficial. In view of the inherently high science/technology content in many transport issues. At the same time, RTD leaders have benefitted from greater understanding of the needs of local and regional users of their technological advances. The knowledge exchange programmes implemented by THE ISSUE Project are specific examples where current policy and planning actions in local and regional authorities were augmented through increased science/technology awareness.
6. Environmental Benefits and Socio-Economic Growth
The environmental and socio-economic benefits of the Project will be realised in the longer term. The implementation of THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014-2020) will play a key part in helping to stimulate supply chain development, business growth and the creation of more and better jobs. It will also deliver a range of environmental benefits in the local and regional economies of its cluster partners.
The development and integration of research-driven clusters across Europe through THE ISSUE has strengthened the engagement of local industry in the planning and development process and with research institutions, ensuring more relevance to local economic need and promoting sustainable economic development. THE ISSUE helped to create a framework that will support the long-term commercial exploitation of ITS systems into markets across Europe. Innovative transport technologies being developed by THE ISSUE Consortium’s research clusters, such as urban air quality initiatives will help develop Europe’s future low carbon economy.
The development and integration of research-driven clusters across Europe through THE ISSUE Project will help to promote regional economic development and competitiveness (increased cost efficiency, increase in jobs, in foreign direct investment, in patents, additional GDP or growth in Value added) in transport economics, also facilitating the emergence of lead markets. The engagement of local industry in the planning and development process through THE ISSUE Project, using existing infrastructures in the EU-15 states and developing infrastructures in accession states, will ensure more relevance to local economic need, thus helping to develop regional economies. The benefits arising as a result of THE ISSUE Project will include new collaborations of academic researchers with local and international companies searching for specific expertise in innovative traffic management solutions, and the establishment of companies linked to ITS solutions that are looking for close collaborations with researchers in this field.
The successful deployment of ITS systems within the EU will also assist with its commercial exploitation outside of the EU. Emerging nations such as India, China and the Far East all offer strong markets for the export of ITS systems where they have a growing need to manage their own congestion and air qualities issues. Despite the shift in focus of new developments to the Far East, India and China, it is essential that Europe has capacity to deliver low energy transport solutions into these emerging markets. THE ISSUE Project created a framework that will support delivery into these emerging markets.
Environmental benefits can arise from reduced congestion and the promotion of intermodal travel, while improved health outcomes can be achieved by improvements in air-quality. Emerging green transport initiatives and innovative transport technologies being developed by the Consortium’s research clusters, such as alternative fuel systems (hydrogen vehicles, low carbon technologies etc.) and urban air quality initiatives will help develop Europe’s future low carbon economy. Such initiatives being developed through the core and associate region clusters are becoming more user-focused through the early engagement of local industry, and will be fed into Local Government Transport Plans through the triple-helix networks.
7. New European Regional Clusters
THE ISSUE Project has been able to utilize the expertise and capabilities within its Core Regions to inform and mentor eight new associate research clusters within the European Union interested in ITS traffic management solutions or specific projects identified by the Project’s Joint Action Plan. This also ensured that the impact of the Project will be delivered across a wider group of European clusters and enable a European network of clusters to be established that can achieve sustainable development in this area.
A total of eight associate regions were introduced into THE ISSUE Project. As a result of RTD and industry organisations from developing regions participating in mentoring with more mature regions, this enabled some of the associate regions to develop into clusters of RTD/Industry and policy makers in their own regions. As these clusters develop and mature, this will enable them to gain wider European and global recognition thus encouraging the inclusion of these developing regions in the European Research Area. The associate regions have participated in many Project conferences and were involved in knowledge exchange workshops and pre-project feasibility studies that have emerged out of the Joint Action Plan.
MAIN DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
THE ISSUE Project established fast and reliable communication, dissemination and knowledge exchange mechanisms that will enable THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster to continue to disseminate and communicate the results of the Project in the future to project partners, the wider community of stakeholders, local and regional authority planners, European Commission officials, the industry base and the general public across all the regional research clusters and beyond.
THE ISSUE Project undertook a large number of different dissemination activities. Again, many of these will be continued by THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster. This includes dissemination activities relating to:
• Development of a Project website, used both to publish project information and act as a means of communication and knowledge exchange between partners and other stakeholders.
• Publication of a quarterly newsletter.
• Presentation of developments through press releases, reports, and presentation of papers at conferences.
• Project Conferences.
• Implementation of a mentoring and knowledge exchange programme.
8.1 Project Website
THE ISSUE Project website (www.theissue.eu) was used both to publish project information and to act as a means of communication and knowledge exchange between partners and other stakeholders. The Project website was able to deliver electronic services for storing and exchanging information, documents, newsletters, etc. The public section of the website holds all information that can be released into the public domain during the Project including general project information, published reports and action plans. Access to the private section of the website is limited via password security to designated participants only.
