Horizon 2020 FUNDS FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Hybrid light and heavy duty vehicles

Deadline: 28th august 2014

Specific challenge: The competitiveness of European road vehicle manufacturers is based on technological leadership particularly on system optimisation and affordability, particularly with respect to powertrains. The challenge is to recover a leading position in hybrid technology. The technology will also have positive effect on the reduction of CO2 emissions from road transport and air quality.

Scope: Proposals should develop new knowledge on hybrid components (storage system power electronics, etc.) and system engineering, simulation and technology integration with the aim of achieving hybrid powertrain weight and cost reduction, increased functionality, simplification of complex systems, efficiency and affordability while decreasing emissions and improving performance, comfort and functional safety. For light vehicles, preference would be given to concepts providing significant zero emission ranges. The research should be validated through at least one demonstrator for each platform subject of research.

Project Budget: between EUR 10 to 20 million each

Funding rate: 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of 100% applies)

Source: European Commission official website

FUNDS FOR INNOVATION

Future natural gas powertrains and components for cars and vans

Deadline: 28 August 2014

The challenge is to reach the fleet level of 95g CO2/km and 147g CO2/km emissions targets for passenger cars and light duty commercial vehicles respectively (according to the new Worldwide harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure), through the development of advanced engine and after-treatment concepts adapted and optimised to use natural gas. Significant reductions in terms of real driving emissions of NOx and PM are also expected.

The technology needs to be competitive with respect to current vehicles using conventional fuels. Therefore the challenge can only be reached if vehicles demonstrate a driving range of at least 600 km with no space penalty in comparison to gasoline vehicles.

Scope: Proposals should focus on any combination of combustion process optimisation, variable compression, control systems, dual fuel operation, optimised fuel injection, adaptive systems and sensors to cope with different qualities and blends, after-treatment systems, advanced fuel tanks, ancillaries and overall powertrain optimisation.


Project Budget: between EUR 10 to 20 million each

Funding rate: 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of 100% applies)
Source: European Commission official website

FUNDS FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Reducing impacts and costs of freight and service trips in urban areas
Deadline: 18th march 2014

Proposals should address one or several of the following aspects:

• Improving basic knowledge and understanding on freight distribution and service trips in urban areas. This could address research on indicators, measurement and data (e.g. delivery/service characteristics, operators, movements, and impacts); economic and behavioural modelling; impacts of urban planning; effects of logistics sprawl (e.g. impact of decentralisation of logistics facilities on transport movements); freight mitigation strategies; effectiveness of partnerships and stakeholder engagement; and comparative analyses and evaluation of policies and experiments.

• Assessing innovative policies and solutions to ensure a better use of infrastructure (e.g. delivery spaces, off peak deliveries, non-road modes, urban waterways) and vehicles (types, load factors); improve network management; address demand side measures, innovative use of transport modes, new ways of stakeholder collaboration; and provide policy frameworks that allow sustainable business models for urban logistics solutions.

• Assessing innovative policies and solutions on consolidation and distribution centres in urban areas, including design (e.g. cross-docking); business models for consolidation schemes (including fleet and freight sharing and pooling and adequate collaboration frameworks); integration of direct and reverse logistics; tools to identify and measure consolidation opportunities; and governance models.

Project Budget: between EUR 2 to 4 million each

Funding rate: 100%

Source: European Commission official website

FUNDS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT - AVIATION

Competitiveness of European Aviation through cost efficiency and innovation

Deadline: 18th March 2014 (for pre-proposals)

Regarding aircraft, research and innovation actions could target the development of technologies and methodologies which have the potential to save costs and time across the whole life cycle of the aircraft (design, production, maintenance, overhaul, repair and retrofit), including for certification aspects. Research and innovation actions could also target the integration of additional functions (e.g. sensing, actuating) or materials in structural components of the aircraft, the increased use of automation and artificial intelligence in control systems allowing versatility and new capabilities or to provide passenger with additional services on-board of the aircraft or at the airport.

Regarding air transport operations, research and innovation actions could target cost efficiency of ground operations, as well as innovative approaches which can reduce the needs or accelerate the pace of the training of personnel.

CIVITAS 2020: EU FUNDING BOOST TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

Civitas - an acronym for "cities, vitality, and sustainability" - is an initiative funded by the EU's research framework programme to support cities in their efforts to innovate for more sustainable urban mobility.

Since the start in 2002, Civitas has supported more than 700 demonstration activities in around 60 cities (within a total network of 200 cities who learn from those demonstration activities), with a total investment of more than €200 million from the EU. This leveraged an additional investment of close to €1 billion from local and regional authorities, and from private partners.

