FIA European Bureau projects

Publication date: 24 August 2009

The FIA European Bureau is involved in a range of projects. We'll update you on just four of them: FOT-Net, iCars Network, eSafetySupport and eSafetyAware.

For Director General of the FIA European Bureau Wil Botman, participating in European projects is a great opportunity to help shape European policy and build stronger relationships with the European Commission and other stakeholders. "It is also an opportunity to work directly on achieving goals like safety, sustainability and more, whilst showing our capabilities and what we stand for," said Botman. He sees other important benefits such as providing news, experience and information from European projects to member clubs. "We can also bring in the experience of the member clubs and demonstrate their experience and media capabilities," said Botman.

 
iCars Network

iCars Network, an EU-funded project coordinated by the FIA European Bureau, aims to improve the flow of information between all stakeholders in intelligent transport (ITSs). The Network thus brings together relevant organizations and experts to identify methods and technologies, obstacles, and policy recommendations to ITS.
 
"iCars is a networking project between European federations like FIA, car manufacturers, research institutes and cities and regions," explains Botman. The Network has thematic groups on ITS development and public procurement; information providers and awareness builders among authorities, businesses and end-users; impact assessment methods; and on developing a road map for ITS-driven energy efficiency in road transport.

Since July 2008, the European Bureau has been coordinating this EUR 334,000 project financed under the European Commission's Information and Communications Technologies Policy Support Programme. "We took the initiative to build it and write a proposal to the European Commission. What we bring to the network is our strong European links and extensive national involvement through our member clubs," explained Botman. Project partners include car manufacturers association ACEA, Cologne University, French telecom Orange as well as renowned research institutes such as Germany's BASt, Netherlands' TNO and TIE, and Finland's VTT.

 
iCars runs till July 2010. See www.icarsnetwork.eu

 
FOT-Net

Field Operational Tests (FOTs) aim to give a comprehensive assessment of the efficiency, quality, robustness and acceptance of ICT solutions used for smarter, safer and cleaner and more comfortable transport solutions. Despite the promise, market take-up of ICT lags behind due to low awareness and understanding of the benefits.

"FOT-Net is about bringing together the results of all field operational tests in Europe," said Botman. "FOTs are an important step between the development of new intelligent transport systems and bringing them to the market for the benefit of consumers," he explained. Botman sees FOT’s as demonstrating and evaluating the practical use of new systems in every day life. "A lot of reports with practical results will come out of this project. This can be used by our member clubs and Bureau to evaluate and to promote new technologies, if proven positive." By switching from a national to a European and international level for the tests, FOTs also integrate into a common European and international framework called FOT-Net.

As large-scale test programmes, FOTs will enable policy makers set up the right policy framework for deployment. Business leaders, too, will make better decisions about the market introduction of the systems. FOT-Net brings together public authorities, universities, research centres as well as associations and even a telecom operator (Orange France). FIA is a key partner in this EUR 1.2 million project funded under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme.

Starting in June 2008, FOT-Net runs for 27 months. See www.fot-net.eu


eSafety

eSafety aims to drastically reduce road deaths and accidents by promoting the development, deployment, and use of intelligent vehicle safety systems throughout Europe. One basic principle is that sustainable solutions can only be created together with all stakeholders on the European level.

"The FIA together with the car manufacturers were the driving forces behind this initiative," said Botman. The scope of thisCommission-led project also broadened to include ICT technologies for energy efficiency. Today, both the FIA and ADAC are members of eSafety's steering group. What is unique about eSafety is the wide range of stakeholders, which means that it can make a difference. Aside from the European Commission, stakeholders include EU member states, road and safety authorities, the automotive and telecom industries, service providers, users, insurers, research organisations and road operators.

Campaign offshoot eSafetyAware! kicked off in May 2007 with the launch of a pan-European information campaign on Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to prevent skidding. eSafetyAware! organises media campaigns and dedicated events so as to raise the awareness of eSafety benefits among policy-makers and the public.

eSafetySupport takes a more technical approach assisting transport stakeholders to increase public awareness. The role of FIA within eSafetySupport is focused on organizing consumer awareness activities. "This resulted in 2006 in the creation of a separate body, called eSafetyAware, funded by the European Commission and the FIA Foundation together," explained Botman. eSafety Aware has been transformed into a formal association where FIA is a member of the Board. First chair of the association was David Ward of the FIA Foundation. Currently, the chair is Jean Todt, former Ferrari CEO.

The project has been active since 2003 working on 28 eSafety recommendations. See www.esafetyaware.eu