The recent accident of the Costa Concordia cruise ship has tragically shown that mistakes at sea can have severe consequences. The European Commission is supporting advanced research that helps reduce the risks of human error and the impact, should something go wrong nevertheless.

Aircraft are very safe, but unexpected, extremely difficult flight conditions do happen. Up to now, no simulator has been able to give pilots training that could prepare them realistically for situations like these. The SUPRA project has succeeded in building a flight simulator to train pilots for harsh conditions.

As technology advances, vehicle manufacturers are incorporating more and more gadgets such as cell phones, satellite navigators and in-car video systems into vehicles. But what are the effects of these in-vehicle technologies (IVTs) on road safety? Ten European research partners are trying to determine how safe they really are.

Aircraft noise is a daily blight on the lives of millions.  Although aircraft noise is caused by a large number of factors, previous efforts to reduce it have only ever looked at those factors in isolation.  A unique EU project involving 47 partners, including major players in aeronautics, aims to take a ‘whole-aircraft’ approach, significantly reducing the noise by tackling the problem as a whole.

The SARTRE project (Safe Road Trains for the Environment) has successfully completed the first test demonstrations of a multiple vehicle platoon. The test fleet included a lead truck followed by three cars driven entirely autonomously at speeds of up to 90 km/h – with no more than a 6 metres gap between the vehicles.

A new internal combustion engine addresses the drawbacks of petrol and diesel designs. As a result, it cuts both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The project, NICE, was supported by the European Commission.

Green alternatives to conventional cars are needed fast – for the sake of the environment, and the health of the European economy. But a lot more innovation is needed to make greener cars ready for mass production. To speed things up and encourage cost-sharing, the European Commission is promoting cooperation at every stage – often between commercial rivals.

London Heathrow airport has recently introduced driverless pods to connect Terminal 5 with its car parks, replacing a regular bus service. A hit with travellers and techies alike, these pods are being introduced on the road with support from the European Commission’s Framework Programme for research.

Rail interoperability is needed to ensure that the European trains of tomorrow will enjoy the same freedom of travel as the EU’s citizens do today. This is why the European Commission funded the MODTRAIN research project, which worked on standardising the numerous components that make up a train, as well as the interfaces between them.

Air transport has become a corner stone of our economy and the path to our mobility. This video shows some of the fascinating research that is done with the help of FP7 funding for air transport and aeronautics to make air transport safer, greener and more competitive.

A chest protection device that was developed following European research into improving ‘passive’ safety for road users is now available on the market.

The European Parliament had an opportunity to see progress made in the European Green Car Initiative (EGCI) on 31 May 2011. Many of the automotive firms involved in EGCI projects exhibited their latest vehicles, while a workshop reported to MEPs of the Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) Committee.

As a new outburst by an Icelandic volcano threatens once again to bring European air transport to a standstill, the European Commission is supporting research into the impact of ash on aircrafts in flight. The aim is to be able to respond more effectively to such rare but high-impact events.

The EU-funded 'TIFFE' project has developed a new vehicle with an innovative front-end design and advanced components for more efficient heat radiation and onboard cooling, and better fuel economy.

The EU-supported ‘Niches+’ project recently held its final conference, which included the prize ceremony for the Osmose Awards, honouring local and regional authorities that have introduced new measures for sustainable urban transport.

The EU-funded TelliBox project has optimised available loading space in freight vehicles, promising more efficient transport of goods.

An EU-funded collaboration between universities and industry is overcoming limitations in current technologies to develop new bioethanol engines.

With the majority of the population in Europe now living in urban areas and the bulk of industrial production being dispatched to these areas, the demand for freight transport in cities is at an all-time high.

EU-funded research projects, including 'Mediate' and 'Access2All' are finding new ways to get the disabled, elderly and other 'transport vulnerable' citizens into the public transport system. In doing so, they are making it easier for everyone to enjoy more efficient mobility.

The EU-funded 'EUDDplus' project has achieved new milestones on the way to the safer and more standardised rail transport driver's cab of the future.