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Dr Anastasios Tsakalidis is a Programme Officer at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC). His research area is transport systems engineering, with a focus on sustainable transport systems, environmental impacts of transport, and transport policies. His latest project is TRIMIS, the European Commission's Transport Research and Innovation Monitoring and Information System, where he works on smart mobility, transport electrification, and foresight. He holds a MEng in Civil Engineering, a MSc in Planning and Management of Transport Systems, and a PhD in Transport Engineering.
Numerous transport innovations promise to improve how people and goods move, while simultaneously decreasing the externalities that transport imposes on society. Public institutions offer large amounts of funding to make these concepts become reality. Yet fragmented and partial insights into technology development impede the efficient allocation of funds and may slow down innovation. This study contributes to a holistic and coordinated understanding of transport research and innovation by evaluating 3381 European Union-funded projects between 2007 and 2020. A technology taxonomy is built through a Grounded Theory approach, comprising 867 technologies that fall under 45 technology themes. Information is provided on funding characteristics and the technology development phase for each technology. The paper expands our understanding on the role of funding to innovate transport and offers suggestions to further improve research funding allocation.
Konstantinos Gkoumas; Mitchell van Balen; Anastasios Tsakalidis; Ferenc Pekar. Evaluating the development of transport technologies in European research and innovation projects between 2007 and 2020. Research in Transportation Economics 2021, 101113 .
AMA StyleKonstantinos Gkoumas, Mitchell van Balen, Anastasios Tsakalidis, Ferenc Pekar. Evaluating the development of transport technologies in European research and innovation projects between 2007 and 2020. Research in Transportation Economics. 2021; ():101113.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKonstantinos Gkoumas; Mitchell van Balen; Anastasios Tsakalidis; Ferenc Pekar. 2021. "Evaluating the development of transport technologies in European research and innovation projects between 2007 and 2020." Research in Transportation Economics , no. : 101113.
The European Commission’s Transport Research and Innovation Monitoring and Information System (TRIMIS) is co-developed by the authors as an open-access transport policy tool to support implementation of the Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda (STRIA), covering all transport sectors and modes. Within the TRIMIS frame, horizon scanning has been piloted through a structured and systematic collaborative exercise contributing to the identification of new and emerging technologies and trends. It focused especially on those affecting the transport sector, supporting the assessment of current and future research needs. This exercise also feeds broader European Commission policies with transport insights, thereby contributing to policy integration. The TRIMIS horizon scanning pilot shed light onto various emerging technologies that can potentially disrupt mobility and transport. It highlighed the significance of the interaction of the energy and transport sectors, and the need to invest in related research and innovation to address complex emerging challenges identified in the expert workshop: Radical solutions to replace cars in urban environments; Electrification and escalation of power demand; Fleet modernisation through retrofitting; and Automation to maintain current system with less externalities. This paper provides an overview of the role, application and outcomes of the horizon scanning methodology co-developed and piloted by the authors to support transport research and innovation in a European Union (EU) policy context.
Anastasios Tsakalidis; Elisa Boelman; Alain Marmier; Konstantinos Gkoumas; Ferenc Pekar. Horizon scanning for transport research and innovation governance: A European perspective. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives 2021, 11, 100424 .
AMA StyleAnastasios Tsakalidis, Elisa Boelman, Alain Marmier, Konstantinos Gkoumas, Ferenc Pekar. Horizon scanning for transport research and innovation governance: A European perspective. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives. 2021; 11 ():100424.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnastasios Tsakalidis; Elisa Boelman; Alain Marmier; Konstantinos Gkoumas; Ferenc Pekar. 2021. "Horizon scanning for transport research and innovation governance: A European perspective." Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives 11, no. : 100424.