On the 30th of September, European Commission signed a grant agreement worth €4 million with a consortium of 14 European research institutes, associations and consulting companies - including 10 SMEs - for a three-year project known as "Civitas Capital".

Civitas Capital will:

 - pool existing knowledge through groups dedicated to specific topics who will produce best-practice guides;

 - issue recommendations on future Research and Development priorities which the Commission will integrate in its 2014–2020 research programme;

 - develop training packages and organise placement and exchange of urban mobility professionals — around 500 professionals will be trained or offered a placement;

 - manage an activity fund of close to €500,000 to support the transfer of measures to other cities, allowing more cities to implement successful urban mobility measures;

 - create five additional national and regional networks and continue to manage the five existing ones — these networks increase the dissemination of know-how and best practice within their language group or geographical group;

 - develop a knowledge centre that will be available to all stakeholders through the Civitas website — a one-stop-shop where all material produced for and by Civitas will be available to all, for learning and reapplication. 

Horizon 2020, the new EU's research framework programme will support several initiatives on sustainable mobility and transport

Civitas Brochure

Med Programme: Call for Proposals on Integrated Maritime Approach

Deadline: 10 January 2014 

The call shall be targeting four priorities, namely: 

 1) Maritime Innovation and economic development, 

 2) Environment protection, 

 3) Transport and accessibility

 4) Governance and policy response. 

With respect to the first 3 priorities, partners should either have experience within previous Med projects or other European cooperation projects. 

Priority 4, on the other hand, is only open to national and local authorities and previous participation in Med or EU funded projects is not necessary. 

The total budget for this call amounts to EUR 5 million.

For further information, please contact us

MARCO POLO-NEW WAYS TO A GREEN HORIZON

DEADLINE: 23 AUGUST 2013

From the road to more environmentally friendly modes

This call supports actions to reduce road congestion resulting from freight traffic with a view of improving the environmental performance of the transport system and enhancing intermodal transport, thereby contributing to a more efficient and sustainable transport system which will provide EU added value without having a negative impact on economic, social or territorial cohesion. It is specifically intended to help cover initial stage losses resulting from freight transport in new or enhanced intermodal services or resulting from freight traffic avoidance actions.

 

The measures proposed under the Marco Polo Work Programme 2013 shall contribute to Achievements of the EU goals for sustainable growth as established in the Europe 2020 Strategy.

In 2013, the programme supports five distinct types of action:

• Modal shift actions, which focus on shifting as much freight as economically meaningful under current market conditions from road to short sea shipping, rail or/and inland waterways.
• Catalyst actions change the way non-road freight transport is conducted in the European Union. Under this type of action, structural market barriers in European freight transport are overcome through a highly innovative concept: causing a real break-through.
• Motorways of the sea actions offering an integrated service, which shifts freight from long road distances to a combination of short sea shipping and other modes of transport.
• Traffic avoidance actions integrating transport into production logistics: reducing freight transport demand by road with a direct impact on emissions.
• Common learning actions enhance knowledge in the freight transport and logistics sector and foster advanced methods and procedures of co-operation in the freight market, with an overall objective of promoting intermodal solutions aiming at achieving modal shift or traffic avoidance.

CONTACT US FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Clean Sky programme

European funding for research: Clean Sky

Deadline: 18 April 2013

Clean Sky is the most ambitious aeronautical research programme ever launched in Europe. Its mission is to develop breakthrough technologies to significantly increase the environmental performances of airplanes and air transport, resulting in less noisy and more fuel efficient aircraft, hence bringing a key contribution in achieving the Single European Sky environmental objectives. 

The Clean Sky JTI (Joint Technology Initiative) was born in 2008 and represents a unique Public-Private Partnership between the European Commission and the industry. It is managed by the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking (CSJU). The CSJU will deliver demonstrators in all segments of civil air transport, grouped into six technological areas called 'Integrated Technology Demonstrators' (ITD). 

Funding for the Transeuropean transport network (TEN-T)

EU funding programme: TEN-T

Deadline: 28th February 2013

Grants will be awarded in the following fields: 

• Projects concerning rail, road and inland waterways (PPs; indicative amount available is €731 million); 

• European Rail Traffic Management Systems (ERTMS; indicative amount available is €100 million); 

• River Information Services (RIS; indicative amount available is €10 million); 

• Air Traffic Management (ATM; indicative amount available is €50 million); 

• Motorways of the Sea (MoS; indicative amount available is €80 million); 

• Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS; indicative amount available is €50 million).

