The European Council for Automotive R&D (EUCAR) has called for a number of priority automotive research and investment initiatives in Horizon 2020 to support competitive and sustainable road transport, aided by a budget proportionate to its economic and social contribution in Europe.
Rémi Bastien, Chairman of EUCAR, delivered the Council’s recommendations on Horizon 2020 to an audience of MEPs and stakeholders at a seminar in the European Parliament. Horizon 2020 is the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation from 2014-2020 and Mr Bastien stressed its importance to automotive development projects.
He called for the proposed €80bn Horizon 2020 budget to be maintained and for the legislation to be finalised as soon as possible.
Industry makes a direct contribution of 6.9% to European GDP* and road transport continues to be a cornerstone of European society and economic activity. EUCAR supports the broad lines set out in the Commission’s proposals for the programme on ‘Smart, Green and Integrated Transport’ as well as the programmes on Energy, Climate/Raw Materials, Information and Communication Technology, Advanced Materials and Advanced Manufacturing and Processing.
For EUCAR and its partners, an essential component in implementing the above priorities is the future European Green Vehicles Initiative (EGVI), which succeeds the ongoing European Green Cars Initiative. The EGVI should focus on the efficiency of the vehicle, including electrification, in all vehicle types.
To find out more about how the UK is delivering consistently lower emissions, click here to download SMMT’s latest New Car CO2 Report.
SMMT is recognising UK automotive ingenuity through its third annual Award for Automotive Innovation, click here for further details and how to enter.
EUCAR’s position is set out in its position paper: http://www.eucar.be/publications/EUCAR_position_Horizon_2020
*6.9% of EU GDP (according to EU project ‘European Assessment of Global Automotive Research’ Benchmarking Analysis. www.eagar.eu/docs/EAGAR_Benchmarking_Analysis_Report.pdf)