Several gender differences exist in the transport sector. These include accessibility to transport modes, safety and security when travelling, and the participation of women in transport research and innovation (R&I). In order to achieve sustainable and inclusive transport, planners and policymakers should consider all impacts on gender equality. This paper sheds light on two main issues which interconnect through the decision-making process. The first relates to women’s behaviour in the transport system (i.e., studies the gender mobility gap). The second concerns the role of women in transport R&I, particularly the topics covered by research projects and relevant descriptive statistics of their participation in the sector. Based on a literature review, this paper identifies critical issues in the European transport sector and key European Union policy initiatives and regulations that address gender equality and transport. The European Commission’s Transport Research and Innovation Monitoring and Information System (TRIMIS) is used to summarise the status and evolution of European research in addressing women’s issues in transport. It also analyses the participation of women in European transport research and innovation activities. The paper assesses progress to date and identifies challenges and opportunities for women, mobility, and transport. It concludes by providing policy recommendations to overcome the major barriers to gender equality in the European transport sector and to transport research and innovation.
Alejandro Hortelano; Monica Grosso; Gary Haq; Anastasios Tsakalidis. Women in Transport Research and Innovation: A European Perspective. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6796 .
AMA StyleAlejandro Hortelano, Monica Grosso, Gary Haq, Anastasios Tsakalidis. Women in Transport Research and Innovation: A European Perspective. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (12):6796.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlejandro Hortelano; Monica Grosso; Gary Haq; Anastasios Tsakalidis. 2021. "Women in Transport Research and Innovation: A European Perspective." Sustainability 13, no. 12: 6796.
The European Commission’s Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda (STRIA) outlines future transport research and innovation (R&I) priorities towards the decarbonization of European transport. Seven STRIA roadmaps focus on crosscutting research areas. In order to support and monitor their implementation, the Transport Research and Innovation Monitoring and Information System (TRIMIS) was developed. It is an integrated transport policy-support tool with a modular design, serving as a knowledge management system that offers open-access information, as well as an inventory of transport technologies and innovations. TRIMIS provides a holistic assessment of current and emerging technologies and trends and R&I capacities in the European transport sector incorporating foresight capabilities based on transport R&I data collection, innovation capacity mapping, technological status assessment, horizon scanning, and identification of new and emerging technologies and trends. This paper presents an overview of TRIMIS and its benefits as an integrated analytical tool that provides support to sustainable transport governance and decision-making. Moreover, it provides insights on current technology trends in the road transport domain with a focus on smart innovation and identifies emerging trends with a potential future impact through a dedicated case study, combining a techno-economic assessment with findings of a horizon scanning exercise.
Anastasios Tsakalidis; Konstantinos Gkoumas; Monica Grosso; Ferenc Pekár. TRIMIS: Modular Development of an Integrated Policy-Support Tool for Forward-Oriented Transport Research and Innovation Analysis. Sustainability 2020, 12, 10194 .
AMA StyleAnastasios Tsakalidis, Konstantinos Gkoumas, Monica Grosso, Ferenc Pekár. TRIMIS: Modular Development of an Integrated Policy-Support Tool for Forward-Oriented Transport Research and Innovation Analysis. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (23):10194.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnastasios Tsakalidis; Konstantinos Gkoumas; Monica Grosso; Ferenc Pekár. 2020. "TRIMIS: Modular Development of an Integrated Policy-Support Tool for Forward-Oriented Transport Research and Innovation Analysis." Sustainability 12, no. 23: 10194.
Transport emissions need to be drastically decreased in order to put Europe on a path towards a long-term climate neutrality. Commercial transport, and especially last mile delivery is expected to grow because of the rise of e-commerce. In this frame, electric light commercial vehicles (eLCVs) can be a promising low-emission solution. Literature holistically analysing the potential of eLCVs as well as related support policies is sparse. This paper attempts to close this research gap. To this aim, the total cost of ownership (TCO) comparisons for eLCVs and benchmark vehicles are performed and support measures that target the improvement of the eLCV TCO are analysed. Various eLCV deployment scenarios until 2030 are explored and their impact on carbon dioxide (CO2) and other pollutant emissions as well as pollutant concentrations are calculated. It is found that while in several European Union (EU) countries eLCVs are already cost competitive, because of fiscal support, some remaining market barriers need to be overcome to pave the way to mass market deployment of eLCVs. High penetration of eLCVs alone can lead to a reduction of total transport CO2 emissions by more than 3% by 2030. For pollutant emissions, such as nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), the reduction would be equal or even higher. In the case of PM, this can translate to reductions in concentrations by nearly 2% in several urban areas by 2030. Carefully designed support policies could help to ensure that the potential of eLCVs as a low-emission alternative is fully leveraged in the EU.
