Transport Research in the European Research Area

B E L G I U M
Belgium is a federal state composed of
seven autonomous, but related entities: the
Federal State, the three Regions (the Flemish
Region, the Walloon Region and the Region of
Brussels-Capital) and the three Communities
(Flemish Community, the French Community
and the German-speaking Community). In
practice the Flemish Region and Flemish
Community have merged their governments
and institutions, which are referred to as the
government and institutions of the Flemish
Community. Responsibility for science and
technology as a whole and for transport is
distributed between these entities.
of transport, environment, energy, etc, at both
the federal and regional level. For example:
• The Federal Public Service Mobility and
Transport unit – research covering mobility;
• The Flemish region – research under the
Flanders Mobility Plan;
• The Walloon Public Service – projects to
support the implementation of the “Mobility
and Transport Plan for the Walloon Region”;
• The Equipment and Transport Administration
of the Brussels-Capital Region – research
under its regional transport plan.
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TRANSPORT RESEARCH IN THE EUROPEAN RESEARCH AREA
At the federal level, the Public Planning
Service Science Policy unit (PPS Science
Policy) is responsible for several thematic
research programmes on transport and
mobility, which have been in existence from
1991 to the present. These are either direct
transport programmes or have transport as
one of the themes in a broader programme.
The Programme Policy Research Centres
(Programma Steunpunten voor Beleidsrelevant
Onderzoek) within the Science and Innovation
Administration (AWI) of the Flemish
Government, covers a number of themes, one
of which is safe mobility management.
The Department for Spatial Development
of the Flemish Community has developed
the SPRE (Strategisch Plan voor Ruimtelijke
Economie) programme. This is a spatial
development programme for the Flemish
Region and includes transport.
In the Walloon Region, research is handled by
the Operational General Directorate for the
Economy, Employment and Research (DGO6),
together with the Technology Stimulation
Agency (AST). The CPDT (Permanent
Conference on Territorial Development)
also initiates research on particular themes
in the framework of continuing research
programmes. The CPDT was created in 1998
and deals with various research topics in
spatial and transport planning.
In the Brussels region, the Minister-President
of the Brussels-Capital Government is
responsible for research policy and works
closely with the Research and Innovation
Service (SRI-DOI) to promote new research
activities and follow-up international
programmes for scientific research.
Besides specific research programmes,
transport research is financed by the ministries
FEDERAL LEVEL
Belgian Federal Public Planning Service
Science Policy (PPS Science policy)
Service Public Fédéral de Programmation
Politique scientifique (SPP Politique
scientifique) – Federale Programmatorische
Overheidsdienst Wetenschapsbeleid (POD
Wetenschapsbeleid)
www.belspo.be
SSD – Science for a Sustainable
Development (2005-2009)
La science pour un développement durable
Wetenschap voor een duurzame
ontwikkeling
SSD is the continuation of the first and
second “Scientific Support Plan for a
Sustainable Development Policy” (SPSD I
and II). SSD is composed of eight priority
research areas, one of them being Transport
and mobility and another on Energy.
SPSD II – Second Scientific Support Plan
for a Sustainable Development Policy
(2001-2005)
PADD II – Deuxième Plan d’appui
scientifique à une politique de
développement durable
PODO II – Tweede Plan voor
wetenschappelijke ondersteuning van een
beleid gericht op duurzame ontwikkeling
Main strands: (i) Sustainable production and
consumption patterns, (ii) Global change,
ecosystems and biodiversity, (iii) Supporting
actions and (iv) Mixed actions. Part I
“Sustainable Production and Consumption
Patterns” had four main themes, including
Transport and Energy. Follows the SPSD I,
which ran from 1996 to 2001.
www.belspo.be/belspo/fedra/prog.
asp?l=en&COD=CP
The above research programmes are