Innovation funding details (FP7 - Cooperation - Transport (including aeronautics))

Innovation funding details

FP7 - Cooperation - Transport (including aeronautics)

Description

Transport (including aeronautics) is a Thematic Area of the Cooperation Programme under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Support is available for developing integrated, safer, 'greener' and 'smarter' pan-European transport systems for the benefit of all citizens, society and climate policy, respecting the environment and natural resources; and securing and further developing the competitiveness attained by the European industries in the global market.

Status:	Open
Start Date:	01/01/2007
Application Deadline:	14/03/2013
Last Updated:	15/11/2012
Last Significant Update:	11/07/2012

Further information

Fund Value:	€ 3,501,888,000
Minimum Employees:	10

Value Notes

The overall amount allocated under FP7 to the Transport (including Aeronautics) programme for the period 2007 to 2013 is €4.160 billion.

Budgets available for the 2011 Calls are as follows:

FP7-ERANET-2011-RTD - €44.6 million.
FP7-OCEAN-2011 - €45 million.
FP7-2011-GC-ELECTROCHEMICAL-STORAGE - €25.5 million.
FP7-GALILEO-2011-ENTR-1 - €3 million.
FP7-GALILEO-2011-GSA-1-b - €10 million.
FP7-GALILEO-2011-GSA-1-a - €17.5 million.
FP7-TPT-2011-RTD-1 - €6 million.
FP7-SST-2011-RTD-1 - €91.25 million.
FP7-AAT-2011-RTD-1 - €121.3 million.
FP7-SST-CIVITAS-2011-MOVE - €18 million.

Upper Funding Limits

Research and technological development activities - a maximum of 50% of the total eligible costs. However, in the case of non-profit public bodies, secondary and higher education establishments, research organisations and SMEs, it may reach a maximum of 75% of the total eligible costs.
Security-related research and technological development activities - a maximum of 75% in the case of the development of capabilities in domains with very limited market size and a risk of "market failure" and for accelerated equipment development in response to new threats.
Demonstration activities - a maximum of 50% of the total eligible costs.
Activities supported by "frontier" research actions, coordination and support actions, and actions for the training and career development of researchers - a maximum of 100% of the total eligible costs.
Management activities, including certificates on the financial statements, and other activities not covered above - a maximum of 100% of the total eligible costs.

Eligible costs and receipts shall be taken into consideration in order to determine the Community financial contribution.

Funding Schemes

A range of funding schemes, used either alone or in combination, will support actions implemented under this programme.

Work Programmes and Calls for Proposals will specify, as and when appropriate:

the type(s) of scheme(s) used to fund different actions;
the categories of participants (eg research organisations, universities, industry, SMEs, public authorities) which can benefit;
the types of activities (such as research and technological development, demonstration, management, training, dissemination, and other related activities) which can be funded.

Where different funding schemes can be used, the Work Programme may specify the funding scheme to be used for the topic on which proposals are invited.

The funding schemes are:

To support actions which are primarily implemented on the basis of Calls for Proposals:

Collaborative Projects - Support for research projects carried out by consortia with participants from different countries, aiming at developing new knowledge, new technology, products, demonstration activities or common resources for research. The size, scope and internal organisation of projects can vary from field to field and from topic to topic. Projects can range from small or medium-scale focused research actions to large-scale integrating projects for achieving a defined objective. Projects will also be targeted to special groups such as SMEs and other smaller organisations and bodies.
Networks of Excellence - Support for a Joint Programme of Activities implemented by a number of research organisations integrating their activities in a given field, carried out by research teams in the framework of longer-term cooperation. The implementation of this Joint Programme of Activities will require a formal commitment from the organisations integrating part of their resources and activities.
Coordination and Support Actions - Support for activities aimed at coordinating or supporting research activities and policies (networking, exchanges, transnational access to research infrastructures, studies, conferences, etc). These actions may also be implemented by means other than Calls for Proposals.
Support for Frontier Research - Support for projects carried out by individual national or transnational research teams. This scheme is to be used to support investigator-driven "frontier" research projects funded in the framework of the European Research Council.
Support for Training and Career Development of Researchers - Support for training and career development of researchers, mainly to be used for the implementation of the Marie Curie actions.
Research for the Benefit of Specific Groups (in particular SMEs) - Support for research projects where the bulk of the research and technological development is carried out by universities, research centres or other legal entities, for the benefit of specific groups, in particular SMEs or associations of SMEs. Efforts will mobilise additional financing from the EIB and other financial organisations.

