Long-term research & innovation (WP-E)
WP-E
Performed on behalf of the SJU and under the guidance of its Scientific Board, Workpackage E develops and maintains a programme of research activities, using expertise drawn from the European research community (R&D centres, universities, industry).
The contribution of WP-E will be twofold:
- Firstly, it will be a catalyst to create a healthy European research capability for ATM and related air transport that will persist beyond the lifetime of the SESAR development programme;
- Secondly, it will make provision and provide funding for research activities that are not currently planned within the ‘mainstream’ SESAR Work Packages. Such research will address applications which will become operational beyond the SESAR timeframe (nominally 2020), and will also allow for innovative work that may have application in the shorter term.
Research topics are described in the Thematic Programme, a public document.
Work Package E differs somewhat from the other SJU work packages in that it operates via open calls that should appeal to a wide range of contributors including academia or research organisations. Bringing WP-E activities under the auspices of the SJU will ensure coherence across the range of activities and allow for linkage into other parts of the SESAR Work Programme.
Key instruments
WP-E uses two key instruments:
- Research networks to build in a structured way competence and capability that will serve the industry in the long term;
- Research projects to allow academia, industry and others to explore ideas, for the medium or long-term, that are not currently addressed within SJU work packages.
Networks and projects are expected to address the following research themes:
- legal aspects of paradigm shift;
- towards higher levels of automation in ATM;
- mastering complex systems safely;
- economics and performance.
Main milestones
- First set of research networks established following calls for tender Q3/4 2010. Up to three networks awarded from this call with a duration of four years;
- First set of research projects established following call for tender Q4 2010. Up to 15 projects awarded from this call with a duration of up to 30 months;
- Subsequent calls for tender will be issued in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
