Much of the Department’s research has an international dimension, either because the policy context is international or because the research objectives are also of interest to other countries and international research organisations. The Department has a direct interest in a number of international research programmes and initiatives including the European Union Framework Programmes, COST (European Co-operation in Science and Technology) and research activities of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The Chief Scientific Adviser’s Unit co-ordinates and (where appropriate) manages the Department’s interests in the EU, OECD & COST research programmes. It seeks to ensure that DfT and UK policy objectives are met in the strategic formulation, coverage and content of these programmes. It also seeks complementarity between domestic and international research programmes and to secure maximum benefit for DfT and interested UK organisations from these international research programmes. It actively encourages UK organisations to take part in EU Research Programmes and supports National Focal Points for the EU's Framework Programme to ensure UK organisations are aware of the opportunities available under the EU's Framework Programme.

The following pages provide an overview of EU, COST and OECD Research, together with details on how to access further information, in particular the EU’s Framework Programme of research.

European Research Area

The European Research Area (ERA) was initiated in 2000 and all new EU Research Framework Programmes (FPs) form the key pillars of this strategy. By bundling all initiatives together under a common roof it plays a crucial role in reaching the goals of growth, competitiveness and employment; along with a new Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), Education and Training programmes, and Structural and Cohesion Funds for regional convergence and competitiveness.

ERA objectives include:

• Networking of existing centres of excellence in Europe and the creation of virtual centres through the use of new interactive communication tools.
• A common approach to the needs and means of financing large research facilities in Europe.
• More coherent implementation of national and European research activities and closer relations between the various organisations of scientific and technological co-operation in Europe.
• Establishment of a common system of scientific and technical reference for the implementation of policies.
• Greater European cohesion in research based on the best experiences of knowledge transfer at regional and local levels and on the role of the regions in the European research efforts.

Framework Programmes Of Research and Technological Development (FP)

The Framework Programmes are European Community funded, multi-annual Research and Technological Development programmes (started in 1984), to improve the competitiveness of European industry and provide support for the development of common policies. The Programmes provide a framework and financial support for collaborative research in areas defined as being high priority at the European level.

DfT encourages the use of EU funded research in the policy making decisions of the Department, and has participated in projects under the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Framework Programmes.

Seventh Framework Programme 2007 – 2013

FP7 is the short name for the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. This is the EU's main instrument for funding research in Europe and it will run from 2007 to 2013.

The EC budget for the next seven years is € 50.5 billion. FP7 supports research in selected priority areas – the aim being to make, or keep, the EU as a world leader in those sectors, and is also designed to respond to Europe’s employment needs and competitiveness.

FP7 is made up of blocks of activities forming 5 specific programmes the DfT has involvement principally with:

• Information and Communication Technologies
• Environment (including climate change)
• Transport (including aeronautics)
• Security
• Space

Knowledge lies at the heart of the European Union’s Lisbon Strategy to become the "most dynamic competitive knowledge-based economy in the world". The 'knowledge triangle' – research, education and innovation – is a core factor in European efforts to meet the ambitious Lisbon goals. Numerous programmes, initiatives and support measures are carried out at EU level in support of knowledge.

The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) bundles all research-related EU initiatives together under a common roof playing a crucial role in reaching the goals of growth, competitiveness and employment; along with a new Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), Education and Training programmes, and Structural and Cohesion Funds for regional convergence and competitiveness. It is also a key pillar for the European Research Area (ERA).

Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006 (FP6)

The proposal for the Sixth Framework Programme was more ambitious than the previous programmes, with the aim of mobilising the critical mass of European research and expertise to an extent not previously done. The Sixth Framework Programme is therefore seen as one of the major instruments in the development of a European Research Area.

Fifth Framework Programme (FP5)

The Fifth Framework Programme (1998-2002) was launched in Spring 1999; has now closed to new proposals. However a number of results will not be available for two to three years as many research projects still have some time to run.

CORDIS

The European Union's RTD electronic database – CORDIS provides information on all EU supported research and technology programmes.