8.2 Project Newsletter
THE ISSUE Project newsletter was produced quarterly and prepared under the editorial leadership of Work Package 7. A total of 10 newsletters were produced during the lifetime of the Project and all were posted on the Project website and distributed electronically to all registered website users and stakeholders. The Project newsletter was distributed to 777 subscribers, who signed up for the newsletter via the project website. In the reporting period the Project gained 186 new recipients. In order to raise the success of dissemination through the newsletter, links to it were put on a various forums and trade websites.
8.3 Presentation of Developments
THE ISSUE prepared a large number of documents relating to the latest news about the Project, the results achieved, the work conducted, the main Project events and other relevant issues. These were all posted on to the Project website. This included press releases, reports, papers at conferences, reviews of meetings and knowledge exchange programmes.
8.4 Project Conferences
A formal programme of open conference events were organised throughout the Project to facilitate the dissemination and communication of information relating to the Project. Announcements, registration, results and reports for these events were placed in the public section of the Project website, which achieved maximum dissemination to existing and new research clusters, regional authorities, stakeholders and end-users. These events included:
• THE ISSUE Kick-Off Conference, Leicester, UK - January 2012
• THE ISSUE Conference, Toulouse, France - July 2012
• THE ISSUE Conference, Isernia, Molise, Italy - January 2013
• THE ISSUE Mazovia Conference, Warsaw, Poland - July 2013
• THE ISSUE Conference, Loughborough, UK - February 2014
• THE ISSUE Final Conference, Brussels, Belgium - November 2014
8.5 Mentoring and Knowledge Exchange Programme
As part of the Mentoring and Knowledge Exchange Programme, THE ISSUE also launched a series of "Master Classes" to facilitate knowledge exchange and the sharing of best practice between core and associate regions. Master Classes began in the Month 19 of the project. These have all been identified earlier in this report. The Master Classes were delivered via a series of webinars and workshops available to core and associate partners and for all others project subscribers. In the period to October 2014, twelve webinars, including two workshops were delivered, to a live audience of over 260 interested participants from across Europe. Many more have further engaged with the programme, accessing the recorded material after the broadcasted events. The details of the full Master Class programme are given below. All information, presentations and recordings are available on THE ISSUE website in the webinar’s section: (http://www.theissue.eu/en/webinars)
EXPLOITATION OF RESULTS (FOREGROUND)
The principle output (foreground) produced by THE ISSUE Project was its Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014 to 2020). THE ISSUE Project has established a new European Special Interest Group in transport, health and the environment, called THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster. The primary purpose of THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster is to coordinate the implementation and dissemination of this foreground.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster is a new legal association established by THE ISSUE Project that will comprise of a network of regional triple-helix clusters from across Europe working together to exploit the application of Downstream Space Data Products and Services and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the fields of transport, health and the environment. In the first instance, 11 European regional clusters from within THE ISSUE Consortium have indicated their desire to become members of the Meta-Cluster. This represents over 380 industry actors, including 300 SMEs, as well as 110 research centres and 135 local authorities. Each regional cluster will be linked to a Regional Special Interest Group (RSIG) or formal cluster, which will be a legally constituted body, where possible. Each RSIG will represent the appropriate regional cluster on the Meta-Cluster Board. This approach follows best practice of other successful networks such as NEREUS and ERRIN.
The aim of THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster is to implement THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014 to 2020). This will deliver innovations in intelligent traffic management and urban mobility to address six key challenge areas relating to the impact of transport on the economic, environmental and social health of cities and regions across Europe.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster’s goals are:
a) To exploit the application of Downstream Space Data Products & Services and Information & Communication Technologies in the fields of traffic, health and the environment.
b) To work in close association with NEREUS (Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies) & other European networks in traffic-health-environment fields.
c) To formalise the triple-helix approach in all the regions participating in the Meta-Cluster.
d) To boost the participation of regional stakeholders, in particular SMEs, in EU R&D projects.
e) To facilitate the development of supply chains, business growth and job creation across Europe.
f) To implement activities for business collaboration and SME internationalisation through the network.
g) To provide a forum for knowledge transfer between THE ISSUE members, coordination of RTD activities regarding Horizon 2020, the sharing and dissemination of information on key issues at European and World level.
h) To promote regional triple-helix cluster initiatives, lobbying in favour of regional RTD competencies and projects towards the EU institutions, as well as stimulating new policy developments.
i) To promote collaboration and cooperation in research and education activities and local and regional transport and urban mobility planning.
j) To expand the “triple-helix” cluster network to new European regions.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will be engaged in a number of key activity areas in its first two years in order to use and disseminate the exploitable foreground from THE ISSUE Project. This includes:
1. Coordinating the delivery the priority innovation actions identified within THE ISSUE Programme of Innovation in Sustainable Transport and Intelligent Mobility (2014-2020), by adopting a coordinated approach to preparing and submitting funding proposals through Thematic Working Groups and Pre-Project Teams.
