EIRAC II

EIRAC 2008-2010

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'On May 3rd, 2005, more than 50 CEOs and Managing Directors from large Intermodal businesses launched the European Intermodal Research Advisory Council (EIRAC). EIRAC determined that a Strategic Intermodal Research Agenda 2020 (SIRA) for Intermodal Transport and its Implementation Plan (IP) were needed, being the instruments to direct European and national resources to targeted research. The SIRA has been published on December 14th, 2005, whilst the IP has been published on December 12th, 2006. EIRAC has been very successful in its first two years of activitiesm being acknowledged by the European Commission as a major source of expertise and a reliable entity to deal with. The value of the EIRAC SIRA and IP has been recognised by different Directorates General of the European Commission, and it is considered as a primary source of valuable input to the workprogrammes of FP7. The EIRAC work will be continued in the next years, aiming at the following objectives: (1) Stimulate the main public stakeholders and market players in the Intermodal and Logistics domain to invest into research; (2)Strengthen the potential of research results to be endorsed and used by the market; (3) Provide the assessment of these results, both before and after the execution of research, including the financial conditions needed to ensure the full exploitation of the innovation; (4) Ensure that its work is communicated in a professional way to the non-EIRAC members or International Parties, so that they also can benefit from the work; (5) Foster the participation of industrial SMEs in innovating and changing their mindset; (6) Stimulate the implementation of indications contained in the Implementation Plan into national programmes of research, including the identification of needs for breakthrough technologies; (7) Enhance the opportunities to participate to or observe EIRAC work; (8) Stimulate the creation of Intermodal Advisory Councils or Technology Platforms at national level'

Introduzione (Teaser)

A body of experts is helping Europe's transport sector become leaner and more efficient, advising on policies that involve complementary modes of transport, logistics and freight services.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

As fuel prices and environmental concerns increase, the EU has efficient transport high on its agenda. In 2005, the European Intermodal Research Advisory Council (EIRAC) was launched to address the needs of the sector, bringing together over 50 high level industrial players. EIRAC members are terminal handlers, freight villages, transport operators, forwarders, equipment suppliers and relevant authorities. EIRAC extends in-depth advice to transport stakeholders in their planning of research and technology programmes.

In 2008, 'EIRAC 2008-2010' (EIRAC II) was launched to support EIRAC members in stimulating research investment and innovation in multimode transport and logistics. In its first year and a half, EIRAC II reorganised internal and external communication procedures with clear communication plans, including the elaboration of new terms of reference for the project. It then reinforced existing links and established new ones with other European Technology Platforms, as well as with the EU's ERA-Net Transport programme within the European Research Area. The initiative is also implementing cooperation activities with other European initiatives such as the European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC) and Waterborne, as well as with the European Green Car Initiative (EGCI).

Recently, an EIRAC road-show involving several EU Member States helped strengthen relations between EIRAC and national authorities, stimulating integration of EIRAC recommendations into national programmes for research and policymaking. EIRAC also worked on a plan to become an autonomous entity able to address its purposes independently of EU funding or other public financial support. The project is continuing to identify best practices in intermodal transport research and has already elaborated an impact assessment tool to evaluate the impact of research projects in intermodal transport.

The achievements of EIRAC are being highlighted in public events, such as the International exhibition for logistics, telematics and transport in Munich. The project's final results will be the new release of the Intermodal Strategic Research Agenda and implementation plan, as well as the publication of the Intermodal transport handbook.

Last but not least, EIRAC will soon be transformed into a new organisation that is able to organise its activities and implement its objectives without time constraints. The benefits for the transport and logistics sector will undoubtedly be significant.