£12 million for radical new research into future intelligent transport systems

The new approach to research is expected to result in far greater advances than simply awarding funding to a single organisation. It will allow a small number of consortia with wide ranging expertise to work in collaboration to tackle some of the major transport challenges we face over the next decade.

The Department for Transport, Department of Trade and Industry and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council will jointly provide £9 million of funding, with a further £3 million expected from industry itself.

The Future Intelligent Transport Systems initiative is intended to stimulate new ideas, concepts, products or services that will:

* Further improve safety on our roads by reducing collisions, casualties and deaths;

* Result in better, more reliable, accessible and safer public transport services;

* Lead to even greater efficiency in the road freight industry;

* Improve road network management; and,

* Provide better travel information, allowing travellers to make informed choices on how and when to travel.

Stephen Ladyman said:

'The UK government has today launched a major research programme on future intelligent transport systems, which together with industry contributions will make over £12 million available for innovative demonstration projects. This is just the start of a fruitful collaboration between government and industry.

'Our vision for this initiative is to support highly innovative and wide-ranging research and technology demonstrator projects, combining the best UK expertise in industry, Local Authorities, transport service providers and universities.'

Lord Sainsbury said:

'I am delighted that DTI, DfT and EPSRC have come together to fund this important new initiative to help deliver better transport whilst reducing environmental impacts.

'This initiative will bring together UK industry and universities to address key research issues for the longer-term development of the UK transport system. This Innovation Platform, developed by DTI's Technology Strategy Board, builds on both the Office of Science and Innovation's Foresight work and DfT's own strategic thinking to address the transport challenges society faces.'

John O'Reilly, Chief Executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council said:

'The FITS Initiative is an exciting opportunity for EPSRC to work with DTI and DfT to support leading edge research that will address an important national need. It opens up the possibility of new science and engineering techniques and processes being developed and introduced experimentally to address transport problems.'

Notes to Editors

1. Intelligent Transport Systems & Services Innovation Platform

Innovation Platforms (IPs) are a new way of working for Government and business. IPs are an opportunity to bring business and Government closer together to generate more innovative solutions to major policy and societal challenges. By bringing together stakeholders focused on a particular challenge, an Innovation Platform will enable the integration of a range of technologies along with better coordination of policy and procurement, to deliver a step-change in UK performance, in the quality of public services and the ability of UK businesses to provide solutions for the global market place.

The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) was established at the end of 2004 to ensure the technology and innovation priorities for the UK reflected business needs and had a clear market focus leading to wealth creation. To support this approach, in November 2005, the TSB introduced the concept of Innovation Platforms. The TSB has approved the development of Innovation Platforms in two pilot areas - Network Security and Intelligent Transport Systems and Services - and has earmarked an initial £10 million to each Platform to launch its activities.

For more information: http://www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/tech-priorities-uk/innovation_platforms/page33795.html

2. FITS Initiative

The official announcement of the Future Intelligent Transport Systems initiative and call for Expressions of Interest will be made by Stephen Ladyman and Lord Sainsbury at the opening of the 13th World Congress and Exhibition on Intelligent Systems and Services, at the ExCel Centre, London.

Expressions of Interest (EoIs) in participating in research and innovation consortia are invited from individuals or research groups in UK Higher Education Institutions, UK-based companies, Local Authorities and independent Research and Technology Organisations.

Please note that there is no requirement at this stage to draw together partnerships for a full consortium bid. Advance notice of the Future Intelligent Transport Systems (FITS) initiative was given in a 'Joint notice of an initiative for academic/ industry multidisciplinary research and innovation consortia' on 29th September 2006 (available on the sponsors' web sites).

This document should be consulted when considering submitting an EoI. The FITS initiative is one of a number of initiatives being coordinated by the Intelligent Transport Systems and Services Innovation Platform (ITSS-IP).

The three sponsors will each contribute up to £3M to the FITS initiative. EPSRC's contribution will be used to support universities, the DTI's contribution will be used to support industry, local authorities and RTOs, and the DfT's contribution may be used for any of these depending on the outcome of the commission-ing process. It is expected that industrial partners will contribute significant resources of their own to the research consortium.

Expressions of Interest to participate in academic/industry multidisciplinary research and innovation consortia are invited. Closing Date for Expressions of Interest - 12:00pm Friday 3rd November 2006

Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300

Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk/