According to an expert study, there are differences in the research cultures
of the EU and the United States of America, which can be utilised to create
new innovations in joint research projects. The study of the EU and USA
transport research coordinating bodies, ECTRI (European Conference of
Transport Research Institutes) and TRB (Transportation Research Board)
surveyed for the first time the role of research in relation to the transport
market and innovations in the sector. The experts note that more research
cooperation should be implemented because the objective is to create larger
research projects in the future.
In the study, the experts reviewed transport sector research management,
funding and innovation architecture in the USA and the EU. The report
describes funding arrangements and assesses their functionality, and also
studies which kind of research and innovations the systems promote.
There are major differences in transport research and innovations between the
EU and the USA. In the United States, research activities clearly focus on
road transport to find practical market-based solutions, whereas the EU
research activities more comprehensively cover other forms of transport – such
as railways and waterborne transport – and thus have a broader approach. Both
research cultures could benefit from each other’s strengths and, on the other
hand, compensate their own shortcomings. When different approaches are
combined, a variety of differences in opinion and practical problems are
likely to arise. On the other hand, the combination will offer preconditions
for new innovations, related to both research processes and the results to be
utilised. One of the important conclusions of the report and a major argument
in favour of increased cooperation is that the challenges created by transport
are almost completely homogenous – only the manner in which the problems are
solved by means of research and the nature of innovations differ from each
other.
The workgroup proposes several concrete measures which, if implemented, would
allow researchers and research organisations to participate in more extensive,
genuinely global research programmes. New innovations will also more likely be
discovered when the interaction in transport research between the EU and the
USA increases.
The report proposes the mobilisation of research networks between the EU and
the USA, development of cooperation models and methods as well as the creation
of joint research and technology programmes. Barriers to cooperation should be
systematically reviewed and eliminated, and the effectiveness of communication
should be improved by creating shared databases, for example. Plenty of
opportunities to improve cooperation also lie in research training and the
creation of shared training programmes. Furthermore, the report proposes
enabling shared research funding by, for example, combining the EU framework
programme funding and the US federal funding.
The workgroup’s proposals have been presented to the EU Commissioner
Responsible for Science and Research, Janez Potočnik, and the proposals will
be utilised when planning future EU research programmes. VTT Chief Scientist
Pekka Leviäkangas was a member of the workgroup named by ECTRI and TRB and
which conducted the study. Technology Manager Heikki Kanner was VTT’s
representative in ECTRI.
An online report is available at International Collaboration in Transportation
Research - EU/US Transport Research Collaboration: Challenges and
opportunities (pdf):
http://www.ectri.org/Documents/Publications/Strategic-documents/WG10%20REPORT_DELTA%20version_FINAL_16th%20FEB%202009.pdf
