Partners
The international partner network of VIRTUAL VEHICLE consists of around 100 national and international industrial partners (OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers as well as software providers) as well as over 40 national and international scientific institutions.
www.v2c2.at
TNO is a contract research organization based in the Netherlands, established by law in 1932. With a staff of over 3400, TNO is carrying out research in order to strengthen the industry and to boost the well-being of society in a sustainable way. We work in collaboration with partners and focus on contributing to solutions for 4 societal challenges: a safe and secure society, a healthy society, a sustainable society and a digital society. TNO functions as an independent intermediary between fundamental research organizations and industry. By translating scientific knowledge into practical applications, TNO contributes to the innovation capacity of businesses and governments. .
www.tno.nl
It comes under the ‘Autonomous vehicle plan’ and was recently added to ‘Eco-mobility’, one of nine ‘solutions for future industry’ that form part of a government scheme called ‘Nouvelle France Industrielle’, designed to reinvigorate the country’s industry.
With the backing of its founders and of the NextMove competitive cluster since 2010, VEDECOM is a partnership-based foundation belonging to Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University. Based on an unprecedented collaboration of more than 50 players, it gathers academic establishments, local authorities and private actors involved in mobility evolution: automotive, transport and mobility, logistics, road infrastructure, telecommunications, energy, aeronautics and defence, digital services and simulation, insurance.
www.vedecom.fr
The Institute for Automotive Engineering (ika) is part of RWTH Aachen University and comprises a staff of more than 350 employees. In cooperation with famous partners from industry and science worldwide, we address all questions with regard to the automobile, and many more topics in automotive context. We create and develop new ideas for innovative components and systems, which are often integrated in vehicle prototypes. The scientific employees are supported by the employees of workshops, administration, IT and PR/Media.
With regard to the scientific education we lead the Automotive Engineering program at RWTH Aachen University. Already during the studies, student workers can be actively integrated in running projects. To this end, we regularly present ourselves at events especially for students, such as the bonding Automotive Day. For excellent graduates ika offers positions for scientists which allow PhD studies in 6 different fields of research.
We also regularly offer non-scientific positions and are furthermore an active training centre. In cooperation with IHK Aachen we continuously offering job trainings in German.
In addition, we participate in information events for schoolchildren, such as Girls’ Day, in order to get young people interested in technology from an early age.
www.ika.rwth-aachen.de
In addition to our core business, Deepen AI is enabling safe autonomous vehicles through multi-stakeholder collaborative initiatives. Chief among these is Safety Pool, a global incentive-based brokerage of shared driving scenarios and safety data for autonomous driving systems. We’re also a proud member of ASAM and leader in several OpenX standardization activities including OpenLABEL, openODD, openXOntology, and OpenSCENARIO 2.0.
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. Deepen AI has satellite offices in Hyderabad, Munich, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
www.deepen.ai
AVL List GmbH (“AVL”) with its headquarters in Graz, is one of the world’s leading mobility technology companies for development, simulation and testing in the automotive industry, and in other sectors. Drawing on its pioneering spirit, the company provides concepts, solutions and methodologies for a greener, safer and better mobility.
AVL constantly expands its portfolio of high-end methodologies and technologies in the areas of vehicle development and testing. With a holistic approach – from ideation phase to serial production – the company covers vehicle architectures and platform solutions including the impact of new propulsion systems and energy carriers.
To achieve the vision of climate-neutral mobility, AVL drives innovative and affordable solutions for all applications – from traditional to hybrid to battery and fuel cell electric technologies.
As a global technology provider, AVL’s offerings range from simulation, virtualization and test automation for product development to ADAS/AD and vehicle software. The company combines state-of-the-art and highly scalable IT, software and technology solutions with its application know-how, thereby offering customers extensive tools in areas such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity or Embedded Systems.
Furthermore, AVL is striving towards a safe and comfortable driving experience for everyone and brings a comprehensive understanding of assisted and automated driving functions in different vehicles and environments into play.