To provide financial support to multi-financed large-scale initiatives:

A financial contribution from the Community to the joint implementation of well identified national research programmes, subject to the definition of a financing plan based on formal commitments from competent national authorities.
A financial contribution from the Community to the implementation of Joint Technology Initiatives to realise objectives that cannot be achieved through the funding schemes mentioned in (a) above. Joint Technology initiatives will mobilise a combination of funding of different kinds and from different sources: private and public, European and national. This funding may take different forms and may be allocated or mobilised through a range of mechanisms, eg support from FP7, loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB), risk capital support. Community support will be provided subject to the definition of an overall blueprint of financial engineering, based on formal commitments from all parties concerned.
A financial contribution from the Community to the development of new infrastructures of European interest. The development of new infrastructures will mobilise a combination of funding of different nature and origin, eg national funding, FP7, Structural Funds, loans from the EIB and others. Community support will be provided subject to the definition of an overall financial plan based on a commitment from all parties concerned.

Extended Description

Cooperation

In this part of the Seventh Framework Programme, support will be provided to transnational cooperation in different forms across the Union and beyond, in a number of thematic areas corresponding to major fields of knowledge and technology, where the highest quality research must be supported and strengthened to address European social, economic, environmental and industrial challenges. The bulk of this effort will be directed towards improving industrial competitiveness, with a research agenda that reflects the needs of users throughout Europe. The overarching aim is to contribute to sustainable development. Transport (including aeronautics) is one of the ten themes under the Cooperation area of FP7.

Transport (including aeronautics)

Objective

Based on technological and operational advances and on the European transport policy, developing integrated, safer, 'greener' and 'smarter' pan-European transport systems for the benefit of all citizens, society and climate policy, respecting the environment and natural resources; and securing and further developing the competitiveness attained by the European industries in the global market.

Rationale

Transport is one of Europe's strengths - the air transport sector contributes to 2.6% of the EU GDP (with 3.1 million jobs) and the surface transport field generates 11% of the EU GDP (employing some 16 million persons). However, transport is responsible for 25% of all the EU emissions of CO2, hence the absolute need for a 'greening' of the system to ensure more sustainable transport patterns and compatibility with growth rates, as developed in the White Paper on 'European Transport Policy for 2010: time to decide'.

The enlargement (increasing land surface by 25% and population by 20%) and economic development of the EU present new challenges for transporting people and goods efficiently, cost-effectively and in a sustainable manner. Transport also has direct relevance for other major policies such as trade, competition, employment, environment, cohesion, energy, security and the internal market.

Investment in RTD in EU transport industries is a prerequisite for ensuring a technological competitive advantage in global markets. Activities at European level will also stimulate the restructuring of the industry, including the integration of the supply chain and, in particular, SMEs.

The research agendas developed by European Technology Platforms support the need to take a new 'transport systems' perspective that considers the interactions of vehicles or vessels, transport networks or infrastructures and the use of transport services, which can only be developed at European level. RTD costs in all these fields are rising substantially, and collaborative activity at EU-level is essential to enable a 'critical mass' of diverse RTD providers to address the scale and multi-disciplinary challenges in a cost-effective way, as well as meeting the political, technological and socio-economic challenges of issues such as the 'clean and safe vehicle' of the future, interoperability and intermodality with particular reference to waterborne and rail transport, affordability, safety, capacity, security and environmental impacts in an enlarged Union. Also, developing technologies in support of the Galileo system and its applications will be essential in implementing European policies.

As well as the strong industry relevance of the themes and activities set out below, the needs of policy makers will be addressed in an integrated way covering economic, social and environmental aspects of transport policy. In addition, support will be provided to respond to existing as well as new policy needs, for example relating to developments in maritime policy or implementation of the European Single Sky.