2. Undertaking a prioritisation exercise every year within and between the regions to ensure the priority project areas are kept current and up-to-date and take account of any changing objectives within local, national and European policies.
3. Boosting the participation of regional stakeholders, in particular SMEs, in EU-funded RTD projects, through:
a) Maintaining an up-to-date database of EU funding-call information.
b) Providing regular information updates on key EU funding programmes.
c) Developing a partner search facility/capability ‘for matchmaking’.
d) Exploiting Social Media and “Grey Networking” opportunities.
4. Acting as a lobbying body to the EC on transport/health/environment issues
5. Restructuring and re-shaping THE ISSUE Project database of RTD capabilities and expertise of the Cluster Partners.
6. Implementing activities for business collaboration and SME internationalisation through the network.
7. Continuing to support mentoring and knowledge exchange activities to promote knowledge transfer within and beyond the Meta-Cluster.
8. Working towards expanding the “triple-helix” cluster network to new European regions in the future.
9. Undertaking lobbying activities in favour of regional RTD capabilities and projects towards the EU institutions, as well as boosting new policy developments.
10. Developing a Collaboration Strategy for working in cooperation and in association with other current networks with similar remits and focus, including NEREUS, ERTICO, ERRIN, and POLIS.
11. Improving communication actions at the European level, including through Regional Authorities’ offices in Brussels.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster has already established a close association with NEREUS, the Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies. THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will lead a new Transport Working Group on behalf of NEREUS, which will aim to promote the Downstream application of Space Technologies within the transport sector across Europe. In return, NEREUS will provide Secretarial support for the Meta-Cluster, as well as host the Meta-Cluster (legal address), provide meeting space in Brussels for Meta-Cluster activities and participate in common events with the Meta-Cluster.
Building on THE ISSUE Project
A key objective for THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will be promoting knowledge transfer. To achieve this objective, THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will build on the Master Class Programme developed under THE ISSUE Project. This will involve continuing the programme of webinars, topic-based workshops, mentoring activities and secondments, where possible.
A new website is being created for THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster. This will be linked to the existing website for THE ISSUE project which will be utilized and adapted to meet the needs of the newly established Meta-Cluster. Additionally, the branding for THE ISSUE Project will be taken forward by the new Meta-Cluster. This will enable THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster to access all aspects developed under the FP7 funding and then adapt them at minimal cost to continue the promotional activities carried out to date.
The Master Class Programme implemented in THE ISSUE Project will be continued by THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster. A range of new Master Class materials will be prepared by relevant partners within THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster. The Master Classes will continue to be delivered using a range of dissemination platforms including webinars and workshops. The Master Class materials will be hosted on THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster Website. The Master Class Knowledge Exchange Programme will be developed in relation to the applicable technology and expertise within THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster Regions as well as drawing on published material and outputs from other programmes within the European Technology Platform. Some Master Class activity will be open to the wider community, while others will only be available to Meta-Cluster and Regional Cluster members. The purpose of this is to help develop the benefits of membership of THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will also endeavor to continue the webinar programme delivered by THE ISSUE Project. This could include interactive video conferencing discussions or Skype-type discussions over a specific theme. Some of these webinars may be of commercial value with the potential of providing an income to THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster thereby developing a sustainable body with an income. Webinars should be available live, but also available after the event on THE ISSUE Project website to ensure all parties have an opportunity to view. Topic-based Workshops will include face-to-face activities to debate, discuss and share ideas about a particular topic. Material from the workshops will be available through THE ISSUE Project website and follow-up activities will be coordinated through the online Forum. The majority of workshops will be available only for members of the Meta-Cluster or Regional Clusters. In some cases, aspects of the workshops may be streamed live online.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will aim to continue the mentoring and knowledge exchange programme implemented by THE ISSUE Project. This will be subject to securing additional external funding.
THE ISSUE Meta-Cluster will also aim to collaborate with other networks such as NEREUS, ERRIN, POLIS and ERTICO, and other Regions of Knowledge project partnerships. The ESIG Board will enter into discussions with other networks and organisations with a view to developing close working relationships with these bodies to develop the transport, environment and health themes of THE ISSUE Project.
List of Websites:
www.theissue.eu
Steve Dibnah
Project Coordinator THE ISSUE Project
Leicester City Council
City Hall
115 Charles Street
Leicester
LE1 1FZ
United Kingdom
steve.dibnah@leicester.gov.uk
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