AVL’s passion is innovation. Together with 10,700 employees at more than 90 locations and with 45 Tech and Engineering Centers worldwide, AVL is supporting customers in their mobility ambitions. In 2021, the company generated a turnover of 1.6 billion Euros, of which 12 % are invested in R&D activities to ensure continuous innovation.
www.avl.com
The Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) is the practice-oriented, technical-scientific research institute of the German Government in the field of road engineering. It is dedicated to the diverse tasks resulting from the interactions between humans, transport, infrastructure and the environment. Its mission is the improvement of safety, environmental compatibility, efficiency and performance relating to roads.
The BASt provides the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) with scientifically valid aids as decision support in technical and transport policy issues. The tasks range from planning, coordination and performance of multi-annual research projects through to the fast response to questions in supporting the current work of the BMDV. It is a leading member of the network of national and European cutting-edge research institutes in the field of road engineering and is significantly involved on a worldwide basis in drawing up regulations and standards.
The tasks of the BASt also include consultancy, attestation and inspection and certification activities as well as functioning as the driving licence procedure assessment centre.
It was established in 1951 and has been based in Bergisch Gladbach since 1983. Since 1970, the BASt has been the central point for road traffic accident research in Germany.
Role in SUNRISE: BASt is leading the cooperation with international vehicle safety bodies, defines and conducts additional track tests and contributes to scenario database work.
www.bast.de
Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg conducts research and education in technology and natural sciences at a high international level. The university has 3100 employees and 10,000 students, and offers education in engineering, science, shipping and architecture. With scientific excellence as a basis, Chalmers promotes knowledge and technical solutions for a sustainable world. Through global commitment and entrepreneurship, we foster an innovative spirit, in close collaboration with wider society. The EU’s biggest research initiative – the Graphene Flagship – is coordinated by Chalmers. We are also leading the development of a Swedish quantum computer. Chalmers was founded in 1829 and has the same motto today as it did then.
www.chalmers.se
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation.
With 191,000 people in 58 countries, Continental propose technologies for autonomous and automated mobility, intelligent Infotainment, holistic connectivity, safety, comfort and sustainability.
Today, 100% of vehicles manufactured in Europe are equipped with at least one Continental product.
Role in SUNRISE: In SUNRISE project, Continental will contribute as an industrial partner for alignment between methodology, legislation and application project requirements. We will also participate to a practical demonstration of SUNRISE results in use-cases WP.
www.continental.com
The Computer Vision Center (CVC) is a non-profit research institution in Barcelona, Spain. It comprises more than 130 researchers and technical staff. It performs exciting and pioneering research in various Computer Vision areas and has a long track record of technology transfer. The CVC has created 13 spin-off companies and currently hosts 55 PhD candidates. It was ranked in the top-100 government research institutions worldwide in the 2021 Scimago Institutions.
Role in SUNRISE: Open-source approaches are represented by CVC, main developer of the opensource CARLA simulator, well known tool for CCAM development.
www.cvc.uab.es
ERTICO also embodies thought leadership and fostering stakeholder engagement. Together with leading pioneering and innovative Partners, we develop, promote, and connect Intelligent Transport Systems and Services (ITS) through various activities, including European co-funded projects, innovation platforms, and international cooperation advocacy.
Role in SUNRISE: In SUNRISE, ERTICO will deal with dissemination and communication activities aimed at ensuring adoption of the project’s results, while promoting and enhancing international cooperation.
https://ertico.com/
ICCS, the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, is a non-profit Academic Research Body established in 1989 by the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs to carry applied Research and Development activities in the areas of telecommunications, computer systems and their applications in a variety of research themes. ICCS is linked to the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and in particular with the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE).
ICCS consists of more than 50 labs, research groups and teams, dealing with all aspects of Electrical and Computer Engineering and employs approximately 800 researchers and scientists including Faculty Members, permanent or long-term Researchers. In the SUNRISE project, ICCS is represented by one of its Research Groups, the I-SENSE Group.