Detailed newsletter

EU grant funds in the Transport sector

European funds for reducing Freight Traffic: Marco Polo programme.

Deadline: 21st September 2012

Five main actions:

1) Modal shift actions, which focus on shifting as much freight as economically meaningful under current market conditions from road to short sea shipping, rail or/and inland waterways

2) Catalyst actions: change the way non-road freight transport is conducted in the European Union.

3) Motorways of the sea actions: offering an integrated service, which shifts freight from long road distances to a combination of short sea shipping and other modes of transport

4) Traffic avoidance actions integrate transport into production logistics integrating transport into production logistics: reducing freight transport demand by road with a direct impact on emissions

5) Common learning actions enhance knowledge in the freight transport and logistics sector and foster advanced methods and procedures of co-operation in the freight market, with an overall objective of promoting intermodal solutions aiming at achieving modal shift or traffic avoidance

Detailed newsletter and official documents

European funds for accessible tourism

European funds for European Destinations of Excellence - Accessible tourism
Deadline: 30th April 2012

The objective of the present call for proposals is to support eligible countries’ National Administrations in charge of tourism, or other eligible public bodies for the purpose of the selection of one destination of excellence.

The theme for this year's call is “Accessible tourism”.

It is proposed to reward those destinations which have developed a tourism offer based on an overall approach to accessibility for tourists regardless of their physical limitations, disabilities or age.

European funds for electric vehicles

European funds for promotion of electric vehicles technologies

Deadline: 30th April 2012

The general objective of the call is to raise the level of social awareness about the high performance of electric vehicles and the benefits of their utilisation, at the same time that specific aspects that may have created a certain degree of public reluctance about the purchase of vehicles based on electric powertrains are addressed.

Europen funds for energy

European funds "Intelligent energy for a suistanable future"

Deadline: 5th May 2012

The objective of the Intelligent Energy - Europe Programme is to contribute to secure sustainable and competitively priced energy for Europe, by providing for action:

• to foster energy efficiency and the rational use of energy resources;

• to promote new and renewable energy sources and to support energy diversification;

• to promote energy efficiency and the use of new and renewable energy sources in transport

Energy efficiency

• Industrial excellence in energy:
• Consumer behaviour
• Energy Services

Research on Sustainable Surface Transport

European funds for research in the field of Sustainable Surface Transport

Deadline: 1st December 2011

MAIN AREAS OF INTERVENTION:

CHALLENGE 1. ECO-INNOVATION

ACTIVITY:THE GREENING OF SURFACE TRANSPORT

AREA: THE GREENING OF PRODUCTS AND OPERATIONS

• Assessment and mitigation of noise impacts of the maritime transport on the marine environment
• Support to the development of joint programming in marine and maritime research to address cross-cutting sea-related challenges
• Management of energy in railway systems

CHALLENGE 2. SAFE AND SEAMLESS MOBILITY
ACTIVITY: ENCOURAGING MODAL SHIFT AND DECONGESTING TRANSPORT CORRIDORS
AREA: MARITIME AND INLAND WATERWAYS TRANSPORT

• Innovative fleet for efficient logistics chain

AREA QUALITY OF RAIL SERVICE

• Planning rail towards 2050
• The role of rail in the European transport system in response to major disruptions
• Efficient rolling stock and train operations for competitive rail freight services

AREA: INTEROPERABILITY AND SAFETY

• Rail system interoperability (regulatory and non-legislative interoperability based on technological innovations)
• Europe to Asia: rail research collaboration

ACTIVITY: ENSURING SUSTAINABLE URBAN MOBILITY

AREA: NEW TRANSPORT AND MOBILITY CONCEPTS

• Research actions regarding the accessibility of transport systems
• Innovative design and operation of new or upgraded efficient urban transport interchanges
• Take-up of transport innovation in urban and regional transport
• Automated urban vehicles

AREA: HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT

• Coordinating innovation for efficient bus systems in the urban environment

ACTIVITY: IMPROVING SAFETY AND SECURITY
AREA: INTEGRATED SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR SURFACE TRANSPORT SYSTEMS

• Human element factors in shipping safety
• Safety of ships in Arctic conditions
• Large scale naturalistic driving observations for safe and sustainable transport

AREA: POLICY SUPPORT

• Priorities for road safety research in Europe

CHALLENGE 3: COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH INNOVATION

ACTIVITY: STRENGTHENING COMPETITIVENESS

AREA: COMPETITIVE SURFACE TRANSPORT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