Activities

Aeronautics and air transport

The greening of air transport: reduction of emissions, including green house gases and noise disturbance, incorporating work on engines and alternative fuels, structures and new aircraft designs including rotorcraft, airport operations and traffic management.
Increasing time efficiency: improvement of the efficiency of operating schedules focusing on innovative air traffic management systems in line with the effective implementation of Single Sky policy which integrate air, ground and space components, including traffic flow and more aircraft autonomy.
Ensuring customer satisfaction and safety: improvement of passenger comfort, innovative in-flight services and more efficient passenger handling; improvement of all safety aspects of air transport; wider choice of aircraft ranging from wide body to smaller size vehicles suitable for different applications (including regional applications).
Improving cost efficiency: reduction of costs associated with product development, manufacturing and operating costs focusing on innovative and zero maintenance, repair and overhaul, aircraft, increased use of automation and simulation.
Protection of aircraft and passengers: enhancement of protection measures for the traveller, crew, aircraft and air transport system, such as improved data and identification methods, protecting the aircraft against attack, improved security design of aircraft.
Pioneering the air transport of the future: addressing the longer term challenges of aviation with more radical, environmentally efficient, accessible and innovative combinations of technologies which would lead to significant steps forward in air transport.

Sustainable surface transport (rail, road and waterborne)

The greening of surface transport: reduction of environmental and noise pollution, including green house gases; reducing the impact of transport on climate change by reducing emissions through technological and socio-economic means as well as user training; development of clean and efficient engines and power-trains, including hybrid technology and the use of alternative fuels for transport applications such as hydrogen and fuel cells, taking account of cost-efficiency and energy-efficiency considerations; end of life strategies for vehicles and vessels.
Encouraging and increasing modal shift and decongesting transport corridors: development of sustainable innovative, intermodal and interoperable regional and national transport and logistics networks, infrastructures and systems in Europe; cost internalisation; information exchange between vehicle/vessel and transport infrastructure; optimisation of infrastructure capacity; modal shift strategies to encourage energy efficient means of transport.
Ensuring sustainable urban mobility for all citizens including the disadvantaged: innovative organization schemes, including clean and safe vehicles and means of transport with lower levels of pollution, new high quality public transportation modes and rationalisation of private transport, communication infrastructure, integrated town planning and transport taking into account their relationship with growth and employment.
Improving safety and security as inherent to the transport system: in transport operations for drivers, passengers, crew, cyclists and pedestrians, as well as for freight, in the design and operation of vehicles, vessels, infrastructures, and within the total transport system.
Strengthening competitiveness: improvement of design processes; development of advanced power-train and vehicle and vessel technologies; innovative and cost-effective production systems and infrastructure construction and maintenance; integrative architectures.
Support for the European global satellite navigation system (Galileo and EGNOS): precise navigation and timing services for use in a range of sectors; efficient use of satellite navigation and support for the definition of second generation technologies and applications.

Latest Information

2013 Call deadlines: AAT 2013 RTD-1: 14 November 2012; AAT 2013 RTD-Russia: 14 November 2012; AAT 2013 RTD High Speed: 28 March 2013; SST 2013 RTD-1 including European Cars Initiative: 14 November 2012; Transport 2013 Move-1: 14 November 2012; AAT 2012 RTD-LO: 14 March 2013

Cross Thematic Calls: Ocean of Tomorrow: 7 February 2013; ERA-Net 2013: 28 February 2013

Calls For Proposal

Calls for Proposals issued under the Transport (including Aeronautics) programme are listed below. The official information relating to each Call, ie Call text, Work Programme and Guidance for Applicants, can be accessed via the website:

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation

The full range of topics open under the Calls listed below are detailed in both the official Calls for Proposals and in the relevant Work Programme.

The following Calls were launched on 10 July 2012 (OJ reference C202 of 10 July 2012).

