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Collaboration on road infrastructure innovation

Transnational collaboration on road infrastructure innovation is the aim of the ERA-NET Plus (EN Plus) Infravation event. The Infravation 2014 Call for this collaboration of 11 countries on road infrastructure innovation will be launched on 3rd March 2014. It will pool funding of some €9 million, of which one-third comes from the European Commission (EC). For the first time, the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will also contribute funding to an EN Plus Call however. This is because the FHWA sees th
February 4, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Transnational collaboration on road infrastructure innovation is the aim of the ERA-NET Plus (EN Plus) Infravation event. The Infravation 2014 Call for this collaboration of 11 countries on road infrastructure innovation will be launched on 3rd March 2014. It will pool funding of some €9 million, of which one-third comes from the 2465 European Commission (EC). For the first time, the US 2410 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will also contribute funding to an EN Plus Call however. This is because the FHWA sees that there is common benefit to the research being carried out in Europe for the US.

The Infravation 2014 Call aims to support the development of advanced systems, materials and techniques for road infrastructure. Key topics being covered have been specified in a Scoping Study and include advanced predictive infrastructure performance processes, enhanced durability and life-time extension and rapid and non-destructive methods for routine quality and performance checks of materials and construction. They also include keeping freight routes open through zero-intrusive maintenance, ensuring infrastructure performance under all weather conditions, resource and energy efficiency in road construction and maintenance and virgin material reduction by substitution or recycling.

The Infravation 2014 Call focusses on the development of innovative technologies for road operations, either on the European, national, regional or urban networks. For construction and maintenance technology, aspects such as advanced robotics could be developed. The exact details, including the funding scheme for specific stakeholders, will be published in the Infravation 2014 Call Guide for Applicants, which will be available at the launch on 3rd March 2014.

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