Project News: Start of SIMBA II

Date: 26 June 2008

Activities started in the first SIMBA project will be continued and extended further around the globe with the SIMBA II project. Supported by the European Commission’s DG Research, SIMBA II kicked off on 1 May 2008 and will run over eighteen months. The ERTICO-coordinated project SIMBA II aims to increase road transport research cooperation between Europe and the International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPC) of Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa by establishing a collaboration network and working groups that will bring together the key stakeholders in the fields of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and infrastructure development.
 
SIMBA II will look at how the EU and ICPC can jointly increase road safety, mobility and transport efficiency, improve road and transport network management and undertake research on safety-enhanced pavement design, while at the same time cutting levels of transport-related pollution. SIMBA II aims at supporting emerging markets in their efforts to improve transportation and at enhancing European industrial competitiveness via the transfer of technologies. Special attention will be given to mobility and road management, urban traffic issues and public transport in order to better assess and evaluate the development of new infrastructure and to policy-led ITS solutions through sustainable urban transport planning. The ICPC Partners are expected to benefit from the latest experience in the EU and move forward integrated transport network management, focusing on solutions to tackle congestion and environmental challenges.

 
SIMBA II Workshop in Russia and Expert Working Groups
During the 18-month project period, SIMBA II will set up and run a series of expert groups to further work on the priorities defined in the first SIMBA project. Expert Working Group Meetings in Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa will join European and local stakeholders to discuss and define research priorities and cooperation areas.

The project will also hold a workshop in Russia to establish first contacts with relevant local stakeholders. A large number of stakeholders will be invited to discuss themes within Russian priority areas. The workshop will take place in September 2008. It will bring together European and local ICPC organisations to engage in preparatory technical work and/or feasibility studies for the development and/or implementation of new ITS (urban) and infrastructure technologies in the ICPC (looking at adapting European technologies to local needs in an effort to improve local transport conditions).
 
Representatives of industry, research institutes and public authorities are warmly encouraged to participate in the Russia event and in the expert working groups, as well as to get involved in SIMBA II activities!
 
For more information, please contact SIMBA II Project Coordinator Mariana Andrade at m.andrade@mail.ertico.com.