Transport Research Knowledge Centre for the European Research Area

The Directorate General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission has launched in 2002 a project to develop a web site, the Transport Research Knowledge Centre, providing information and analysis on research funded at European level and research in the individual countries of the European Research Area. The paper outlines the concepts and previous experiences on which the development of the Knowledge Centre builds, the processes for the collection of information, the set of products that will be included in the web site and those which are available as a result of the initial activities of the project. Information on research projects are reported on in a harmonized way according to standard forms providing basic factual information plus key results and policy implications. Thematic analyses are carried out on research findings based on a structure tailored to the needs of policy makers including thirty themes with four dimensions: geography/sector, mode, sustainability policy objective, and tool. Further thematic analyses are conducted and published in the form of policy brochures according to the forthcoming needs of the European Commission. An overview of the transport research programs of the EU and in thirty countries has been produced in the initial activities of the project.