I-SENSE Group consists of more than 100 researchers of various ranks and is very active in a number of scientific and research areas, with main application areas being the Intelligent Transportation Systems, the Virtual Environments, the Assistive Technologies and the Smart Integrated Systems & Communications. I-SENSE has coordinated and participated in more than 150 Research Projects, both EU funded and National ones, over the last 20 years, and has worked with several industry leaders since its establishment in 2002, serving currently as the coordinator of the following projects: EVENTS, PODIUM, HYPERION, 5G-IANA, IN-PREP, eCharge4Drivers, CitySCAPE and DIONE.
www.iccs.gr
Applus+ IDIADA is a global partner to the automotive industry with over 30 years of experience supporting its clients in product development activities by providing design, engineering, testing and homologation services. The company has more than 2.800 professionals and an international network of 56 subsidiaries and branch offices in 22 countries, to ensure fast and customized solutions.
Applus+ IDIADA is a leading development partner for ADAS & Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV), offering both high-value engineering services and state-of-the-art testing facilities worldwide. A holistic approach allows for client support throughout all stages of vehicle development: from concept to final validation.
Roles in SUNRISE: Applus+ IDIADA is the coordinator of SUNRISE project. In that role, IDIADA manages the project in terms of budget, schedule, quality assurance, and timely achievement of objectives and milestones (among other responsibilities).
www.applusidiada.com
Infineon is a world leader in design and manufacturing of semiconductor products and related application support. Combining entrepreneurial success with responsible action, at Infineon we make the world easier, safer and greener.
Barely visible, semiconductors have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. We are playing a key role in shaping a better future – with microelectronics that link the digital and the real world. Our semiconductors enable smart mobility, efficient energy management and the secure capture and transfer of data. Infineon designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of semiconductors and system solutions. The focus of its activities is on automotive electronics, industrial electronics, communication and information technologies, and hardware-based security.
The product range comprises standard components, customer-specific solutions for devices and systems, as well as specific components for digital, analogue, and mixed-signal applications. Over 60 percent of Infineon’s revenue is generated by power semiconductors, almost 20 percent by embedded control products (microcontrollers for automotive, industrial as well as security applications), and the remainder by radio-frequency components and sensors. Infineon generates 32 percent of its revenue in Europe, 56 percent in Asia and 12 percent in the Americas. Infineon organizes its operations in four segments: Automotive, Industrial Power Control, Power Management & Multimarket and Digital Security Solutions. With 35 research and development locations, 17 manufacturing sites and 44 sales offices, the company is active worldwide.
Role in SUNRISE: Infineon contributes to the urban pilot use case in terms of requirements, models, tool landscape, simulation framework and validation techniques in the field of sensors and safety controllers. Besides, Infineon develops validation metrics applied to the targeted perception demonstrators.
www.infineon.com
Renault was one of the pioneers in the manufacturing of electric vehicles. Since the launch of its electric vehicle program in 2012, the Group has sold more than 490,000 electric vehicles. In line with environmental challenges, Renault Group aims to achieve carbon neutrality in Europe by 2040, while making electric travel accessible to everyone by offering solutions to every need. To meet these challenges, the Group is committed to an ambitious transformation that generates value. This is focused on the development of new technologies, new services, and new range of competitive, affordable, electrified vehicles.
Renault Technocentre at Guyancourt in the Yvelines region, just outside Paris, is the leading automotive R&D center in Europe. It hosts 10,893 employees and its divisions encompass design and development of vehicles, engines, and gearboxes for Groupe Renault and the Alliance. Since it was established in 1998, the Technocentre has been central to the development of Groupe Renault’s future vehicles. In the future, even more so than today, it will be the nerve center of the company’s design and development, its high-level technical work, its innovation, and its modernism.
www.renaultgroup.com
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden is Sweden’s research institute and innovation partner. In international collaboration with industry, academia and the public sector, we ensure the competitiveness of the business community and contribute to a sustainable society. Our about 3.000 employees support and promote all manner of innovative processes, driving advanced research in a broad spectrum of areas.
