While transport is one of Europe’s economic strengths it is also responsible of 25 % of the emissions of CO2 and causing still some 41 600 deaths per year. Technology should be used to improve this situation and at the same time improve European technological edge in global markets if we want to become the most competitive economy by 2010.

EU R&D investments lag far behind those of the US and Japan while emerging economies like China and India are also sharply increasing their research efforts. Despite the political aim of investing 3% of GDP annually in research throughout Europe, R&D in 2005 increased by 0.7% in the EU compared to 7% in non-EU countries. So far the only countries to reach the proposed target were Finland and Sweden.

Europe’s automotive sector leads all other EU industries in its R&D effort, but is it receiving the support from governments that it needs to be innovative and globally competitive? What sort of regulatory environment would help Europe’s automotive companies to resist these global pressures and develop a fresh culture of innovation? What sort of development projects should the European automotive sector be concentrating on if it is to continue generating 900bn euros a year in revenues and employing 12m people? Does R&D contribute to a greener, safer and more efficient Road Transport?



Featuring amongst others:

• Jack Metthey, Director for Transport, European Commission Directorate General for Research
  
  
• Lars-Göran Rosengren, President & CEO, Volvo Group
  
  
• Ari Vatanen MEP, Member of the Committee on Transport and Tourism