WINN · European Platform Driving KnoWledge to INNovations in Freight Logistics

European Platform Driving KnoWledge to INNovations in Freight Logistics-WINN is a step forward to increase collaboration and consensus building of the different stakeholders dealing with freight transport and logistics to define and implement research and innovation measures (including policy) that may be implemented through the HORIZON 2020 and member states programs in the medium-long term in the field of logistics.Estimates put the share of the logistics industry in Europe at close to 14% of GDP and the logistics industry has had growth rates above the average of European economies. Moreover, six countries out of the global top-10 logistic performers are from the EU in 2012. This basic data support the idea of a potential worlwide leadership of the European logistics industry that will also benefit the competitivenes of the industrial sectors (automotive, food industry, etc.) in which logistics represents a major cost.The WINN project will establish a broad collaboration framework that will include, from the beginning, several main stakeholders operating at a European level (CO-Tree, EIRAC heritage) and national triple helix networks that currently operate in different countries in Europe: CNC-LOGISTICA (Spain), DINALOG (Netherlands) and ILiM (Poland and Baltic to Balkan countries). These networks mainly include excellence research centres, public bodies and industry operating in the logistics field. Manufacturing companies, retail, logistics services providers, transportation companies and logistics hubs and platforms (airports, ports, dry ports, etc.) are all represented in these networks. The collaboration framework will also include well known key stakeholders developing information and communication technologies for the logistics sector (BLUEGREEN and ENIDE). This will be the start point for a broad and open network that will be accessible for the benefit of all (substantial) logistic clusters, networks and companies operating worldwide or at European Level that will constitute the European Technology Platform (ETP) on Logistics. This ETP will be led by industry being WINN the tool to support ETP developments and coordination initiatives. The ETP on Logistics will provide input to HORIZON 2020 program and will be the voice of the sector (industry, authorities and research) in order to channel main areas of development in RTD and Innovation in the logistics field where coordination and combination of efforts between industry and authorities is needed to ensure the leadership of the European logistics sector. The ETP will constitute discussion forum of both industry and authorities where common financial and business plans and eventually legislative actions to support the research may be agreed. One of the main aims of the project is to stimulate research and innovation trough pioneering projects and programs in logistics.