infra4Dfuture will develop a demand-driven overarching strategy and coordination mechanism for the modernization of transport infrastructure including a shared strategic vision on future infrastructure capabilities and common pathways for innovation development and implementation. Facing a variety of emerging challenges, such as climate change, resilience, ageing infrastructure, maintenance, digitalisation, automation, energy and electrification, the National Transport Infrastructure Authorities (NTIA) have urgent requirements for infrastructure innovation. In view of the long cycle times in infrastructure management and the rapid mounting pressure from these challenges, there is a need for fast delivery of ready-to-implement, cost-effective innovative solutions matching the requirements of the NTIA that jointly build the TEN-T network. The infra4Dfuture consortium encompasses 20 partners from 17 countries, 19 of them being NTIA, joining forces to develop: • a strategic coordination mechanism aiming to deliver a concerted cooperation and collaboration across a portfolio of relevant European and national innovation programmes and initiatives; • a shared strategic vision on future infrastructure capabilities, each capability encompassing a series of innovation focus areas for innovation. infra4Dfuture is based on a sound and coherent consultation and dialogue process with relevant stakeholders. This process will be structured in a sequence of strategic, decision-making conferences and a supporting, tactical sequence of expert workshops and regional events. These will culminate in the founding of the infra4Dfuture Stakeholder Platform for Infrastructure Innovation and Implementation (ISPIII) at the TRA 2020. ISPIII will ensure a continuance of the coordination mechanism and shared vision beyond the duration of the action. Follow-up ISPIII events will take place at the consecutive biannual TRA conferences.

Overall objective of this proposed project is to contribute to smart growth in the European Union, by supporting and developing the capability of European SMEs to turn their investments in research, development and innovation into growth and commercial success. Specifically, the project will contribute to identify and remove bottlenecks and weaknesses in the innovation capacities of SMEs hindering their current growth opportunities, and to enhance the SME’s innovation management capacities for more effectiveness and efficiency in future innovation projects. This will be achieved by the delivery of dedicated services packages to two different target groups: 1) SMEs in Bavaria that are beneficiaries of the European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot or any potential successor programme under Horizon Europe, receiving “Key Account Management” (KAM) services. 2) Other internationally oriented SMEs in Bavaria with strong ambitions in innovation and growth, receiving “Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity” (EIMC) services. For implementation, KAM case tracker and need analysis will be used for delivering KAM services, and IMP³rove or Innovation Health Check methodology will be used for delivering EIMC services. For both services, the underlying understanding of Innovation Management System follows the specifications provided by the European Committee for Standardisation in CEN/TS 16555-1, and comprises a company’s complete innovation process from idea generation to generation of profit. It includes both internal enabling factors like leadership, management skills, financial situation, market knowledge etc, as well as practices and skills for external cooperation with third parties like suppliers, R&D partners, potential clients, and investors.

Overall objective of this proposed project is to contribute to smart growth in the European Union by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of investments in research, development and innovation (both private or public), and by contributing to a better and more efficient connection of actors along the value chain. Specifically, this proposal will contribute to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation projects in SMEs in the region of Bavaria. This will be achieved by the delivery of well-defined services packages to the SMEs, targeting specifically the enhancement of their innovation management capacity and the removal of potential innovation gaps and bottlenecks. Target groups of the service packages will be 1. SME beneficiaries in Bavaria participating in Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 of the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument (“Key Account Management” KAM) 2. Other internationally oriented SMEs in Bavaria with strong ambitions in innovation and growth (“Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity” EIMC) ‘Innovation management’, as addressed by this project comprises a company’s complete innovation process from idea generation to innovation result. It includes internal enabling factors like leadership, management skills, financial situation, market knowledge etc, as well as external cooperation with third parties like suppliers, R&D partners, potential clients, and investors. This understanding of innovation management follows the specifications of innovation management systems provided by the European Committee for Standardisation in CEN/TS 16555-1. For implementation, KAM case tracker and IMP³rove assessment will be used for delivering KAM services and EIMC services, respectively.

In collaboration with the European Commission and the European Green Vehicles Initiative Association, European countries and regions will set-up an ERA-NET Cofund to further promote electric mobility in Europe. Electric Mobility Europe builds on the experiences, networks and results of Electromobility+ and is designed to take transnational e-mobility research and policy exchange to the next level. With a two-track approach, the initiative will link research and policy practice in support of electric mobility at the European level. The first of two pillars of Electric Mobility Europe will fund innovation projects focussing on the application and demonstration of e-mobility with the objective of advancing the mainstreaming of the electrification of mobility in Europe. The initiative will bring together about 30 million EUR for supporting applied innovation projects, including up to 10 million EUR of co-funding provided by the European Commission under Horizon 2020. In 2016, the initiative will issue a call for project proposals addressing the key areas of electric mobility: 1. System integration (transport, (sub)urban areas) 2. Integration of urban freight and city logistics in the e-mobility 3. Smart Mobility concepts and ICT applications 4. Public transport 5. Consumer behaviour and societal trends In addition to funding innovation and demonstration projects, the ERA-NET Cofund Electric Mobility Europe will establish a second pillar of activity. The network will provide a platform for cooperation and exchange of information and experiences among participating countries and regions. In this context, know-how will be shared on setting conducive conditions for the development of electric mobility in Europe (e.g. on charging infrastructure). The network will support this by facilitating suitable means of cooperation such as workshops or seminars in order to exchange or coordinate required actions, in attunement with the European Green Vehicle Initiative Association.

For SMEs, the lack of innovation management capacity is one important barrier to creating economic benefit from innovation projects. The proposed support action project aims at improving the ability of SMEs in the region of Bavaria to perform innovation activities more effective and efficient. This will be achieved by the delivery of well-defined service packages to the SMEs, targeting specifically the enhancement of their innovation management capacity and the removal of potential innovation gaps and bottlenecks. Target groups of the service packages will be: 1. SME beneficiaries in Bavaria receiving funding from the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument, or having been awarded with a 'Seal of Excellence' ("Key Account Management" KAM) 2. Other SMEs in Bavaria with European or international potential and strong ambitions in innovation and growth ("Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity" EIMC) Receiving the proposed services will increase the ability of the SMEs to generate ideas, to focus on ideas with the highest potential, to translate those ideas into projects, and to bring these projects to an economic success. On the other hand, the services shall increase the ability of SMEs to abandon projects smoothly with minimal losses for the company, in case a project doesn't live up to the original expectations.