Act TravelWise Autumn Conference and AGM 2014 "Identifying and Securing European Funding"

1. Identifying and securing
European Funding
Fiona McLean
European Project Development Manager
Transport & Travel Research Ltd
www.ttr-ltd.com
9th December 2014
ACT TravelWise Conference

2. Overview
• European funding programmes
• EU project participation
• CIVINET UK & Ireland and CIVITAS Activity
www.ttr-ltd.com
Fund
• Case study: ECOSTARS project

3. TTR – What we do
www.ttr-ltd.com
• Freight Transport
Policy
• Fleet efficiency
• Transport
Accessibility &
Equality
• Market & Social
Research
• Air Quality & Climate
Change Transport
Research and Policy
• Travel Information
Systems
• Smarter Travel
• European Funding &
Project Support
– Consortium formation
– Bid coordination
– Project management,
evaluation and
dissemination

4. TTR – 100+ European projects
www.ttr-ltd.com

5. What is a European Project?
• Research
• Demonstration and
pilot schemes
• Standards & cross-cutting
issues
www.ttr-ltd.com

6. Why are they funded?
• To ensure organisations in member states work
together efficiently to solve joint challenges
• To ensure EU competitiveness on a global stage
• To ensure EU economies develop in an
environmentally sustainable manner
www.ttr-ltd.com

7. EC Transport Policy
2011 EC White Paper on
Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area
Carbon reduction
Intermodal connectivity
Use of technology
Influencing travel behaviour
Transnational transport activities
www.ttr-ltd.com

8. Transport Funding programmes 2014-2020
www.ttr-ltd.com
• HORIZON 2020
– Initiated by DG MOVE
– CIVITAS
– Smart cities & communities
– Other Transport actions
– Other Energy actions
– Other Research actions
• INTERREG
– Regional based – Atlantic
Area; North Sea; North
West Europe
– Part of ERDF Programme
• LIFE
- Broader environment focus
• URBACT
- Solutions for sustainable
urban development
• Others
– CEF (TEN-T)
– Ambient Assisted Living
– External Cooperation
Programmes

9. General conditions for participation in EC
Research & Demonstration Projects
• Minimum 3 partners from 3 member states
www.ttr-ltd.com
• Principle of co-financing
– Grants for 35%–100% of total budget
• Eligible costs include staff salaries and an
allowance for overheads
• Equipment and infrastructure may be eligible
– subject to conditions

10. Why participate in EC projects?
• Contribute to the development of sustainable
mobility through your own experience and
expertise
www.ttr-ltd.com
• Access to funding
– H2020 calls € 2M-4M
• Build partnerships for R&D projects
• Help staff development

11. Why participate in EC projects?
• A good discipline for efficient implementation
and evaluation of projects – especially when
cooperation between organisations is needed
• Knowledge exchange & policy transfer
www.ttr-ltd.com
• Added value
– political profile
– stimulates innovation
– stimulates tourism and trade linkages

12. Disadvantages of participating in EC Projects
• Cost of bidding
• Need to commit staff resources for 2-4 years
• Need to travel to meetings
• EC bureaucracy
• Success rates – typically only 12-20% of bids will
be funded – the two phase bid process now
introduced helps reduce risk
www.ttr-ltd.com

13. If you do decide to give it a try…
• Don’t wait for a Call for Proposals - start now
• Budget for time and money on bids
www.ttr-ltd.com
• Consider 3 stages:
– Preparation
– Partnership
– Proposal
• Be prepared for bids to fail - adopt a long-term view

14. If you do decide to give it a try…
www.ttr-ltd.com
• Be active and participate fully
• Understand why the project is being
supported by EU funds and how you
can contribute
• For LAs - Don’t forget the political
dimension
• Be prepared to spend time travelling to
meetings and dealing with bureaucracy
• Raise organisation profile now!

