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Topic outline

  • Brief information on the Funding Opportunity

    Program: H2020 Smart, Green and Integrated Transport

    Geographical coverage: EU
    Available contribution: 1 M€ per project

    Type of action: Coordination and Support Action

    Deadline Model : single-stage

    Planned opening date: 03 December 2019    Deadline: 21 April 2020 17:00:00 Brussels time

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  • Specific Challenge

    Ensuring the seamless integration and harmonisation of transport modes is essential to achieve a truly integrated freight transport and logistics system, which on the one hand, is able to manage efficiently the physical, information and financial flows and on the other hand, support less impacting and environmental sustainable logistics operations . Speeding up technological and organisational innovation uptake and adoption will support freight transport decarbonisation and competitiveness. To this purpose, the assessment of progress, gaps and barriers is necessary. It is also key to involve and engage the end users of multimodal end-to-end freight transport chains, as they are both the recipients of innovation (autonomous transport, electrification, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, blockchain, robotic systems, further digitalisation, new transport modes, etc.) and the key actors  in charge of developing the business cases for new technologies uptake.

  • Scope

    Proposals shall address all of the following areas:

    ·         Make a reasoned and detailed assessment of the products, services, solutions for business applications and other value added results generated by EU-funded projects (at the level of projects and/or cluster of projects), contributing to the achievement of EU policy objectives (e.g. zero city logistics emissions by 2030, zero logistics emissions by 2050, efficient free movement of goods and services) and a truly integrated transport system. This analysis should possibly cover projects funded since the 5th Framework Programme for Research.  Taking stock of previous mapping and benchmarking activities such as the SETRIS project[1] and the pilot action on Implementation of Multimodal Innovative Solutions[2], evaluate e.g. the level of maturity of the products, services, solutions achieved within the projects and further development carried out beyond the projects, investigate which solutions have been implemented and adopted by the freight transport and logistics stakeholders and compare them with the state-of-the-art in the sector. Assess the barriers to the deployment of R&I results and propose solutions and actions to improve the framework conditions and overcome the identified barriers. Assess the impact of EU-funded R&I projects on various areas of freight transport and logistics  (including urban logistics) by establishing possible causal links between public R&I funding and technology innovation in an area. Synergetic impact from regional/national programmes should also be considered. Examine in which areas EU funding had the highest impact, identify the framework conditions and actions which supported this outcome. Propose sectoral-specific impact Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and recommendations to increase the research impact.

     ·         Identify and prioritise gaps in the research landscape and market needs to be tackled by future R&I actions[3], also via a reasoned analysis of best practices and activities at relevant international level.

    ·         Support the wider engagement of the freight transport and logistics stakeholders (reaching out to the ones less familiar with European R&I) in order to increase the uptake of research outcomes and innovation by the logistics community at large. Develop an appropriate framework to foster collaboration and exchange of best practices in freight transport and logistics R&I at regional, national, European and global level.

    Engage with relevant sectors beyond freight transport and logistics to support cross-fertilization and synergies within multidisciplinary projects (e.g. ICT, Circular Economy, Manufacturing and Supply Chain, Security).


    [1] Strengthening European Transport Research and Innovation Strategies (http://newrail.org/setris/)

    [2] « Towards a Single and Innovative European Transport System : Implementation of Multimodal Innovative Solutions » is an ongoing pilot action which helps matching EU funded R&I projects' suitable innovative solutions with the innovation needs of three actual multimodal hubs (see https://ec.europa.eu/transport/content/towards-single-and-innovative-european-transport-system-implementation-multimodal-innovative_en). The pilot action’s outcomes will be available at the beginning of 2020.

    [3] Also taking into account the roadmap “A truly Integrated Transport System for Sustainable and Efficient Logistics” (http://www.etp-logistics.eu/?p=1298)


  • Expected Impact

    Actions are expected to:

    The action will contribute to achieve the EU policy objectives for freight transport and logistics (e.g. zero city logistics emissions by 2030, zero logistics emissions by 2050, fully integrated multimodal transport system, efficient and sustainable logistic and freight operations) by providing a reasoned and detailed mapping and assessment of the EU-funded R&I project outcomes. This analysis will extend beyond the work carried out within the projects clearly evaluating the project outcomes’ impact as well as the framework conditions and activities which support high impact of public R&I funding. It will also establish possible causal links between public R&I funding and technology innovation in a specific logistics area. The analysis will be complemented by clear recommendations on future R&I activities to achieve an efficient and sustainable freight transport and logistic system.

    The action will also support technological and organisational innovation uptake and a more efficient use of the available research resources by engaging the wider community of stakeholders, establishing collaboration between industrial stakeholders and the society at large,  encouraging exchanges of best practices at regional, national, European and global level, and linking to relevant sectors beyond freight transport and logistics.