Periodic Report Summary - SIMBA II (Strengthening road transport research cooperation between Europe and emerging international markets II) SIMBA II aimed to increase RTD cooperation between the EU and Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa. It will look at how to increase road safety, mobility and transport efficiency, and research appropriate pavement design while at the same time improving levels of transport-related pollution. This will support emerging markets in their efforts to improve transportation and also enhance European industrial competitiveness via transfer of technologies. Attention will be paid to mobility and road management, urban traffic issues and public transport, leading to an assessment of the development of new infrastructure and of policy-led ITS solutions through sustainable urban transport planning. ICPC will benefit from the EU's experience and move forward to integrated transport network management. Expert groups worked on the priorities defined in the first SIMBA project. Stakeholders engaged in preparatory technical work and / or feasibility studies for the development and / or implementation of new ITS and infrastructure technologies in the ICPC. Stakeholders acquired knowledge on the set up and conduct of research/business in the expanding ICPCs transport market. Participants had the opportunity to establish contacts with ITS and infrastructure players, enabling the forming of consortia with a view to supply comprehensive transportation solutions. The networking activities allowed good practices exchanges. Through the project activities, including the release of research reports (list of priorities and potential projects in the fields of ITS and Infrastructure and national research development and policies in Russia (country which had not been covered in the first SIMBA project)), project meetings and exchange of information with key stakeholders, monitoring relevant developments in the SIMBA countries, the following exploitable results have been generated: - Refining the list of priorities in the fields of ITS and Infrastructure and identification of potential projects for that could be subject to further international research cooperation activities. - Reinforcement of the pre-established SIMBA Network through the addition of Russia to the list of countries covered by SIMBA II and deeper involvement of experts and stakeholders in the project activities. - Raising awareness in the EU and in the ICPCs of the common needs and priorities in the fields of road safety, mobility and efficiency. This was accomplished in cooperation with FP7 spin-off projects to SIMBA: Viajeo and STADIUM. The results will be part of a permanent effort by the consortium to strengthen EU-ICPC cooperation. Participants will have direct business related incentives to continue the work by means of their own resources. SIMBA II's networking activities will undoubtedly continue after the project's completion. SIMBA II will be embedded in the involved organisations, thus securing a lasting effect of the project outcomes. Institutional sustainability will be secured through the partners, which will provide a permanent platform for the activities initiated during the project. Furthermore, the combined involvement of public authorities provides the possibility for organisations to continue to work together, develop new cooperation between local authorities and apply the developed methodology to other cooperation areas. Defining a common approach to standardisation issues and political strategies for transport technologies will strengthen the European industry position on the emerging market and more importantly, help the local societies to develop an infrastructure which will improve their quality of life and make transport safer. The years spent in Europe to discuss, for example, standardisation of ITS applications can be largely avoided.