15. CIVINET UK & Ireland
• Access funding - information about EC and
national research funding opportunities
• Regular workshops & site visits
• Expert personal contacts by transport measure
• Member website, newsletter etc
• Access to the CIVITAS Activity Fund (lower
value measures – open to anyone – up to £8k
contribution)
www.ttr-ltd.com
• Local Authority and non-LA Associate
membership on website
www.civitas.eu/civinet-uk-ireland

16. Introduction to ECOSTARS
www.ttr-ltd.com
Promoting best practice in energy efficient
fleet transport across Europe
Funding: STEER – INTELLIGENT ENERGY EUROPE (IEE)
Grant Agreement IEE/10/290/SI2.589420
Full title: ECOSTARS Europe
Acronym: ECOSTARS
Project start date: June 2011 End date: May 2014
www.ecostars-europe.eu

17. The Concept
Free local membership scheme:
 Targeted at operators of truck, van and bus fleets
 Recognises best practice in clean & energy efficient operations
 Guidance and advice provided to members on how further
environmental improvements can be achieved
 Member vehicles and their operating practices are
assessed using star rating criteria, to recognise
different levels of environmental and
energy saving performance

18. Assessment Categories
Performance Monitoring & Management
Use of IT support systems
Vehicle specification / Preventative
Maintenance
Driver skills development
Fuel Management
Fleet composition

19. The Story
 The first local “ECO Stars” scheme was established in
South Yorkshire, UK in 2009
 The scheme was originally developed as part of a larger
programme of measures to improve local air quality
 The ECOSTARS Europe project has established seven
new schemes between June 2011 and May 2014
 The initiative has also been promoted to
other cities and regions across Europe

20. Local Schemes
 Seven replica local schemes were launched in 2012-13:
- Parma, Italy
- Rotterdam,
The Netherlands
- Cantabria, Spain
- South East Sweden
- Basque region, Spain
- Edinburgh, UK
- Ostrava, Czech Republic
 Plus development funding for
the South Yorkshire scheme

21. Partners
Transport & Travel
Research (TTR), UK
Energikontor Sydost,
Sweden
WSP, Sweden CTL Cantabria, Spain
ISIS, Italy CDV, Czech Republic
Polis, Belgium
City of Edinburgh
Council, UK
Municipality of
Rotterdam, NL Barnsley MBC, UK
InfoMobility, Italy IVL, Spain

22. Target groups & key actors
 Freight operators
 Passenger transport operators
 Public sector fleet operators
 Local and regional governments
 National governments
 National transport associations

23. Six key objectives
1. Further develop the ECOSTARS scheme in South Yorkshire
and replicate in a further seven case study areas, in six EU
countries, to promote more energy efficient and cleaner road
freight movements
2. Increase the number of freight vehicles using clean fuel
technologies
3. Improve the fuel management methods of
commercial vehicle operators

24. Six key objectives
4. Increase the number of transport operators promoting eco-driving
skills among their workforce.
5. Train auditors for each local scheme in the evaluation of
vehicle fleet operations and in the provision of advice on
how to improve energy efficiency.
6. Transfer knowledge and exchange experience
between experienced organisations and less
experienced organisations.

25. Thank you for your attention!
fiona.mclean@ttr-ltd.com
+44 7918 942 942
@afionamclean
www.ttr-ltd.com

26. Case Study : START (2008-2012)
www.ttr-ltd.com
• www.start-project.eu
• Funded by Atlantic Area
INTERREG programme
• 13 partners, coordinated by
Merseytravel (with TTR)
• Enabling seamless travel
between participating regions

27. Three START themes
1. Improved information for
travellers
• Development of a multilingual
information portal
• Established interoperable
journey planners
• Improved local multilingual
information services
www.ttr-ltd.com
www.integra-travel.eu

28. Three START themes
www.ttr-ltd.com
2. Better public transport
systems
• Implemented advanced
ticketing systems (e.g. smart
cards)
• Improved quality of bus
services
• Used public transport to
stimulate local economies

29. Three START themes
3. Enhanced network of transport organisations
• Improved transport accessibility
• Exchanged best practice
• Established the Integra brand for seamless travel
www.ttr-ltd.com
standards

30. START Achievements include:
• Smart card ticketing introduced in
Merseyside, Glasgow subway, Cantabria,
Lower-Normandy
• Real time information systems and new
signs in La Rochelle, Oban, Argyll &
Bute, Glasgow, Lower-Normandy and
Cantabria
• Transport connection services improved
across Highlands and Islands in
Scotland.
www.ttr-ltd.com

31. Thank you for your attention!
fiona.mclean@ttr-ltd.com
+44 7918 942 942
@afionamclean
www.ttr-ltd.com