EUCAR calls for a co-programming partnership for Connected and Automated Mobility in Horizon Europe

Author: June 20, 2019

Brussels, 24 June 2019 – The European Council for Automotive R&D (EUCAR), representing the major European automobile manufacturers in their common research activities, welcomes the progress made towards an agreement on the next EU framework programme for research called Horizon Europe. To address the key challenges of Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM[1]) and self-driving vehicles, EUCAR calls for a co-programming partnership across industry sectors and value chains.

EUCAR advocates a co-programming partnership for CAM to leverage public funding with private investments across the value chain.

  • A co-programming partnership would enable quick and timely research actions; the institutional partnership inherently will take longer time. Europe cannot afford to lose the proposed global innovation race. We must accelerate R&I programmes, especially when it comes to the digitalisation of road transport. With shorter innovation cycles and increasingly fast-acting competition from countries outside of Europe, we need to accelerate both research and the time-to-market.
  • Increased agility and flexibility of research programme and projects. Due to increased demands on the industry’s constantly evolving business environment, it is crucial to improve the agility and flexibility of R&I programme implementation in order to deliver results in time and with the available resources and funding. The rigid structure of an institutional partnership will not fulfil this requirement.
  • Reduce administrative burdens for setting up and executing R&I programme as much as possible. Lower administration efforts are clearly favouring a co-programming partnership for R&I in Connected and Automated Mobility.

Digitalisation and automation are both innovation drivers for the automotive industry and decisive factors for the future mobility of citizens in Europe. EUCAR is committed to delivering safer, cleaner, smarter and more efficient transport solutions by further emphasising collaborative research in Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM):

  • CAM technologies support the European Commission’s Vision Zero targets set for 2050 by decreasing the number of road fatalities and accidents.
  • CAM contributes to reducing transport emissions and congestion, while ensuring inclusive mobility for people and goods.
  • CAM will provide individual mobility to all Europeans; in particular the elderly and people with disabilities.
  • CAM will have a remarkable economic impact, ensuring long-term European growth and jobs.

EUCAR’s ambition for R&I in CAM is to accelerate the implementation of connected and automated vehicles significantly; advance the technological competitiveness of the EU automotive industry; and maintain its position as a significant employer in Europe.

Press Release: EUCAR calls for a co-programming partnership for Connected Automated Mobility in Horizon Europe

[1] CAM or CCAM, as described by the EC: https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/3rd-mobility-pack/3rd-mobility-pack-factsheets-automatedconnected.pdf