ENT17: SURPRICE

Status and results


SE, CH, DK, FIN and FR have launched a trans-national call in November 2009.

The theme of SURPRICE is “Road user Charging for passenger vehicles”

Facts about the cooperation:

  • Countries involved: Sweden, Finland, France, Denmark and Switzerland
  • Support countries: The UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany 
  • Consortium: Min. two partners from the funding countries
  • Launch of call: 18 November 2009
  • Closing of call: 18 February 2010
  • Funding budget: 1,140,000 €
  • Funding type: Virtual common pot
  • Start of projects: summer 2010

Please download the Initiates file downloadflyer, Initiates file downloadfull call text and Initiates file downloadproposal template for more information. The call text includes national contact points.

 


Background and contents

The partners of SURPRICE are aware that the problems with increasing CO2 emissions and congestion and other external effects within road transport are not in line with the objective of sustainable development. Internalising the external marginal costs can help solving the problems. The objectives for implementing road user charging may, nevertheless, be different for different member states, such as reducing external effects, creating more efficient use of infrastructure or raising revenues. 

SURPRICE has the following strategic objectives:

• To produce new and innovative scientific knowledge within the research field
• To improve the basis for policy making in the field of Road User Charging (mainly for passenger vehicles)
• To build on disciplinary strongholds of the various European research communities invited and thereby ensure knowledge development and sharing
• To create a strong interdisciplinary approach to research questions of Road User Charging
• To build on the elements of Road User Charging that are of common interest across Europe

R&D themes

The overall theme of the call is to promote trans-European research into new and innovative scientific knowledge in the research field of Road User Charging. The focus is on passenger vehicles, but relevant issues for freight transport may be incorporated.

The call is based on true cooperation across borders to build on shared European research competence. And proposals should draw on European research excellence and cooperation. The joint call covers both policy and technology oriented research and development (R&D). A number of pressing issues have been identified that can be addressed:

i. Acceptance of Road User Charging systems by the public and by commercial road users
ii. Interoperability of road user systems amongst the European countries
iii. Legal framework conditions for road user charging systems that are non-country specific
iv. Impact analysis and methodology to create the basis for the political decision making process


The SURPRICE platform of knowledge

SURPRICE is a coordinated funding initiative involving European states and networks. The aim is to create new knowledge in Road User Charging and to ensure a vide dissemination of the knowledge and know-how created. For this the SURPRICE platform of knowledge is created.  Yearly seminars will be held with a start during 2010. The “headline” for the seminars will be “This is what researcher can offer for policy making “.

Participating countries

Denmark
Finland
France
Sweden (leader)
Switzerland
Germany (observer)
The Netherlands (observer)
United Kingdom (observer)
ERA-NET Road II (observer)
The Stockholm Group – A platform of national public authorities from AT, FI, DE, NL, SL, SE, CH and UK (observer)

Contact information

The SURPRICE initiative is lead by:

Christine Wallgren, VINNOVA, Sweden
christine.wallgren[at]vinnova.se