The European Commission (EC) is planning to spend €1 million on innovative ideas for improving road safety. The proposal is focused on reducing road injuries and provision of first aid. The call for proposals from the EC’s mobility and transport directorate general (DG Move) requests “innovative concepts or sharing of best practice for reducing the seriousness of injuries and organising first aid, including technologies associated with the implementation of the eCall system.”

Projects are expected to start in March 2012 and can last up to three years. Funding will cover a maximum of 50% of the project costs. “This call for proposals is a small piece of the jigsaw leading to public Europe-wide eCall,” says Stephen Longden, author of SBD’s latest eCall report titled Pan-European eCall ~ Responding to the legislation. “The EC is determined to push ahead with deployment and vehicle manufacturers need to get ready for the Type Approval legislation,” he adds.

In addition to the Type Approval legislation that will directly impact vehicle manufacturers, the EC mandate will require both mobile network operators and Member State governments to support eCall implementation. “Much of the past focus of the EC’s eCall programme has been trying to get all the players onboard for the legislative process. Now that legislation is finally happening, the EC is looking forwards to plan the deployment and this new funding is part of these preparations,” notes Longden.

The closing date for applications for the EC project funding is September 30, 2011. For more information on the DG Move tender visit http://ec.europa.eu/transport/grants/2011_09_30_en.htm. To learn more about Pan-European eCall or to buy the report Pan-European eCall ~ Responding to the legislation contact Kavitha at kkuppuswamy@sbd.co.uk.