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A3 concentrates on highly innovative research projects with
increased development risk, which receive higher levels of
funding than is usually provided by technology promotion
programmes. The goal is to achieve real technology
breakthroughs and not incremental improvements to existing
technologies. Grants are awarded according to the competitive
principle, through calls for proposals. A3 covers the entire
innovation cycle and offers funding from basic research to
demonstration projects. Furthermore, projects are funded which
adapt education and training to the new requirements and
create an adequate supply of well-qualified human resources.
Another pillar of the programme supports international
networking, mobility and co-operation between researchers.
A3 strives for synergies from interdisciplinary co-operation
between industry, universities, research centres and between
suppliers and users of technologies in joint R&D projects.
Four A3 calls for proposals for projects developing alternative
propulsion systems and vehicle electronics, materials research
and production technologies were carried out between 2002
and 2006. The focus was on road vehicle technologies, but
opportunities for alternative propulsion systems in rail and
waterborne vehicles were investigated as well. From the 152
proposals submitted, 77 projects were adopted and realised
following evaluation, with a funding budget of EUR 20.2 million
(out of a total budget of about EUR 40 million).
Lighthouse projects are another instrument of the BMVIT to
support the market introduction of new vehicle technologies.
Complementary to the A3 calls, the BMVIT uses lighthouse
projects to support large pilot and demonstration projects,
bringing together the providers and users of technologies as
well as all other relevant stakeholders in a single project,
proving the successful operation of new technologies, moving
to optimise them under real-life conditions and to prepare the
public for new vehicle technologies. The single focus of
lighthouse projects is the market introduction of alternative
propulsion systems and fuels. In two calls for lighthouse
projects 25 proposals were submitted in 2005 and 2006.
EDITORIAL
In a two-stage evaluation process, 8 projects were selected. The
total budget was EUR 7.4 million, with a funding budget of EUR
3.3 million.
The A3 technology programme expired in December 2006.
The BMVIT has therefore developed the follow-up programme
A3plus, covering all modes of transport, with the following
research areas:
> Alternative drive systems and their components
> Alternative fuels
> Innovative energy storage concepts
> Development and promotion of necessary supply
infrastructures for refuelling and the use of alternative drive
systems
> Concepts for embedding alternative drives in the total vehicle
design
In the first A3plus call for proposals, with a funding volume of
EUR 7 million, 17 R&D projects and 3 lighthouse projects were
selected for funding in 2007, among them 8 on hybrid and
electric vehicles.
The BMVIT complements these national activities with intensive
international co-operation through partnerships with the
European Union, its member states, industry and research
institutions in the 7th R&D Framework Programme, the FCH
JTI (Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Joint Technological Initiative), the
EU Technology Platforms ERTRAC, FCH and BIOFUELS, and
the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The IEA Implementing Agreement „Hybrid & Electric Vehicles”
is of special relevance for this booklet on hybrid and electric
vehicles, energy storage technologies and electronic control
systems. The strategic importance of this international R&D
co-operation is based on its worldwide participation with the
member states Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy,
the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United
States, necessary in facing up to global challenges like climate
change and achieving a sustainable energy and transport system.
Evelinde Grassegger
Andreas Dorda
Unit for Mobility and Transport Technologies
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