We are organised into 5 Divisions: Bioeconomy & Health, Built Environment, Digital Systems, Materials & Production, and Safety & Transport. We have a long history of acknowledged high-quality research in all of these areas, offering unique expertise and 130+ testbeds and demonstration facilities, instruments in future-proofing technologies, products and services and is one of Sweden’s most active participants in the EU research arena.
RISE is an independent, state-owned, non-profit research institute that resulted from the merging of the former institutes SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, Innventia, Swedish ICT, and the Swerea institutes (IVF, SICOMP, SWECAST, and partly KIMAB). Our headquarters are located in Gothenburg but we have employees all over Sweden.
Role in SUNRISE: RISE contributes to the development of the V&V methodology for safety assurance and the V&V simulation framework. RISE is also involved in the development of use cases and framework demonstration instances with focus on the freight vehicle automated parking use case.
www.ri.se
Leveraging Siemens Xcelerator portfolio – which includes integrated software, services and an applications development platform — the automotive industry can simulate and test solutions for chips, electronics, controls, embedded software, sensors, vehicles and occupants within the context of the entire vehicle to ensure model reuse and traceability throughout the development process.
The Autonomous Vehicles team within Siemens supports developers with solutions addressing the different phases of the product lifecycle infinity loop. Siemens is building an integrated tool suite along with the associated services, with bespoke and leading Siemens point solutions, featuring the required flexibility and interfacing to allow developers to select the tools of their preference for each phase.
Siemens Digital Industries Software | Siemens Software
Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA will contribute to defining requirements for Scenario databases and also bring an industry viewpoint into the virtual validation framework
www.toyota-europe.com
UNITN – Università degli Studi di Trento is an Italian University with more than 16,000 students and about 600 professors and researchers. It has 15 units among departments, centres, and schools. The Department of Industrial Engineering is home to research groups in Mechatronics and Robotics, among which one with a long track record in Intelligent Vehicles.
Of the most relevant achievements, UNITN developed a traditional self-driving agent and an innovative self-driving agent that produces emergent safe behaviours in novel situations (and autonomously learns new sensorimotor strategies).
Role in SUNRISE: UNITN will use the two agents mentioned above and collaborate closely with CRF in evaluating the SUNRISE capacity (in selected cases) to create scenarios useful for stressing and benchmarking self-driving agents.
www.dii.unitn.it
Vicomtech is a Research and Technology Organisation set up as a private non-profit Foundation. Vicomtech’s main mission is to respond to the Applied Research, Development and Innovation needs of businesses and institutions in the local environment, enabling them to confront new financial and social challenges, thus improving their competitiveness in the global marketplace.
Among its 230 employees, more than 180 are researchers. The role of Vicomtech in the market is to supply society with technology by transfer of primary research to industry. This is done through collaborative R&D projects. Vicomtech aims to respond to the innovation requirements of companies and institutions. To do this, Vicomtech:
Conducts applied research and develops multimedia visual interaction and communications technologies;
Complements and closely collaborates with industry, universities and other technology centres;
Promotes mobility and training for its researchers.
Vicomtech’s main research lines lay in the fields of artificial intelligence, computer vision, computer graphics and interaction; technologies which Vicomtech applies in multiple sectors.
All of Vicomtech’s activities are covered by the innovation management system – continuous improvement and measurement of results, technology innovation process optimisation and knowledge transfer and generation – ensuring it uses the highest quality methods.
www.vicomtech.org
The Verification and Validation (V&V) team at WMG are undertaking a programme of research and engineering across the verification and validation spectrum. With the emergence of evermore complex systems comes evermore complex challenges. Chief among these challenges, that of assuring safety. The V&V team work from fundamental research, to applied research, the development of policy, standards and regulation, direct commercial research, and professional education offerings. Our programme of work is having a material impact on the creation and application of novel safety assurance methods across emerging technologies: with its foundation in Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV’s) and extending across transportation domains (i.e. aviation, land, marine) and novel technologies (i.e., AI). We are proudly enabling a new wave of technological progress by working with partners worldwide.