A Centre of Excellence for freight in urban transport
“The fundamental quest of the Center for Sustainable Urban Freight Systems is one of behavior modification: to change the idea of urban freight systems from one driven by profit maximization to one that accounts for the externalities produced," said Holguín-Veras, also the director of the Center for Infrastructure, Transportation, and the Environment within the Rensselaer School of Engineering. “Our research team will use technology, public policy, and proactive engagement of the private sector as building blocks to design and implement actionable strategies to transform and push forward the leading edge of urban freight systems."
The Sustainable Urban Freight Systems (SUFS) is a collaboration of the world´s six leading urban freight research groups forming the Core Research Partners to collectively transform urban freight systems and partner with a City Advisory Board, an Industry Advisory Group and Associate Research Centers.
Transforming the Urban Freight Systems (UFS) requires a global effort of research, capacity building, and institutional change, best done in collaboration with other agents of change.
The goal is to jumpstart an integrative and participatory process — involving cities, private sector, and researchers — that leads to the implementation of sustainable UFS paradigms that increase quality of life, economic efficiency, and address environ-mental justice. Such a holistic goal ensures that all key impacts are considered, as focusing on only one aspect could make things worse in the others.
The fundamental quest of SUFS is to change the course of the UFS from one driven by profit maximization to one that accounts for the externalities produced. The work will proceed along four thrusts:
Host organisation:
The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
Invitation to submit an Expression of interest in writing a think piece: gender informed mobility planning. Pdf, 622.2 kB. (Pdf, 622.2 kB)
This invitaton is an opportunity for scholars in sub-Saharan Africa to write a think piece on the theme of “Gender-informed mobility planning, governance and policy in African cities: status, barriers, ways forward.” Through this invitation, VREF welcomes expressions of interest (EoI) for a commissioned work on this theme.
Deadline: 15 May 2022
Catalysing Curriculum Change at Universities in SSA 2022 Pdf, 1.3 MB. (Pdf, 1.3 MB)
This Call is an opportunity for scholars and teachers in sub-Saharan Africa to contribute to
renewing university-based education, while also strengthening knowledge and capacity among the next generation of SSA researchers and practitioners.
Deadline: 15 June 2022
The VREF invites PhD students and researchers in early stages of their career to apply for a Study Visit Grant to be supported with up to SEK 30 000.
MOBILITY GRANT 2022- MAC-MG 2022 Pdf, 447.1 kB. (Pdf, 447.1 kB)
The VREF invites PhD students and advanced master students from Sub-Saharan African (SSA) universities to apply for a Mobility Grant (MG) to support a visit to another SSA university with up to SEK 25 000.
Lee Schipper Memorial Scholarships for Sustainable Transport and Energy Efficiency targets supporting the momentum of Lee Schipper’s contribution to the international policy dialogue in these fields.
This yearly award is aimed at supporting young individual researchers and students in is pursuance.
Call deadline now extended to: April 4, 2022 .
Blog! Blog! Blog!
This Meeting of the Minds' blog monthly releases interviews of global transportation researchers from the VREF's Future Urban Transport Program Network.
This CityFix series, produced by the WRI (World Ressources Institute) Ross Center for Sustainable Cities and supported by the VREF, discusses walking and cycling in cities with a special focus on low- and middle-income countries.
About VREF
The Volvo Research and Educational Foundations (VREF) inspires, initiates and supports research and educational activities through the Future Urban Transport Programme - How to deal with the complexity of urban transport (FUT).
Our Vision: Sustainable transport for equitable access in urban areas
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