Anastasios Tsakalidis; Jette Krause; Andreea Julea; Emanuela Peduzzi; Enrico Pisoni; Christian Thiel. Electric light commercial vehicles: Are they the sleeping giant of electromobility? Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment 2020, 86, 102421 -102421.
AMA StyleAnastasios Tsakalidis, Jette Krause, Andreea Julea, Emanuela Peduzzi, Enrico Pisoni, Christian Thiel. Electric light commercial vehicles: Are they the sleeping giant of electromobility? Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. 2020; 86 ():102421-102421.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnastasios Tsakalidis; Jette Krause; Andreea Julea; Emanuela Peduzzi; Enrico Pisoni; Christian Thiel. 2020. "Electric light commercial vehicles: Are they the sleeping giant of electromobility?" Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment 86, no. : 102421-102421.
The European Commission’s Communication on a European Green Deal sets out the objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, which will require a reduction in transport emissions. To this aim, digital technologies, together with connectivity and automation, are transforming traditional concepts of mobility, with a potential impact towards transport decarbonisation. New business models are emerging and giving rise to innovative mobility services including new online platforms for car-pooling, car or bicycle sharing services, freight operations, or smartphone applications offering real-time travel information and other analytics. This study provides an overview of the European Union (EU) funded research and innovation (R&I) and related technologies that are influencing the uptake of digital transformation in transport and identifies issues and challenges from a European perspective. To that end, it follows a two-tier approach that examines policy and legislative initiatives from the European Commission, highlighting possible challenges and enablers. Moreover, it analyses transport technology developments in Europe, focusing on the technology maturity from EU R&I framework programmes, using the European Commission’s Transport Research and Innovation Monitoring and Information System (TRIMIS). The technology analysis provides insights that aid policy decisions related to funding allocation in future R&I framework programmes.
Anastasios Tsakalidis; Konstantinos Gkoumas; Ferenc Pekár. Digital Transformation Supporting Transport Decarbonisation: Technological Developments in EU-Funded Research and Innovation. Sustainability 2020, 12, 3762 .
AMA StyleAnastasios Tsakalidis, Konstantinos Gkoumas, Ferenc Pekár. Digital Transformation Supporting Transport Decarbonisation: Technological Developments in EU-Funded Research and Innovation. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (9):3762.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnastasios Tsakalidis; Konstantinos Gkoumas; Ferenc Pekár. 2020. "Digital Transformation Supporting Transport Decarbonisation: Technological Developments in EU-Funded Research and Innovation." Sustainability 12, no. 9: 3762.
Transport contributes significantly to economic growth and higher quality of life, but its associated externalities have an environmental, economic and social impact and are the main impetus to support innovation towards sustainable transport. The European Commission’s Communication on a European Green Deal sets out the objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, for which transport emissions will need to be further reduced. Innovation within the transport sector gains greater prominence, with some anticipating an innovation revolution that would completely transform the sector. In this paper, the barriers that impede such a transition from happening are examined and a tool that aids policymakers and researchers with shaping transport innovation actions is presented; The Transport Research and Innovation Monitoring and Information System (TRIMIS) is an integrated transport policy-support tool with a modular design serving as an open-access information and knowledge management system. This paper provides an overview of its main features and includes a case study on transport electrification and alternative fuels, showing how monitoring efforts can aid transport research and innovation (R&I) policymaking and governance. TRIMIS contributes to identifying evolutionary and revolutionary technologies, their funding and associated policy initiatives, so the anticipated transport revolution can be better monitored, evaluated and shaped.
Anastasios Tsakalidis; Mitchell Van Balen; Konstantinos Gkoumas; Ferenc Pekar. Catalyzing Sustainable Transport Innovation through Policy Support and Monitoring: The Case of TRIMIS and the European Green Deal. Sustainability 2020, 12, 3171 .
