European thought leaders and experts in sustainable transport technology and infrastructure were in Dublin today (05/05/11) to inform Irish companies about the opportunities for new technologies and partnerships arising in transport in the UK and Western Europe.
The European Green Transport Conference was organised by Enterprise Ireland for Irish technology companies that supply or are interested in supplying the transport sector in the UK and Western Europe. It is part of Enterprise Ireland’s ongoing drive to direct Irish companies towards new overseas sales and partnering opportunities to help them open up new business and sustain and create jobs in Ireland.
The transport sector across the UK and Western Europe is rapidly evolving and new business areas are emerging due to a number of factors including:
* Government green stimulus packages (UK £560m);
* EU directives and CO2 reduction targets (2020 and 2050 targets);
* Increasing urbanization;
* ‘Smart systems’: convergence of consumer electronics, transport technology and infrastructure that can all ‘talk’ to each other.
Opening the conference Minister of State for Transport Alan Kelly TD said: “Transport investment represents great potential because all policy makers will be striving for a smarter more efficient transport infrastructure. As a member of the Irish Government it would be excellent to see Irish companies supplying these sectors abroad. I believe the state agencies and the private sector must work together to create momentum around the sustainable transport industry with the potential for job creation across many sectors and parallel industries.”
Some of the top transport companies and organisations presented at the conference including Bombardier Rail, Jaguar Land Rover, Alstom, Veolia, the European Commission, the National Roads Authority, and various industry-leading universities.
Enterprise Ireland’s head of global business development Julie Sinnamon added: “The pressing need for sustainable transport solutions across Europe and the UK is resulting in increased demand for new technologies and innovative thinking. Ireland has a solid base of companies that have the technological, manufacturing and innovative experience to deliver technologies to meet these new demands.”
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At the conference were Enterprise Ireland’s head of global business development Julie Sinnamon, Minister of State for Transport Alan Kelly TD and Colin S Walton, chairman of Bombardier Transportation (Rail) UK and Ireland.