E.U.-U.S. Joint Research Symposium #2: Advancing Research Implementation Strategies

1. E.U. – U.S. Joint Research Symposium Series- Symposium #2: Research ImplementationDr. Kevin WomackAssociate Administrator for Research and TechnologyOffice of the Assistant Secretary for Research & TechnologyU.S. Department of TransportationJuly 2014

2. Background • Implementing Arrangement with European Commission (DG-RTD) signed in Feb 2013 • Four annual E.U. – U.S. research symposia planned (2013 – 2016) in partnership with European Commission and TRB • Symposia series designed to facilitate transatlantic research collaboration, identify knowledge gaps, and potential future joint research opportunities • First symposium hosted by the U.S. in May 2013: “City Logistics Research – a Transatlantic Perspective”

3. 2014 Symposium • Topic: Research Implementation • Hosted by the European Commission in La Defense (Paris), France, on April 10-11, 2014 • 50 experts from academia, industry, and government invited to attend the two-day symposium (25 U.S., 25 E.U.) • Two white papers developed to inform symposium discussions: • ‘Transportation research implementation in the European Union and the United States - Observations and Working Hypotheses’ • ‘Lessons learned from case studies of successful research implementation in Europe and the United States’

4. Agenda DAY 2 • Session 4: Using research results in effective ways • Luis López RUIZ (Director of Engineering and Innovation ADIF) • Allen BIEHLER (Carnegie Mellon University) • Chris MARTIN (Robert Bosch Corporate Research) • Natalia de ESTEVAN (Transport for London) • Breakout session 2: Identifying the success factors • Session 5: From principles to practice • Co-Chairs: MaritBrandtsegg & William Millar • Reports from Breakout Session 2 • Conclusive keynote address: Kirk STEUDLE (TRB Executive Committee Chair); • Concluding observations DAY 1 • Session 1: Setting the Scene • White paper summaries • Keynote speech – Terry Hill, Arup • Breakout session 1: Stakeholder perspectives on implementation • Session 2: Institutional incentives and disincentives to successful implementation • Ann Brach, SHRP2 • Steve Phillips, Sec. General CEDR • Michael TRENTACOSTE (FHWA, Director TFHRC) • Liam Breslin, European Commission • Session 3: Framing and conducting research to insure implementation • Jose VIEGAS (Sec.General ITF) • Stephen ANDRLE (Dep. Director SHRP 2); • Horst SCHULZE (German Federal Highway Research Institute - BASt);

5. Issues • Two major obstacles in the research implementation process: • “Valley of death” between research completion and research implementation • Tracking research implementation and understanding its impacts – capturing and articulating Return on Investment • Institutional barriers to effective research implementation (e.g. legislative, procurement, and Intellectual Property processes) • Lack of ability to manage “risk” • Three primary stakeholder groups tend to be isolated or “siloed” (researchers, funders, end users) • Fragmented nature of the U.S. transportation research universe (compared to a more structured framework approach in the E.U.) • Lack of incentives within academia to prioritize research implementation • Lack of investment in basic and advanced research – how does this fit in the research implementation process?

6. Recommendations • Establish and maintain strong partnerships between stakeholder groups (academia, funders, end users) • Establish “culture of innovation”, beginning with leadership • Identify and engage end users throughout the research process, not just at the end • Provide incentives to the academic community to support research implementation • Implement a systematic, long term approach to research funding and implementation that supports basic, advanced, and applied research • Pursue legislative, policy, IP, and procurement perform to remove the institutional barriers to effective research implementation • Delegate responsibility for research implementation to specific organizations, or establish such organizations if they don’t already exist • Provide resources to track research implementation and impacts • Identify best practice models and facilitate their adoption elsewhere • Every Day Counts, SHRP2, DARPA, EC Framework Programs, IDEA, etc

7. Next Steps • Conference proceedings document to be produced later this year – disseminate to transportation community and obtain feedback • Further formal discussion at TRB Annual Meeting 2015, building consensus for future action items • Assess the need for a “primer” on research implementation – objectives, content, audience • Begin implementing action items in 2015

8. Questions / Comments?Dr. Kevin WomackAssociate Administrator for Research and TechnologyOffice of the Assistant Secretary for Research & TechnologyU.S. Department of TransportationJuly 2014