International research project 5G-Blueprint receives European grant and looks into the technology, organisation and business case for remotely operated transport in logistics and transportation

The international research project ‘5G-Blueprint', a public-private partnership involving parties from the Netherlands, Flanders, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, is to receive a grant of 10 million euros from the European Union. The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, together with, among others, the Flemish Department for Mobility and Public Works, North Sea Port and Port of Antwerp, the business community and academic sector, has set up a consortium of 28 parties. Together they are investigating how to increase the efficiency of transport and logistics - also across borders - using ‘tele-operation’ technology.

The 5G-Blueprint project starts on 1 September 2020 and will run for three years. The grant is being awarded as part of the EU’s ‘Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation’ programme.

The parties involved will investigate how real-time data exchange from and to vehicles, between terminals and vehicles and between vehicles and control rooms can help boost efficiency in the supply chain and compensate for driver shortages through the remote operation and support of vehicles and vessels. This is expected to not only improve the accessibility of the important –North Sea Port (Vlissingen – Terneuzen – Gent) - Antwerp logistics corridor, but also to increase employment and strengthen the competitive position. The use of new 5G telecommunication technology is instrumental in these plans.

New standard
The Blueprint project involves an investigation into digital technologies and telecommunication possibilities and examines issues such as security, costs and benefits, allocation of responsibilities, cooperation and standardisation. The insights and lessons from this three-year project will be applied directly in this region wherever possible. But they are also important as a new standard and working method - as a blueprint - for other domains and sectors.
 
Collaboration
The 5G-Blueprint project expands the collaboration between the Netherlands and Flanders. A great deal of knowledge and experience is already being shared as part of current programmes on intelligent traffic lights, Talking Traffic and Mobilidata.  The management and further development of standards will also be designed jointly.

The participating parties are: the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (including the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management), Martel Innovate, HZ University of Applied Sciences, Sentors, Economische Impuls Zeeland, Locatienet, SWARCO Nederland, KPN, V-Tron, Hogeschool Arnhem Nijmegen, Sweco Nederland, Telenet, imec, Be-Mobile, the Flemish Department for Mobility and Public Works (including Agency for Roads and Traffic), Room40, Port of Antwerp, Nxtport, Eurofiber, Kloosterboer, More Work Less Carbon, RoboAuto, Seafar, Verbrugge International, Toyota Motor Europe, Transport Joosen, North Sea Port and Terberg Benschop.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 952189. Please find the EU’s own press release here.

SWARCO's role in the 5G-Blueprint project is to provide hybrid communication (cellular and C-V2X PC5) at intersections to autonomously driving container transportation between the North Sea Port (Vlissingen - Terneuzen - Gent) and the Port of Antwerp to optimise freight transport.