Broad research and innovation program will make freight transportation fossil free

“The transition of the transportation sector is key to achieving the high climate goals we have set,” says Maria Oscott, who will be the program director and coordinator of the broad collaboration from Lindholmen Science Park in Gothenburg. This is a big initiative, but the challenges are even bigger.

Sweden intends to become one of the world’s first fossil-free welfare countries by eliminating all greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. An important interim target is a 70-percent reduction in emissions by 2030.

This is the background to the Triple F (Fossil Free Freight) research and innovation program, which is focused on a fossil-free freight transportation system. In this program, academia, institutions, the business community and public sector stakeholders will be involved in a series of projects over the next 12 years.

The Swedish Transport Administration initiated this program, which is in line with the national freight transportation strategy the Swedish government presented in June, and financed it with SEK 290 million. As time goes on, the program will actively work to bring in more players as sources of funding.

Focus will be directed towards three major challenges:

• A more transportation-efficient society.
• Energy-efficient and fossil-free vehicles and vessels.
• An increased share of renewable fuel.

“A long-term approach and our broad collaboration — this is a combination that will provide us with favorable conditions for achieving a transition to fossil-free freight transports while enabling Sweden’s competitiveness to increase,” Maria Oscott says. “We have had great teamwork among all the players in preparation for what we are now launching.

The Tripe F program was developed in a broad consortium collaboration under the management of the CLOSER competition-neutral collaboration platform at Lindholmen Science Park and Sweden’s two largest transportation research institutes, VTI (the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute) and RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden).

“Sweden’s foremost experts in the field of freight transport are in the consortium,” says VTI’s Jenny Karlsson, one of the research directors in the program. “The spirit in the preparatory work was visionary, and we are looking forward to making a difference now.”

Patrik Klintborn, research director for the program at RISE, adds:

“This will require a multifaceted, coordinated effort in research and innovation to manage the challenges we’re facing. We at RISE are extremely pleased to have been entrusted with running Triple F in partnership with CLOSER and VTI, and we look forward to working together with the Swedish Transport Administration and all our partners.”

Chairing the program is Elisabeth Nilsson, the retiring governor of Östergötland County who has a long career in the business community including the position of CEO at Jernkontoret.

“It is gratifying to be a part of this creative collaboration, which is necessary for creating knowledge prior to the conversion of the entire freight transport sector,” she says.

Facts about Triple F 

— the broad innovation program that will make freight transportation fossil free

Background: The transition of the transportation sector to fossil fuel-free alternatives is an important part of Sweden’s goal of becoming fossil free. The Triple F (Fossil Free Freight) innovation program is gathering the forces of Swedish competence to facilitate a rapid conversion to fossil-free freight transportation and is creating a competition-neutral arena for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Funding: The Swedish Transport Administration is funding the program with SEK 290 million over 12 years. The business community and social stakeholders will co-fund the innovation project in the program with approximately SEK 100 million. The goal of the program is to increase external funding over time, thereby growing significantly within the time frame.

Objective: Through research, development and demonstration, Triple F will tangibly promote the transition of the freight transportation sector to independence from fossil fuels. As part of the program, 21 doctoral candidates will receive their degrees.

Partners: The program is structured with program management from CLOSER/Lindholmen Science Park, VIT and RISE, who are managing development in Technology, Logistics and Policy. The consortium is composed of some 50 players from goods owners, carriers, the public sector, colleges and universities, institutions and others — all of whom have a great deal of ambition to make a difference together.

More information:
Maria Oscott, program director for Triple F, +46 (0)725-788 774, maria.oscott@lindholmen.se