SESAR

Arguments for a positive approach to long-term research and innovation in all branches of industry are well understood. In particular, the need to build the European economy on strong foundations of knowledge, research and innovation is reiterated in many EU declarations and treaties, and is seen as the key to growth, jobs and prosperity.

This is as true for air transport and ATM as it is for any other industry. It is vital that research competence is built and maintained so that Europe can play a significant and lasting role in the global arena. A framework is needed that will maximise potential returns in this traditionally under-funded area.

The WP-E Vision

The contribution of WP-E will be twofold:

• First, 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 workpackages. Such research will address applications to become operational beyond the SESAR timeframe (nominally 2020), and will also allow for innovative work that may have application in the nearer term.

How WP-E works

WP-E uses two functional instruments:

• Research networks provide a structured way to build research knowledge, competence and capability that should serve the industry in the long term. Each network comprises partners from academia, research establishments, industry etc. that share a common expertise or interest in a relevant air traffic management or transportation domain.
• Research projects will explore new ideas essentially for the long term but which may also be targeted at innovation applicable in short- and mid-terms. As with the networks, projects will be multi-partner undertakings.

Networks and projects are selected following open calls.  Important factors when considering networks and projects will be:

• The ability to attract high-quality research partners for the networks, and innovative proposals for the projects; 
• The potential for cross-fertilisation between the networks; 
• The need for visible progress, to be verified by regular reviews of network and project activities; 
• The need for WP-E research to take account of ongoing ATM Master Plan activities; 
• The desire for quick wins: opportunities for research results to be applied for short-term benefit.

Research Themes

Networks and projects are expected to address the four Research Themes:

• Legal Aspects of Paradigm Shift;
• Towards Higher Levels of Automation in ATM;
• Mastering Complex Systems Safely;
• Economics and Performance.

Full details can be found in the Thematic Programme.