• Tools and conditions for attractive, efficient and competitive single wagonload traffic and its interaction with road and intermodal transports
• Next generation tools for optimised infrastructure asset management
• Innovative structural and outfitting materials for ships including inland ships
• Innovation and standardisation in the field of signalling to accelerate a European Train Control System rollout
• E-guided vessels: the 'autonomous' ship

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Research on Transport and Aeronautics

Research funding in the field of Transports (including Aeronatics)

Deadline: 1st December 2011

MAIN AREAS OF INTERVENTION:

CHALLENGE 1. ECO-INNOVATION

ACTIVITY:THE GREENING OF AIR TRANSPORT

AREA: GREEN AIRCRAFT

• Flight physics
• Aerostructures
• Propulsion
• Systems and equipment
• Avionics

AREA: ECOLOGICAL PRODUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

• Production
• Maintenance and disposal

AREA: GREEN AIR TRANSPORT OPERATIONS

• Flight and Air Traffic Management
• Airports
• Demonstration of breakthrough sub-system enabling high overall pressure ratio engines.

CHALLENGE 2. SAFE AND SEAMLESS MOBILITY

ACTIVITY: INCREASING TIME EFFICIENCY

AREA: TIME EFFICIENT AIR TRANSPORT OPERATIONS

• Airports

ACTIVITY: ENSURING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND SAFETY

AREA:PASSENGER FRIENDLY CABIN

• Noise and vibration
• Systems and equipment

AREA: AIRCRAFT SAFETY

• Aerostructures
• Systems and equipment
• Human factors
• Propulsion: tolerance to particle ingestion
• Innovative approach to helicopter safety

AREA: OPERATIONAL SAFETY

• Design systems and tools
• Maintenance
• Airports
• Human factors
• Integrated approach to safe flights under icing conditions.
• Integrated approach and demonstration of safe operations under crew peak workload / reduced crew configuration.

ACTIVITY:PROTECTION OF AIRCRAFT AND PASSENGERS

AREA: AIRCRAFT SECURITY

• Aerostructures

CHALLENGE 3: COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH INNOVATION

ACTIVITY: IMPROVING COST EFFICIENCY

AREA: AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT COST

• Design systems and tools
• Aerostructures
• Systems and equipment
• Avionics
• Production

AREA: AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL COST

• Flight Physics
• Aerostructures
• Systems
• Maintenance and repair

AREA: AIR TRANSPORT SYSTEM OPERATIONAL COST

• Design systems and tools
• Human factors
• Integrated approach and demonstration to lean manufacturing of metal, composite and hybrid aircraft / engine structures

ACTIVITY: PIONEERING THE AIR TRANSPORT OF THE FUTURE

CROSS-CUTTING ACTIVITIES

• European Air Transport System scenario elaboration and trend assessment capability.
• Attracting young Europeans to future careers in the field of aeronautics.
• Supporting organisation of conferences and events of special relevance to Aeronautics and Air Transport research
• Assessment of the potential insertion of unmanned aerial system in the air transport system.
• Efficient airports for Europe
• Airport centred co-modality and intermodality
• Facilitating access to aircraft for disabled people

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Research funds for Green Cars

European research funds for "Material for Green Cars"

Deadline: 1st December 2011

MAIN AREAS OF INTERVENTION:

Innovative automotive electrochemical storage applications based on nanotechnology

Expected Impact: (i) High energy densities with respect to the state-of-the art (i.e. higher than 400 Wh/kg); (ii) Overall performance, safety, recyclability and life-cycle sustainability; (iii) A minimum lifetime of 3000 cycles in a 80% DoD window in typical automotive conditions over 10 years; (iv) Establish and maintain world-class status for the European automotive battery industry.

Innovative advanced lightweight materials for the next generation of environmentally-friendly electric vehicles

Expected Impact: (i) Considerable weight reduction: a 30% body in white weight reduction was already demonstrated in recent EU projects on conventional vehicles; a further 20% reduction (taking into account the higher acceptable cost) is to be demonstrated, with the relevant safety, energy efficiency and environmental benefits; and/or (ii) Overall reduction in time-to-market and development costs while increasing product flexibility; and (iii) Economic viability and technological feasibility of the advanced materials and the related processes with reference to real applications of industrial relevance; and/or (iv) Options for the use of globally available, recyclable or recycled, and carbon-neutral materials; and/or (v) Extended lifetime of durable components of a vehicle and lower life-cycle costs.

