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November 2009

NEW ENT CALL: SURPRICE

The call is co-funded by funding institutions in Denmark, Finland, France, Sweden and Switzerland.

Call opens: 18 November 2009

Call closes: 18 February 2010

The overall theme of the call is to explore relevant questions that will support decisions concerning the introduction of Road User Charing primarily with focus on passenger vehicles. The research questions (and the solutions) must be applicable on a European level. The key objectives of the joint research call are to

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

Thematic focus and research scope

A number of pressing issues have been identified that can be addressed in the proposals
(i) Acceptance of road user charging systems by the public and by commercial road users
(ii) Interoperability in 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 process In addition, other relevant research topics within the Road User Charging may be addressed.

Economic framework

The Danish Ministry for Transport, the Finnish Ministry for Transport and Communications, The French Ministry for Environment, Energy, Sustainable Development and the Sea (MEEDDM), The Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA) and the Swiss Federal Roads Office (FEDRO), will jointly provide funds of around € 1.14 million to support the call. Funding may also be directed through merging of already ongoing projects into the call. Funding is made available from national funding organisations. The funding will be organised as a “virtual common pot”. Thus, successful partners will be funded by their respective national funding body. The project consortium must include partners from minimum two of the funding countries. The general principle is that activities funded should support genuine European cooperation, i.e. a fair distribution of tasks (and funds) between partners is encouraged. Extra credit will be given to consortia consisting of further partners from the above mentioned countries.