ARCHIMEDES is an integrating project, bringing together 6 European cities to address problems and opportunities for creating environmentally sustainable, safe and energy efficient transport systems in medium sized urban areas. The objective of ARCHIMEDES is to introduce innovative, integrated and ambitious strategies for clean, energy-efficient, sustainable urban transport to achieve significant impacts in the policy fields of energy, transport, and environmental sustainability. An ambitious blend of policy tools and measures will increase energy-efficiency in transport, provide safer and more convenient travel for all, using a higher share of clean engine technology and fuels, resulting in an enhanced urban environment (including reduced noise and air pollution). Visible and measurable impacts will result from significantly sized measures in specific innovation areas. Demonstrations of innovative transport technologies, policy measures and partnership working, combined with targeted research, will verify the best frameworks, processes and packaging required to successfully transfer the strategies to other cities. Two learning cities will participate fully in the decision making and organisational structure. New member state representation is assured with one Lead City and one Learning City. A strong educational objective will be realised with training and learning actions within the consortium, and via promotion, training events and educational exchanges between students, citizens and stakeholders in the project innovation areas. Dissemination of results and the focus on exploitation activities will impact well beyond the innovation area itself, providing lessons for citizens, practitioners and policy makers. The result will be a greater acceptance for new tools, services and technologies and the objectives that lie behind them.