The Volvo Research and Educational Foundations

The Volvo Research and Educational Foundations (VREF) recognize the importance of the future of urban transportation and their expansive vision reaches far beyond car design. Currently, one half of the world’s population lives in urban areas and within the next generation, it is expected that this proportion is likely to reach three quarters. Meeting the pressing challenge of transport and mobility needs in urban settings in an environmentally sustainable manner presents exciting opportunities for research and education. The complexities of urban development are many, and as cities grow, transportation systems that are socially equitable and environmentally sustainable are among the keys to cities’ success. Through its Future Urban Transport initiative, VREF has established Columbia University’s CSUD as one of its three centers of excellence, along with the UC Berkeley Center for Future Urban Transport and the Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Programme at the Indian Institute of Technology. Over the next five years, CSUD will work to develop plans for sustainable urban land use and development in the context of transportation in three rapidly growing cities in the developing world.

The mission and program of the Future Urban Transport initiative are clearly delineated on the Volvo Foundation’s website: www.volvoresearchfoundations.com. Click to download the Future Urban Transport policy statement.

The Future Urban Transport Conference website can be found at: http://www.fut.se/

Along with CSUD, the VREF Centers of Excellence are:

The UC Berkeley Center for Future Urban Transport: A Volvo Center of Excellence

Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Programme at the Indian Institute of Technology