AMA StyleAnastasios Tsakalidis, Mitchell Van Balen, Konstantinos Gkoumas, Ferenc Pekar. Catalyzing Sustainable Transport Innovation through Policy Support and Monitoring: The Case of TRIMIS and the European Green Deal. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (8):3171.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnastasios Tsakalidis; Mitchell Van Balen; Konstantinos Gkoumas; Ferenc Pekar. 2020. "Catalyzing Sustainable Transport Innovation through Policy Support and Monitoring: The Case of TRIMIS and the European Green Deal." Sustainability 12, no. 8: 3171.
Electric vehicles (EVs) have been around for more than a hundred years. Nevertheless, their deployment has not been a sustainable success up until now. Many scientists, engineers and policymakers argue that EVs are a promising, maybe even indispensable option to achieve ambitious decarbonization goals, if powered by electricity from renewable energy sources. At the moment, the EVs market is gaining a lot of momentum and we may be near the point of no return for a sustained mass market deployment of electric vehicles. Many papers exist that describe future prospects of EVs. In our commentary we try to provide a bigger picture view and look at market and societal aspects. We analyze why previous generations of EVs were not successful and how current electric vehicles could become a sustainable success. We perform a semi-quantitative Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis and find that current electric vehicle designs are technologically on par with or better than conventional alternatives. Car buyers go electric when the economics make sense to them. We conclude that incentives are needed for electric vehicles until battery costs lower—as much as to allow EVs to become cheaper—from a total cost of ownership (TCO) perspective, than other alternatives. Other policy measures are needed to overcome remaining barriers, especially in supporting the setup and operation of publicly accessible recharging points to overcome range anxiety. EVs in isolation may not be the next mobility killer app. The real next mobility killer app may emerge as an autonomous shared EV in a world where the border between public and private transport will cease to exist. The findings of our commentary are relevant for scientists, policymakers and industry.
Christian Thiel; Anastasios Tsakalidis; Arnulf Jäger-Waldau. Will Electric Vehicles Be Killed (again) or Are They the Next Mobility Killer App? Energies 2020, 13, 1828 .
AMA StyleChristian Thiel, Anastasios Tsakalidis, Arnulf Jäger-Waldau. Will Electric Vehicles Be Killed (again) or Are They the Next Mobility Killer App? Energies. 2020; 13 (7):1828.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChristian Thiel; Anastasios Tsakalidis; Arnulf Jäger-Waldau. 2020. "Will Electric Vehicles Be Killed (again) or Are They the Next Mobility Killer App?" Energies 13, no. 7: 1828.
Plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) can be a main lever towards a decarbonised road transport system. The PEV market uptake needs to be nurtured by appropriate support measures for users, for technological advances related to the vehicle and its components, and for all relevant recharging infrastructure deployment. This paper focuses on the role of PEV recharging infrastructure for electric passenger car uptake in Europe. It examines the status of road transport electrification, relevant policies, incentives and national plans. We find that the status and plans of PEV and recharging infrastructure and the corresponding support measures vary significantly between countries. The PEV share in the various analysed countries ranged in 2017 from 0.01% to 5.49% and is estimated to reach values between 0.05% and 12.71% in 2020. The corresponding ratio of PEV per one publicly accessible recharging point ranged between 1 and 60 and is estimated to vary between 3 and 161 in 2020. Diverging plans could lead to market fragmentation in the European Union (EU) and impede the EU-wide circulation of PEVs. The appropriate level of recharging infrastructure should be determined to both support PEV deployment and to prevent sunk investments. Different country experiences vis-à-vis PEV and infrastructure support could be useful to identify best practices.
Anastasios Tsakalidis; Andreea Julea; Christian Thiel. The Role of Infrastructure for Electric Passenger Car Uptake in Europe. Energies 2019, 12, 4348 .
AMA StyleAnastasios Tsakalidis, Andreea Julea, Christian Thiel. The Role of Infrastructure for Electric Passenger Car Uptake in Europe. Energies. 2019; 12 (22):4348.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnastasios Tsakalidis; Andreea Julea; Christian Thiel. 2019. "The Role of Infrastructure for Electric Passenger Car Uptake in Europe." Energies 12, no. 22: 4348.