Link to Call document: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2012:202:0006:0008:EN:PDF

The 2013 Calls for Proposals under the Transport theme of the FP7 Cooperation Specific Programme were launched on 10 July 2012. The Calls are as follows:

Aeronautics and Air Transport (AAT) 2013-RTD-1

Deadline: 14 November 2012 (17.00 Brussels local time)

Identifier: FP7-AAT-2013-RTD-1

Budget: €134.95 million

Indicative distribution of the budget is as follows:

€37.91 million for topics funded via CP-FP (Level 1)
€88.04 million for topics funded via CP-IP (Level 2)
€6.00 million for CSA-CA
€3.00 million for CSA-SA

Link to documents: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation?callIdentifier=FP7-AAT-2013-RTD-1

Aeronautics and Air Transport (AAT) 2013-RTD-Russia

Deadline: 14 November 2012

Identifier: FP7-AAT-2013-RTD-Russia

Budget: €4.5 million

Link to documents: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation?callIdentifier=FP7-AAT-2013-RTD-Russia

Aeronautics and Air Transport (AAT) 2013-RTD-High Speed

Deadline: 28 March 2013 (17.00 Brussels local time)

Identifier: FP7-AAT-2013-RTD-HIGH-SPEED

Budget: €5 million

Link to documents: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation?callIdentifier=FP7-AAT-2013-RTD-HIGH-SPEED

Sustainable Surface Transport (SST) 2013-RTD-1 including European Cars Initiative

Deadline: 14 November 2012

Identifier: FP7-SST-2013-RTD-1

Budget: €110.95 million

The indicative distribution of the call budget is as follows:

€23.00 million for Group of topics (GT) Nº 1: Increasing railway capacity
€17.00 million for Group of topics (GT) Nº 2: Ensuring safe, green and competitive waterborne transport
€38.95 million for Group of topics (GT) Nº 3: Implementing research for the ‘European Green Car Initiative’
€20.40 million for Group of topics (GT) Nº 4: It includes sustainable urban mobility, improving surface transport through ITS, infrastructures, safety and security
€7.20 million for topic SST.2013.6-1: Strengthening the research and innovation strategies of the transport industries in Europe
€0.40 million for topic SST.2013.6-3: Organisation of Transport Research Awards for the Transport Research Arena (TRA) conference
€3.00 million for topic TPT.2013-1: Technology transfer in the area of Transport
€0.50 million for topic TPT.2013-2: Mapping regional capacities in transport research and innovation
€0.50 million for topic: TPT.2013-3: Ex-post evaluation of the Transport (including AAT) theme of the FP7 ‘Cooperation’ specific programme

Link to documents: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation?callIdentifier=FP7-SST-2013-RTD-1

TRANSPORT-2013-MOVE-1

Deadline: 14 November 2012 (17.00 Brussels local time)

Identifier: FP7-TRANSPORT-2013-MOVE-1

Budget: €25 million

Link to documents: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation?callIdentifier=FP7-TRANSPORT-2013-MOVE-1

The following Cross Thematic Calls which include the Transport theme were also launched:

The Ocean of Tomorrow - 2013

Deadline: 7 February 2013 (17.00 Brussels local time)

Identifier: FP7-OCEAN-2013

Budget: €55 million

Themes: Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology; Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies - NMP; Energy; Environment (including Climate Change); Transport (including Aeronautics)

Link to documents: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation?callIdentifier=FP7-OCEAN-2013

ERA-NET Call - 2013

Deadline: 28 February 2013 (17.00 Brussels local time)

Identifier: FP7-ERANET-2013-RTD

Budget: €61.1 million

Link to documents: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation?callIdentifier=FP7-ERANET-2013-RTD

Open 2012 Calls

FP7-AERONAUTICS and AIR TRANSPORT (AAT)-2012-RTD-L0

Identifier: FP7-AAT-2012-RTD-L0

OJ Reference: OJ C213 of 20 July 2011

Deadline: 14 March 2013 (17.00 Brussels local time)

Budget: €5 million

Intermediate deadlines::

4 October 2012 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)

Link to documents: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation?callIdentifier=FP7-AAT-2012-RTD-L0

Last Significant Update Reason

New call for proposals have been published under the FP7 Specific Programme Cooperation in the Field of Transport (including Aeronautics).

