The final version of “Strategic Targets and Expected Impacts” has been recently issued by the reFINE initiative, promoted by the European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP) on the matter of Building Up Infrastructure Networks of a Sustainable Europe. It was approved by the High Level Group of ECTP on September 27, 2012.

Established in 2004, the European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP) gathers more than 230 member-organizations of the Construction sector. Its main mission is to develop new R&D&I strategies to improve the competitiveness of the sector and to meet societal needs and take up environmental challenges.

The reFINE (research for Future Infrastructure Networks in Europe) initiative was established by ECTP. It is the response of the Construction sector to develop the competitive and resource-efficient transport system envisioned by the White Paper on Transport (COM(2011) 144 final of 28 March 2011), and it brings together European enterprises active in infrastructure research, construction, maintenance and operation.

This document on Strategic Targets and Expected Impacts describes the reFINE context, in terms of economic and societal value of transport infrastructure within the framework of European policies, and it introduces the vision and challenges for future “green, smart, and low-cost” European infrastructure:

• Green, to reduce carbon emissions linked to transport infrastructure by 30% by 2020,
• Smart, to improve and increase infrastructure services (capacity, safety and efficiency) by 30%, and
• Low Cost, to increase end value whilst reducing ownership costs by 30%.

Then it identifies the main RDI (Research Development and Innovation) Domains and associated Targets that are required to meet these challenges and achieve the reFINE vision, along with potential qualitative or quantitative KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). This provides a first assessment of potential impact that has to be generated by future RDI in the infrastructure industry.

ECTP is today developing, in cooperation with platforms dedicated to the various transport modes, a Roadmap on transport infrastructure, in view of the Horizon 2020 programme.

Download the Targets and Impacts document

Consult the ECTP Website

Brussels, November 30, 2012