Commission rewards young researchers’ transport projects

Students from Belgium, Germany and Italy have been awarded the top prizes in a Europe-wide contest to find great transport projects among young researchers. The winners received prizes from the European Commission at the Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2014 conference, Europe’s biggest transport research event that is taking place in Paris this week.

The TRA VISIONS competition aims to stimulate interest among young researchers in the field of sustainable surface transport. The competition is open to university and technical institute students pursuing bachelor or higher degrees. Over 50 proposals were submitted by 104 students.

Màire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, said: “Our current transport systems and habits are not sustainable and not as safe as they should be. Innovation in the transport sector can help change that, and the ideas presented today by these young researchers are very promising. I look forward to seeing some of them put into practice in the near future, so as to make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Claus Claeys won in the Road category for the project ‘Metamaterials for vibro-acoustic isolation’, whilst Alessandro Nardinocchi took first prize in the Rail category for ‘Self pre-stressed concrete’. Morten Ahlström, Kai Schlösser, Julian Herbel, Jan-Christoph Nagel, Julia Ludwig, and Tobias Kreklow won in the Waterborne category with their ‘Green Offshore Crew Tender Concept’.

A separate competition for senior researchers has also been organised; the winners will be announced on 16 April.