European grant in MACRO AND NANO ELECTRONICS

Deadline: 15th September 2011

AUTOMOTIVE AND TRANSPORT

• Intelligent electric vehicle (EV)
• Safety in traffic

COMMUNICATION & DIGITAL LIFESTYLES

• Internet multimedia services
• Evolution to a digital life style

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

• Energy distribution and management – smart grid
• Reduction of energy consumption

HEALTH AND THE AGING SOCIETY

• Home healthcare
• Hospital healthcare

DESIGN TECHNOLOGIES

• Managing complexity
• Managing diversity
• Design for reliability and yield

SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESS AND INTEGRATION

• Know-how for advanced and emerging semiconductor processes
• Competitiveness through semiconductor process differentiation
• Opportunities in system-in-package

EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS, AND MANUFACTURING

• Advanced cmos – 1X nm & 450mm
• Manufacturing

SAFETY & SECURITY

• Securing the European challenging Applications

European funds for research and development

MAIN ACTIVITIES:

• Transportation and Refuelling Infrastructure
• Hydrogen Production and Distribution
• Stationary Power Generation and CHP
• Early Market
• Cross-cutting Issues

For further information about the topics included in this call for proposal, you can receive a more detailed newsletter on your email.

Deadline:18th August 2011

Beneficiaries:
Any legal entities established in a EU Member state or Associated country
Target audience: Research organisations; universities; industry including SMEs research programme managers and owners.

FUNDINGS: ENVIRONMENT POLICY AND GOVERNANCE

EU Grant funds: environment policy and governance

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES:

Only innovative or demonstration projects are eligible.

• Climate change: to stabilise greenhouse gas concentration at a level that prevents global warming above 2 °C,

• Water: to contribute to enhanced water quality by developing cost-effective measures to achieve good ecological status in view of developing river basin management plans under Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive),

• Air: to achieve levels of air quality that do not give rise to significant negative impacts on and risks to human health and the environment,

• Soil: to protect and ensure the sustainable use of soil by preserving soil functions, preventing threats to soil, mitigating their effects and restoring degraded soils,

• Urban environment: to contribute to improving the environmental performance of Europe's urban areas,

• Noise: to contribute to policy development and implementation on environmental noise,

• Chemicals: improve the protection of environment and health from risks posed by chemicals by 2020 by implementing chemicals legislation, in particular Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) and the Thematic Strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides,

• Environment and health: to develop the information base for policy on the environment and health (the Environment and Health Action Plan),

• Natural resources and waste: to develop and implement policies designed to ensure sustainable management of natural resources and wastes, and to improve the environmental performances of products, sustainable production and consumption patterns, waste prevention, recovery and recycling; to contribute to the effective implementation of the Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste,

• Forests: to provide, especially through an EU coordination network, a concise and comprehensive basis for policy relevant information on forests in relation to climate change (impact on forest ecosystems, mitigation, substitution effects), biodiversity (baseline information and protected forest areas), forest fires, forest conditions and the protective functions of forests (water, soil and infra­ structure) as well as contributing to the protection of forests against fires,

• Innovation: to contribute to developing and demonstrating innovative policy approaches, technologies, methods and instruments to assist in the implementation of the Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP),

• Strategic approaches: to promote effective implementation and enforcement of Union environmental legislation and improve the knowledge base for environmental policy; to improve the environmental performance of SMEs

BENEFICIARIES:

Proposals must be presented by entities registered in the Member States of the European Union being public and/or private bodies, actors and institutions

DEADLINE: July 18^Th, 2011.

TRANSPORT: SYSTEMS FOR GREEN OPERATIONS

DEADLINE: MAY 3^rd, 2011

BENEFICIARIES:
Any legal entities established in  EU Member states or Associated country.

ACTIVITIES:
The programme is arranged around the six following Integrated Technology Demonstrators (ITDs):

1. Smart Fixed Wing Aircraft,
2. Regional Green Aircraft
3. Green Rotorcraft,
4. Systems for Green Operation,
5. Sustainable and Green Engines,
6. Eco-Design

The calls are published to support activities meeting the needs of the ITDs and in most cases, the RTD work will serve for one of the demonstrators

SYSTEMS FOR GREEN OPERATIONS

• Construction of evaluation Power Modules to a given design
• Modelica Model Library Development
• Current return simulation (methodology and tools)
• Optimisation of coating for low pressure operation of power electronics and identification of pass and fail criteria for respective corona testing
• Flight Operations for novel Continuous Descents Including assistance in preparation, execution and analysis of a flight simulator experiment.