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Implementation

Generell approach for implementing cooperation

One of the main activities of EraNet Transport consists in implementing cooperation between the partners. Here is the task of Work Package 3.

Different topics turned out to be relevant to gather countries around them. Most of these themes, which were selected according to the potential involvement of the partners came out of three targeted workshops (pro-active approach):

"ITS and reliability in passenger transport"; 29-30 November 2004, Paris
"Environmental improvements through vehicle technology"; 13-14 June 2005, Paris
"Safety and Security improvements through transport and infrastructure management"; 8-9 February 2006, Paris

Other themes arose from the initiative of countries, which announce by themselves their interest in supporting research coordination in this particular field of transport research (responsive approach).

Building and testing trans-national cooperation in Action Groups

Each topic gives birth to an Action Group, which is in charge of searching the ways and means of cooperation. They have to precise the subtopics of common interest and the possible forms of cooperation.

Currently, fifteen Action Groups are experiencing cooperation (please see "Action Groups in the menu for more info"). Each of them follows and adapts the process defined in the ENT framework. So for they have been reaching different successive steps of the process.

In their work the Action Groups receive support from ENT through several “support teams”, which have a role of facilitating the work (method, administrative matters…), keeping the Action Groups on the right track and being the intermediary between the Action Groups and the Management Group.

Objectives of the proceeding

The objectives of this experimentation of cooperation through the implementation of thematic activities are to:

set up effective cooperation and coordination activities, An official agreement on the foreseen activities is the result of the Action Groups. EraNet supports the partners in designing an adapted form of cooperation for each topic. The partners are then in charge of implementing it themselves. EraNet intervenes in the preparation of the activities.
test cooperation mechanisms and procedures, Testing the practice of tools and means make possible the refinement and the improvement of guidelines. Practical experiences are monitored and evaluated in order to draw conclusions, which could be helpful to influence future transport research policy planning at both national and European levels.
create networks of programme managers and transport research strategists,Networking of research policy in transport aims to avoid doubling and overlapping of research activities, to allow policy coordination, to make possible a continuous share of information, to understand different national perspectives. This working together is supposed to give a strong habit of cooperation necessary to the European Research Area.
learn to move towards higher levels of cooperation and coordination. The observation of the added value of cooperation for all should invite each partner to move towards a deeper common work. Building a common approach to research activities is in progress.

Available Reports

The following report have been worked out in the described area. They can be retrieved from the "results & publications" sectopm on this website: