If education is the key to leading the way in the green car race, then the UK may have gained the upper hand by launching a £7.75million centre aimed at revolutionising the future of the UK transport industry.
The programme will be based at Imperial College London, University College London and the University of Leeds and will draw on scientific experts across the country. Known as the UK Transport Research Centre, both long- and short-term research will be carried out aimed at addressing some of the most important questions facing the transport industry including those relating to the environment; economic competitiveness; mobility and accessibility; technology; and society.
Sir Roy Anderson, rector of Imperial College London, is enthusiastic for the centre’s arrival.
“I welcome the establishment of a national hub for transport research,” he said.
“It will provide a tremendous opportunity to enrich and extend the scope of work carried out in this field and enable Imperial to work more closely with our partners at Leeds and UCL.”
Research will include the impact of Government investment in transport infrastructure, its effects on the labour market and the economy. There will also be additional projects looking into technological advances in different sectors that may affect transport demand.
Professor Ian Diamond, chief executive of the Economic and Social Research Council, said: “The UK’s transport system is at the very heart of the future of the country. Providing a strong base of evidence to inform future government policy will be vital, not just to the economic recovery, but to all aspects of society.”
