VREF funding and opportunities

The overarching vision of the VREF Future Urban Transport Programme (FUT) is Sustainable Transport For Equitable Access in Urban Areas. Through the FUT Programme, VREF supports interdisciplinary research, educational and outreach programs, demonstrative examples and change processes with the aim to stimulate development of new knowledge on ideas and solutions that can contribute to equitable access and sustainable urban transport.

VREF supports research within the FUT program through thematic programs:

  • Mobility and Access in African Cities (MAC
  • Informal and Shared Mobility in Low- and Middle Income Countries (ISM)
  • Walking as a Mode of Transport (Walking)
  • Urban Freight (UF)
  • Bus Rapid Transport (BRT)

The programs are expected to maintain the highest scientific quality and to work together with local actors that can utilize their results. 

Calls for proposals

VREF funding is normally based on open Calls for proposals, which are announced at the VREF web site and sometimes also through other channels. VREF´s calls for proposals are based upon an analysis of which areas are particularly important and where research and/or educational activities can make the biggest difference.

All proposals are reviewed by the VREF Scientific Council, and sometimes also by expert evaluators assigned by VREF.