Sustainable transport — Knowledge and innovations at RWTH Aachen university for Europe´s systems of tomorrow

The transport of freight and people is a basic condition for the competitiveness of industry and services in Europe. This economic sector solitary has a turnover of approx. 1,000 billion EUR (approx. 7% of the gross domestic product of the EU), employs more than 10 million people and contributes substantially to the functioning of the European economy. The general context of transport has strongly changed in Europe during the last years. Carbon dioxide emissions, noise pollution, rising oil prices and the strain of road traffic constitute important challenges and impulses for energy efficient, ecological and sustainable transport at the same time. In the following document the topical situation in the European transport sector is highlighted and the future challenges to the European transport system are pointed out. In this connection three approaches by RWTH Aachen University (Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule Aachen) are introduced which contribute to the aims of energy efficient, ecological and sustainable transport in Europe.