Technological innovations may contribute significantly to the solution of the present problems in traffic and transportation. The Dutch Department of Transport is active in different domains of technology, but a broad policy framework is lacking: (1) to assess technological developments; (2) to identify desired technological developments; and (3) to define a research and development portfolio for technology. The INnovation Inland Transport (INIT) project group is charged with the development of this policy framework. The starting point is, that technological innovations in traffic and transportation have to contribute to the achievement of the goals as described in the Transport Structure Plan (SVV). Innovations have been structured in concepts. A concept represents a complete function in traffic and transportation. Some concepts are aimed at the improvement of the existing system, other concepts are completely new system functions. In workshops with different actors the technologies have been investigated and now INIT is studying the best role for private and public actors and the most suited policy measures. (A)
Abstract