The Calls are:

Aeronautics and Air Transport (AAT)-2013-RTD-1

Deadline: 14 November 2012 (17.00 Brussels local time)
Budget: €134.95 million

Aeronautics and Air Transport (AAT)-2013-RTD-Russia

Deadline: 14 November 2012
Budget: €4.5 million

Aeronautics and Air Transport (AAT)-2013-RTD-High Speed

Deadline: 28 March 2013 (17.00 Brussels local time)
Budget: €5 million

Sustainable Surface Transport (SST) 2013-RTD-1 including European Cars Initiative

Deadline: 14 November 2012 (17.00 Brussels local time)
Budget: €110.95 million

TRANSPORT-2013-MOVE-1

Deadline: 14 November 2012 (17.00 Brussels local time)
Budget: €25 million

The following Cross Thematic Calls which include the Transport theme were also launched:

The Ocean of Tomorrow - 2013

Deadline: 7 February 2013 (17.00 Brussels local time)
Budget: €55 million

ERA-NET Call - 2013

Deadline: 28 February 2013 (17.00 Brussels local time)
Budget: €61.1 million

For more information, visit the new European Commission FP7 Participant's Portal website (opens new window).

Key Criteria

Participation in FP7 indirect actions (collaborative projects) is open to any university or research centre or other legal entity, established in an EU Member State or associated country, or in a third country (ie not either of the aforementioned). (The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC) may participate in indirect actions on the same footing and with the same rights and obligations as a legal entity established in a Member State.)

Depending on the action and the requirements set out in the Call for Proposals and the work programme, participants may be:

research groups at universities or research institutes;
companies;
small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);
SME associations or groupings;
public or governmental administration (local, regional or national);
postgraduate students and experienced researcher;
institutions running research infrastructures of transnational interest;
organisations and researchers from third countries;
international organisations;
civil society organisations.

Eligible Consortia

In most cases EU research funding through FP7 is to be sought by building a consortium in order to submit a project proposal in response to a Call. The eligibility of these consortia also varies according to different conditions related to the type of action of instrument.

Indirect Action (Collaborative Projects)

At least three legal entities (defined as organisations or individual researchers as above) must participate, each of which is established in a Member State or Associated country, and no two of which are established in the same Member State or Associated country. All three legal entities must be independent of each other in accordance with Article 6 of the RFP, meaning they are not subsidiaries of the same organisation or of each other.

Indirect Actions Concerning International Cooperation Partner Countries

While participants from non-EU or Associated countries are still eligible consortium members for most projects, special conditions apply for collaborative projects addressing the participation of international cooperation partner countries in parity with Member States or Associated countries. These minimum conditions, mainly relevant to the International Cooperation activities under the specific programme for Capacities, as identified in the work programme, are the following: (a) At least four legal entities must participate; (b) at least two of the legal entities referred to in point (a) must be established in Member States or Associated countries, but no two may be established in the same Member State or Associated country; (c) at least two of the legal entities referred to in point (a) must be established in international cooperation partner countries, but no two may be established in the same international cooperation partner country; (d) All four legal entities referred to in point (a) must be independent of each other in accordance with Article 6 of the RFP.

Coordination and Support Actions, and Training and Career Development of Researchers

For coordination and support actions, and actions in favour of training and career development of researchers, the minimum condition shall be the participation of one legal entity.

Investigator-Driven "Frontier" Research Projects

For indirect actions to support investigator-driven 'frontier' research projects funded in the framework of the European Research Council, the minimum condition shall be the participation of one legal entity established in a Member State or in an Associated country.

Sole Participants

Where the minimum conditions for an indirect action are satisfied by a number of legal entities, which together form one legal entity, the latter may be the sole participant in an indirect action, provided that it is established in a Member State or Associated country. The participation of natural persons will ensure that the creation and development of scientific excellence and ability are not limited to Community funding of projects involving only legal persons, ensuring also the participation of SMEs that are not legal persons.

Eligible Expenditure

The European transport system is a vital element to European economic and social prosperity. It serves key roles in the transportation of people and goods in a local, regional, national, European and international context. This theme will address some of the ongoing challenges in improving the contributions that transport systems make to society and industrial competitiveness within an enlarged EU, whilst minimising the negative impacts and consequences of transport in relation to the environment, energy usage, security and public health.

A new integrated approach will be taken which links all transport modes, addresses the socioeconomic and technological dimensions of research and knowledge development, and encapsulates both innovation and the policy framework.

