REFINET: REthinking Future Infrastructure NETworks

The European transport infrastructure network is considered as the lifeblood of European trade and society, and is commonly regarded as a shared heritage of great economic value. But it is also recognised today that this network is composed of many existing infrastructures that no longer fulfil the current functional requirements and today's safety and quality standards, and requires refurbishment and increased capacities, potentially relying on innovative technologies, components and systems. The ECTP (European Construction Technology Platform) reFINE (Research for Future Infrastructure Networks in Europe) initiative aims at the development and delivery of innovative design, construction, maintenance and upgrading concepts and solutions that promote and strengthen seamless transport links for passenger and freight, while keeping up with future technological trends. The REFINET European Coordination action is an instrument supporting the reFINE initiative: based on a sustainable research network that integrates relevant stakeholders’ representatives of all transport modes (road, railway, maritime, fluvial…) and transport infrastructure sectors. Its primary objective is to create a shared European vision of how the multimodal European transport infrastructure network of the future should be specified, designed, built, renovated, and maintained, and elaborate a SIP (Strategic Implementation Plan) that will define the innovation activities required to make this vision a reality.