As the European Commission shapes the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), ERTICO – ITS Europe highlights its perspectives on EU funding for Research and Innovation, including the urgent need to preserve a ringfenced Framework Programme (FP10) for transport. ERTICO tables five key recommendations to accelerate innovation in transport, mobility, and logistics.
ERTICO welcomes the adoption today by the European Parliament of the Report with recommendations for the 10th Research Framework Programme. FP10 should enable the innovation cycle, starting from fundamental research to pilots, moving to collaborative and pre-competitive research, and resulting in industrial implementation. This is what ERTICO has supported since its inception by the European Commission in 1991. Ensuring FP10 supports impactful research and innovation is key to strengthening Europe’s position as a leader in sustainable and intelligent transport. This requires strong funding commitments, simplified processes to enhance transparency, accessibility and execution, and greater public-private collaboration to drive innovation. Strengthening synergies between FP10, national R&I programmes, and local initiatives will be essential in scaling up ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) deployment while ensuring all regions benefit from investments in transport innovation.
ITS is at the heart of the transition to a more efficient, connected, and sustainable mobility ecosystem. By integrating digital technologies such as AI, automation, data-driven solutions, and advanced connectivity, ITS enhances transport efficiency, improves road safety, and reduces emissions while enabling the deployment of smart infrastructure, traffic management systems, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication to ensure a more resilient and adaptive mobility network.
Driving Transport Innovation Forward
The impact of ITS extends beyond technological advancement; it is a key driver of economic growth, job creation, and competitiveness across the transport and mobility sectors. Strengthening investment under FP10 will allow Europe to remain at the forefront of transport innovation, ensuring it meets the challenges of urbanisation, climate change, and digital transformation. With FP10 presenting a strategic opportunity to shape the future of mobility, ERTICO remains committed to working with the European Commission and stakeholders to develop an ambitious, well-funded programme that accelerates ITS deployment and secures Europe’s leadership in smart and sustainable transport.
As a leading public-private partnership, ERTICO remains committed to supporting the European Commission in shaping a forward-thinking, well-funded, and impact-driven research and innovation programme. By implementing these recommendations, FP10 can help Europe maintain its position as a global leader in sustainable and intelligent transport solutions.
For further discussions on these priorities, ERTICO welcomes continued dialogue with the European institutions and key stakeholders in the transport and mobility ecosystem. Read more about our recommendations here.