TRA VISIONS 2020 RESULTS
The concept behind the Senior Researchers Competition is to have an award celebrating excellence in transport related research. It is open for leading surface transport researchers engaged with EU-funded projects who can demonstrate proven impacts in their field. The competition provides a platform to disseminate knowledge and results from innovation and/or research projects in Surface Transport, promoting future synergies and further development of pioneering ideas, in line with the strategic objectives of the TRA stakeholders. The Senior Researchers Competition acts as a showcase for some of the best EU-funded innovation and research and encourages the identification of current and future leaders in their field. The competition was promoted through the stakeholders in the consortium, through national contact points and through targeted contact coordinators and participants in EU-funded transport projects. Participants could register for the competition either directly via the TRA VISIONS website or via the TRA 2020 conference entry portal.
The evaluation was a three-stage process. Firstly, all entries were reviewed for content, eligibility and relevance to produce a long list. All entries which were selected for the long list were then invited to submit additional information; an impact statement about their research and a brief CV. These submissions were assessed by at least two independent, subject expert evaluators against the following selection criteria: (i) amount and proportion of EU funding; (ii) impact of research on national, EU and global levels; (iii) relevance to transport and (iv) research track record of entrant. A shortlist of three entrants was produced for each transport mode (Road, Rail, Air, Waterborne and Cross modality). The winners were chosen by an expert panel at a selection workshop held at the European Commission in Brussels on 10th February 2020. The panel consisted of transportation experts and stakeholders as well as representatives from the EC. The intention was to present the awards at the TRA 2020 conference in Helsinki but due to Covid-19 the award ceremony has been postponed.