"AIMS applies an innovative approach to develop a methodology to assess and evaluate research projects related to freight transport supported in FP5 and FP6. Freight transport is a key element for the economy, raising various environmental, social, security or safety issues that are severely increasing, also in the future. Innovation is a key bridging both streams. High investments in freight transport RTD are made, however, various RTD projects have never passed the commercialisation threshold. AIMS aims to minimize the risks of public or private investments in freight transport RTD. AIMS will identify critical factors of RTD projects through success and failure analysis of previous FP5 and FP6 projects. Based on results coming from the analysis of the past, present and future (notably as seen by Technological Platforms and Advisory councils), AIMS will assess the positive or negative impacts of European research FP and projects in particular in the economic, social and environmental fields. A specific care will be given to depict changes operated by the different Member States and catalysed by EU research programs. Guidelines for current and future FP7 projects will then be produced and recommendations for the definition of new research policy objectives provided. This will be carried out by a Researcher group under the direction of a Secretariat and the caution of an Experts group, in direct interaction with End-Users, Industries and Technology Platform & Advisory Council of each mode including intermodal gathered among dedicated groups. Two workshops and one final conference will be organised integrating the different groups to confront results obtained to really concerned actors. A dedicated internet platform will be set up to ensure pro-active communication. A handbook will be set up including consolidated guidelines to policy makers, industry and the research community. AIMS contribute to generate new knowledge on transport RTD and relevant social, environmental and economic issues, establish a better dialogue between policy, industry and research, ensure consistency between their approaches, and strengthen their competitiveness and innovation efforts toward a sustainable transport system."