The European Union also produces a brochure, "CORDIS Focus" which summaries the latest news on European Union research programmes.
For more information on using CORDIS contact:

CORDIS Help Desk
Tel: 352 44 10412 2240
Fax: 352 44 1012 2248
email: helpdesk@cordis.lu

UK FP Helpline

There is a generic helpline which handles general enquires about the Programme. The helpline is run through the Technology Strategy Board. The Board is an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB), established by the Government through the DTI. Its task, operating across all important sectors of the UK economy, is to stimulate innovation in those areas which offer the greatest scope for boosting UK growth and productivity. It can be contacted at;

Tel. 0870 600 6080
email: mailto:help@fp7uk.co.uk

UK Programme Contacts

For each of the specific programmes there are also UK National Contact Points who can provide more detailed information and advice. Details of these can be obtained form the Technology Strategy Board.

COST: The European Co-Operation in Scientific and Technical Research

COST is a framework for scientific and technical co-operation, allowing the co-ordination of national research on a European level. COST actions consist of basic and pre-competitive research as well as activities of public utility.

There are 35 COST member countries.

Four basic principles underlie COST mechanisms:

• all cost member countries, as well as the European Commission, can propose COST Actions;
• participation in these Actions is voluntary, associating only interested countries;
• the research to be co-ordinated is funded nationally. The co-ordination costs are funded both by the participating countries and by the European Commission;
  a COST Action aims to co-ordinate national research at a European level (concerted action). The work undertaken by each Action is administered by a Management Committee.

In contrast to Community research programmes, this form of collaboration does not require an agreed overall research policy. It focuses on specific themes for which there is particular interest in the COST countries.

There are eighteen areas of COST Actions, the most relevant to this Department being the Transport areas.

COST eligibility

All member countries and international organisations can propose Actions through national representatives. Approval of Actions is through the COST Transport Technical Committee comprising representatives of Member States. Proposals for Transport Actions should be submitted by June each year.

The decision making body for COST is the Committee of Senior Officials which meets three to four times a year. Actions recommended by the Technical Committees are authorised by the CSO. The UK is represented on the CSO by the Office of Science and Innovation.

Further Information on the COST programme

• COST-transport

Other International Transport Research

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): Road and Intermodal Transport Research Programme (RTR)

OECD provides a co-operative framework for co-ordinating national research in road transport and intermodal linkages (where other modes interface with roads), primarily through concerted actions and seminars. A triennial Programme is adopted by Member States participating in the programme which is adjusted biennially. Participation is voluntary, associating only interested states. Actions are funded through:

• subscription by Member States;
• pilot country activities (sponsored by a Member State);
• voluntary dedicated budget (for undertaking a programme of new research).

The Programme has also established two self-financing international databases:

1 International Transport Research Documentation (ITRD);

2 International Road Traffic and Accident Database (IRTAD).

Research Areas:

• Sustainable Transport Development;
• Multimodal Transport Strategies;
• Economic Performance, Transport Infrastructure and Management.

The mandate for the RTR Programme is due to be renewed in 2003 to cover a further three years (2004-2006). Work on identifying the topics to be investigated has started.

OECD online database

The OECD has an online database which provides:

• general information on the transport and environment related research programmes;
• information on research projects;
• recent publications;
• access to two databases: the International Transport Research Documentation (ITRD) and the International Road Traffic and Accident Database (IRTAD).

International Transport Forum (ITF)

The International Transport Forum (ITF) at the OECD is an intergovernmental organisation with 52 member countries. It acts as a strategic think tank for transport policy and organizes an annual summit of ministers.

The ITF’s goal is to help shape the transport policy agenda on a global level, and ensure that it contributes to economic growth, environmental protection, social inclusion and the preservation of human life and well-being.

The International Transport Forum evolved from the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) in 2006-07. At the time, ministers decided to invite new members from non-European countries in order to address transport issues on a global level and for all transport modes, and to create a public platform for a broad policy dialogue.

The ECMT was established by a protocol signed in Brussels on 17 October 1953 by 19 countries. In the post-war years, the challenge was to rebuild Europe’s battered transport infrastructure, and the ECMT provided a welcome mechanism for coordination. As prosperity grew in Europe, increased trade flows and exploding tourism shifted the emphasis to expanding transport infrastructure to meet the new demands. With European integration progressing and globalisation posing challenges of a new magnitude for the transport sector, Ministers at their meeting in Dublin, Ireland, in May 2006 created the International Transport Forum by adopting the Dublin Declaration.

Further information is available on the ITF website.

Transport Research Knowledge centre (TRKC)

The Transport Research Knowledge centre (TRKC) project attempts to collect, structure, analyse and disseminate transport research results, covering not only European Union (EU) supported but also nationally financed research in the European Research Area (ERA), as well selected global transport Research and Technological Development (RTD) programmes and projects.