Europe and Russia reinforce international cooperation in the scope of SIMBA II

Creation date: 09 October 2009

During the ITS World Congress in Stockholm, ERTICO and ITS Russia organised a bilateral meeting in the scope of the EC-funded project SIMBA II. The meeting came as a result of the work carried out by ERTICO and PAIRP (Professional Associated in Vehicle Risk Prevention) in SIMBA II.

Meeting topics included ITS deployment plans in Europe and Russia, research cooperation opportunities, eCall, ITS standardisation and Traveller Information Services Association (TISA).

With an attendance of over 40 European and Russia participants representing all ITS domains, the meeting was opened by ERTICO's CEO Mr Hermann Meyer and ITS Russia's Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Mr Boris Tsiklis. The European Commission by Mr Edgar Thielmann, Head of Unit, DG TREN, Mr Arnoldas Milukas, Head of Unit, Mr Frederic Sgarbi, Head of Unit (Acting) and Mr Patrick Mercier-Handisyde, Research Programme Officer, all from DG Research and Mr Stefanos Gouvras, Research Programme Officer, DG INFSO. ERTICO was also represented at the meeting by Mr Gunter Zimmermeyer, Supervisory Board Chairman and representatives from ten of ERTICO's partners.

Within the scope of the SIMBA II project, cooperation with Russia started in 2008. The aim was to strengthen road transport research cooperation in order to increase safety, mobility and transport efficiency. Europe and Russia face the same challenges including increasing numbers of vehicles on the roads and road accidents, infrastructure development, rapid urbanisation and pollution. As these challenges are more global, it is vital that Europe and its international partners such as Russia cooperate in knowledge exchange and promotion of standards and technologies. SIMBA II serves as a platform for this.

EU and Russian priorities and common interests have been identified and discussed in workshops that took place last year. The next SIMBA II workshop in Russia will take place next November in Moscow.

More on the meeting thak took place on 24 September.