The various technology platforms set up in this field (ACARE for aeronautics and air transport, ERRAC for rail transport, ERTRAC for road transport, Waterborne for waterborne transport, hydrogen and fuel cells) have elaborated long-term visions and Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) which constitute useful inputs to the definition of this theme and complement the needs of policymakers and expectations of society. Selected aspects of the SRAs may justify setting up joint technology initiatives. ERA-NET activities present opportunities to facilitate further transnational coordination for specific topics within the Transport sector and will be pursued wherever possible.

Activities of particular relevance to SMEs include efforts to ensure robust technology-driven supply chains in the various sectors; enabling SMEs to access research initiatives; and facilitating the role and start-up of high-tech SMEs, particularly in the advanced transport technologies and "services-related" activities specific to transport as well as the development of systems and applications in satellite navigation domains.

Existing policy needs as well as the development, assessment and implementation of new policies (eg maritime policy and the implementation of the Single European Sky) will be addressed within and across the different activity lines. The work will include studies, models and tools that deal with strategic monitoring and forecasting and integrate knowledge relating to the main economic, social, safety, security and environmental issues for transport. Activities supporting cross-cutting thematic topics will focus on transport specificities, eg security aspects as an inherent requirement to the transport system; the use of alternative energy sources in transport application; and monitoring of environmental effects of transport, including climate change; and measures to improve the economic integration. Environmental research should cover ways of reducing the adverse impact of transport and optimising traffic and should include boosting transport efficiency.

Support will also be given to dissemination and exploitation activities and impact assessments, with particular attention to the specific user needs, including those of the disadvantaged and policy requirements in the transport sector.

ACTIVITY CATEGORIES

Aeronautics and air transport

Activities will contribute to key Community policies as well as to the implementation of the ACARE Strategic Research Agenda. The quantitative objectives correspond to the 2020 time horizon of this Agenda. The scope of the research includes all aircraft, passenger travel and airside related aspects of the air transport system.

The greening of air transport: Developing technologies to reduce the environmental impact of aviation with the aim of halving the emitted carbon dioxide (CO2), to cut specific emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 80% and to halve the perceived noise. Research will focus on furthering green engine technologies including alternative fuels technology as well as improved vehicle efficiency of fixed-wing and rotary wing aircraft (including helicopters and tiltrotors), new intelligent low-weight structures, and improved aerodynamics. Issues such as improved aircraft operations at the airport (airside and landside) and air traffic management, manufacturing, maintenance, and recycling processes will be included.
Increasing time efficiency: Realising a step-change in aviation in order to accommodate the projected growth of three times more aircraft movements by improving punctuality in all weather conditions and reducing significantly the time spent in travel-related procedures at airports while maintaining safety. Research will develop and implement an innovative Air Traffic Management (ATM) system within the context of the SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research - European air traffic control infrastructure modernisation related to the Single European Sky implementation) initiative, by integrating air, ground and space components, together with traffic flow management and more aircraft autonomy. Design aspects of aircraft to improve handling of passengers and cargo, novel solutions for efficient airport use and connecting air transport to the overall transport system will also be addressed. The most efficient coordination of the development of ATM systems in Europe will be ensured through the SESAR initiative (for this purpose, the establishment of a Joint Undertaking for the coordination of ATM activities is envisaged).
Ensuring customer satisfaction and safety: Introducing a quantum leap in passenger choice and schedule flexibility, whilst achieving a five-fold reduction in accident rate. New technologies will enable a wider choice of aircraft-engine configurations ranging from wide body to smaller size vehicles, including rotorcraft, increased levels of automation in all the elements of the system, including the piloting. Focus will also be on improvements for passengers' comfort, well being and new services, cabin logistic systems and active and passive safety measures with special emphasis on the human element. Research will include the adaptation of airport and air traffic operations to different types of vehicle and 24-hour utilisation at acceptable community noise levels.
Improving cost efficiency: Fostering a competitive supply chain able to halve the time-to-market, and reduce product development and operational costs, resulting in more affordable transport for the citizen. Research will focus on improvements to the whole business process, from conceptual design to product development, manufacturing and in-service operations, including the integration of the supply chain. It will include improved simulation capabilities and automation, technologies and methods for the realisation of innovative and zero-maintenance, including repair and overhaul, aircraft, as well as lean aircraft, airport and air traffic management operations.
Protection of aircraft and passenger: Preventing hostile action of any kind to incur injury, loss, damage or disruption to travellers or citizens due to the effects of aircraft misuse. Research will focus on the relevant elements of the air transport system, including security measures in cabin and cockpit designs, automatic control and landing in the case of unauthorised use of aircraft, protection against external attacks, as well as security aspects of airspace management and airport operations.
Pioneering the air transport of the future: Exploring more radical, environmentally efficient, accessible and innovative technologies that might facilitate the step change required for air transport in the second half of this century and beyond. Research will address aspects such as new propulsion and lifting concepts, new ideas for the interior space of airborne vehicles including design, new airport concepts, new methods of aircraft guidance and control, alternative methods of air transport system operation and its integration with other transport modes.

