SAGE

Safe and green road vehicles

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The SAGE network of regional research driven clusters will facilitate an increasing pace of innovation within the major European growth market for innovative road vehicles for passengers and goods. The science and technology Scope of SAGE is innovative road vehicles for passenger and goods transport. The main technology drivers for the research driven clusters of SAGE are safety for drivers, passengers and other road users; greening of road transport; and usability, in terms of affordability, functionality, and attractiveness. The goal is to strengthen European competitiveness in the road vehicles sector. To achieve this, the project work will address five key objectives: 1. Assess the current and future capacity of Europe’s most important regional research driven clusters; 2. Assemble a portfolio of best practices as regards the key aspects of cluster management and regional R&I policy deployment; 3. Ensure that all European regions with a potential to contribute can do so; 4. Development of a common SAGE agenda with long and short term goals for innovation, research and education; and 5. Integrate an innovation and IP management system consortium-wide to enable efficient and reliable knowledge exchange. The automotive industry is a major economic driver in all the participating and the potential growth in jobs and GDP from this is significant. SAGE will enhance the efficiency of European innovation in the road vehicles sector and promote a faster response to consumer and societal demand for safe and green transportation. SAGE has been developed as a complementary consortium comprising different types of clustering modalities. It will yield very tangible output as regards the inclusion of more regions into the research driven automotive industry, primarily through the Warsaw region, where a knowledge-cluster on electric-hybrid mobility is being constructed during the spring of 2011.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Road transportation is facing two important challenges that will become even more important as the number of vehicles on the road continues to grow. Automotive researchers are joining forces to address them effectively.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

A daunting one fifth of the EU total greenhouse gas emissions is produced by road transportation. In addition, an alarming number of accidents occur every year, injuring or killing tens of thousands of people. Strengthening the effectiveness of research geared toward carbon-neutral transport and accident mitigation is the focus of the EU-funded project 'Safe and green road vehicles' (http://www.sage-project.eu/home.html (SAGE)) .

SAGE represents a network of regional research-driven core and associated clusters in the automotive industry. Technical areas include electric or hybrid vehicles and alternative fuels, as well as accident avoidance systems and active or intelligent systems for safety. SAGE started with five European clusters and has now added four clusters in Asia. It is also mentoring emerging automotive regions in Europe. Goals are to coordinate competencies, develop a common agenda and implement it through specific activities supporting research projects, student mobility and new policy development.

During the first project phase, the team developed its Joint Action Plan (JAP) based on in-depth analysis of regions, including their research and innovation capacity, collaboration models, gaps, shared competencies and potential synergies. The JAP identifies research and innovation priorities, funding opportunities and a portfolio of project ideas. With it, the SAGE consortium has paved the way to effective exploitation of Horizon 2020, the EU's main research and innovation funding programme that will pick up in 2014 where the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) leaves off.

Implementation of the JAP officially begins with the second reporting period. However, it has already led to several collaborations among partners, including some geared toward student training. In addition, a mentoring plan has been worked out for Warsaw and will act as the template for three additional regions to be added.

SAGE is developing the capacity and international visibility of regional automotive research clusters in Asia and Europe, coordinating activities, and blending competencies to make global transport greener and safer. Outcomes will have important impact on industry, policymakers and the public alike.