The International Transport Forum at the OECD organises the Annual Summit for Transport Ministers from around the world to meet with researchers, industry leaders and representatives of civil society and examine strategic policy issues facing the sector.

Continuing a long tradition of research on transport issues to inform the policy-making process, the ITF provides high-level research input to the Annual Summit. To encourage and reward creative reflection and analysis from young researchers, the International Transport Forum will once again present its Young Researcher of the Year Award in 2022.

The principal aim of the Young Researcher of the Year Award is to highlight the importance of transport research for sound transport policy formulation and implementation and to foster closer links between transport policy and research. For 2022, the theme of the International Transport Forum’s Summit is Transport for Inclusive Societies.

Criteria

The Young Researcher of the Year Award is open to researchers under 35 years of age at the time of closing of applications who have undertaken the research presented in the submitted paper in an institution, university or consultancy firm located in an ITF member country. The researcher must be the main author of the paper.

The research paper may analyse any aspect related to the theme of Transport for Inclusive Societies. For example, it may analyse the degree to which transport innovations, policies, or planning practices foster inclusive societies, or how they may be enhanced to foster inclusiveness. Papers may also explore the required institutional or regulatory frameworks in the transport sector that can foster inclusiveness.    

The work can be quantitative or qualitative and come from any of the academic fields linked to transport and should be relevant to policy making. The winning paper will propose advances from the current state of knowledge in the domain and be methodologically rigorous.

Papers should not exceed 25 pages (single spacing), excluding references and annexes, and should be in English. Papers published in 2021 or 2022, as well as unpublished papers, are welcome.

Applications have now closed and are being reviewed. The ITF team will get back to all applicants during April. Thank you for your interest and your submissions.

Awarding the Prize

Submissions will be examined by an international panel of experts from the transport policy and research sectors, under the aegis of the International Transport Forum. A prize of EUR 5 000 will be awarded. The award winner will be invited to receive the award at the ITF 2022 Summit and may have the opportunity to present their work.