Sustainable surface transport (rail, road and waterborne)

The greening of surface transport: Developing technologies and knowledge for reduced pollution (air, including greenhouse gases, water and soil) and environmental impact on such areas as climate change, health, biodiversity and noise. Research will improve the cleanliness and energy-efficiency of power-trains (eg hybrid-solutions) and promote the use of alternative fuels, including hydrogen and fuel cells as mid- and long-term options, taking into account cost-efficiency and energy efficiency considerations. Activities will cover infrastructure, vehicles, vessels and component technologies, including overall system optimisation. Research in developments specific to transport will include manufacturing, construction, operations, maintenance, diagnostics, repair, inspection, dismantling, disposal, recycling, end of life strategies and interventions at sea in case of accident.
Encouraging and increasing modal shift and decongesting transport corridors: (Activities addressing one single mode will concentrate on rail and waterborne transport.) Developing and demonstrating seamless door-to-door transport for people and goods as well as technologies and systems to ensure effective intermodality, including in the context of rail and waterborne transport competitiveness. This includes activities addressing the interoperability and operational optimisation of local, regional, national and European transport networks, systems and services and their intermodal integration in an integrated approach. The activities will aim at European-wide strategies, optimised use of infrastructure including terminals and specialised networks, improved transport, traffic and information management, enhanced freight logistics, passenger intermodality and modal shift strategies to encourage energy efficient means of transport. Intelligent systems, new vehicle/vessel concepts and technologies including loading and unloading operations as well as user interfaces will be developed. Knowledge for policymaking will include infrastructure pricing and charging, assessments of Community transport policy measures and trans-European networks policy and projects.
Ensuring sustainable urban mobility for all citizens, including the disadvantaged: Focusing on the mobility of people and goods by research on the "next generation vehicle" and its market take-up, bringing together all elements of a clean, energy efficient, safe and intelligent road transport system. Research on new transport and mobility concepts, innovative organisational and mobility management schemes and high quality public transport will aim at ensuring access for all and high levels of intermodal integration. Innovative strategies for clean urban transport (building on the experiences of the Civitas Initiative) will be developed and tested. Particular attention will be paid to non-polluting modes of transport, demand management, rationalisation of private transport, and information and communication strategies, services and infrastructures. Tools and models supporting policy development and implementation will cover transport and land use planning, including the relationship with growth and employment.
Improving safety and security: Developing technologies and intelligent systems to protect vulnerable persons such as drivers, riders, passengers, crew and pedestrians. Advanced engineering systems and risk analysis methodologies will be developed for the design and operation of vehicles, vessels and infrastructures. Emphasis will be placed on integrated approaches linking human elements, structural integrity, preventive, passive and active safety including monitoring systems, rescue and crisis management. Safety will be considered as an inherent component of the total transport system embracing infrastructures, freight (goods and containers), transport users and operators, vehicles and vessels and measures at policy and legislative levels, including decision support and validation tools; security will be addressed wherever it is an inherent requirement to the transport system.
Strengthening competitiveness: Improving the competitiveness of transport industries, ensuring sustainable, efficient and affordable transport services and creating new skills and job opportunities by research and developments. Technologies for advanced industrial processes will include design, manufacturing, assembly, construction and maintenance and will aim at decreasing life cycle costs and development lead-times. Emphasis will be placed on innovative and improved product and system concepts and transport services ensuring higher customer satisfaction. New production organisation including the supply chain management and distribution systems will be developed.

Support for the European global satellite navigation system (Galileo and EGNOS)

The European global satellite system encompasses Galileo and EGNOS and provides a worldwide positioning and timing infrastructure. (The research activities will be managed by the European GNSS Supervisory Authority.)

Exploiting the full potential: promoting growth in the use of the services ranging from open to commercial access, safety-of-life to "search and rescue" and public regulated service; transport management applications including freight and hazardous materials transportation; exploiting by-product service; demonstrating the benefits and efficiencies of satellite navigation.
Providing the tools and creating the appropriate environment: ensuring safe and secure use of services, mainly through certification in key application domains; preparing and confirming the adequacy of services to new policies and legislation, including their implementation; addressing public regulated services according to the approved policy of access; developing essential digital topology, cartography, geodesy data and systems for use in navigation applications; addressing safety and security needs and requirements.
Adapting receivers to requirements and upgrading core technologies: improving receiver performances, integrating low power consumption and miniaturisation technologies, completing indoor navigation coverage, coupling with radio frequency identification devices, exploiting software receiver technology, combining with other functions such as telecommunication, supporting key navigation ground-based infrastructure technology to ensure robustness and flexibility.
Supporting infrastructure evolution: preparing second generation system, adapting to evolving user demands and market forecasts, taking advantage of infrastructure internationalisation to address global markets and developing world-wide standards.

International Cooperation

International cooperation is an important component of the RTD activities in this field and will be encouraged where there are interests for industry and policy makers. Broad topic areas for specific actions will be considered where there is market attraction (eg global trade development and connecting networks and services at continental and intercontinental level); opportunities to access and acquire science and technology that is complementary to the current European knowledge and of mutual benefit; and where Europe responds to global needs (eg climate change) or contributes to international standards and global systems (eg applied logistics and satellite navigation infrastructure).

Responding to Emerging Needs and Unforeseen Policy Needs

Initiatives under emerging needs will support research that responds to critical events and challenges of future transportation systems, eg novel transport and vehicle concepts, automation, mobility or organisation.

Unforeseen policy needs that may require specific transport-related research could include broad societal issues such as the changes in the demographics, lifestyles and expectations of society for transport systems; as well as emerging risks or problems of high importance to European society.

Match Funding Restrictions

Indirect actions financed by grants under this programme must be co-financed by the participants with monies raised by them or from other sources, which may be public or private funds. In the case of participants in an indirect action established in Convergence Regions or Outermost Regions (ie regions lagging in development), complementary funding may be possible from the Structural Funds.

Restrictions

Two or more participants, with one having a controlling interest in the other(s), will not generally be permitted.
Under the Cooperation specific programme and, therefore, all thematic programmes, including the NMP programme, Calls for Proposals will not be issued for:
- research activity aiming at human cloning for reproductive purposes;
- research activity intended to modify the genetic heritage of human beings which could make such changes heritable (though research relating to cancer treatment of the gonads may be financed);
- research activities intended to create human embryos solely for the purpose of research or for the purpose of stem cell procurement, including by means of somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Note: Research on human stem cells, both adult and embryonic, may be financed, depending both on the contents of the scientific proposal and the legal framework of the Member State(s) involved. Any application for financing for research on human embryonic stem cells shall include, as appropriate, details of licensing and control measures that will be taken by the competent authorities of the Member States as well as details of the ethical approval(s) that will be provided.

Regarding the derivation of human embryonic stem cells, institutions, organisations and researchers shall be subject to strict licensing and control in accordance with the legal framework of the Member State(s) involved.

Application Procedure

Application to indirect actions in the Transport (including Aeronautics) programme is invited through Calls for Proposals published in the Official Journal of the European Union and on the FP7 Participant's Portal website.

Proposals for indirect RTD actions are invited to be submitted only as an electronic proposal via the Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS). (Note: versions of proposals submitted on a removable electronic storage medium, eg CD-Rom, disc, e-mail or fax, will be excluded.)

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