Membership Services
Through the diversity of its members, the IRF is a network of public and private sector entities sharing a common interest in the deployment of modern, economically viable and ecologically friendly and safe roads. Its strong global presence gives the IRF a unique insight into the road sector industry, enabling it to respond to members’ needs by providing targeted services and focusing on the key issues that have a significant impact as well as establishing close relations with international peers. Services and benefits for IRF members are manifold.
1.
IRF: The NETWORK of the road sector
2.
IRF: The catalyst for new BUSINESS opportunities
3.
IRF: ADVOCATE for the Road Industry Sector
4.
IRF: The promoter of INNOVATIONS and forward-looking solutions
5.
IRF: The global centre of KNOWLEDGE and know-how
6.
IRF: Benefiting of DISCOUNTED Member RATES
7.
IRF: The Provider of TRAINING and EDUCATION
8.
IRF: Giving STATUTORY Rights
9.
IRF: International AWARDS and RECOGNITION
1. IRF:The NETWORK of the road sector
IRF offers a unique platform for inter-sectoral dialogue and for exchange between members:
- construction and engineering companies;
- the service and supply industry;
- operating companies;
- local, regional and national authorities;
- research institutes, academia, consultants and media
- and any other organization involved in the road sector
- Meeting Partners: IRF events and working groups bring together experts on issues such as construction and maintenance, environment, toll roads, innovation in road technology and road safety, thus creating a platform for information exchange between both constructors, manufacturers and users.
- Marketing Opportunities: The members have exceptional opportunities to market their products around the world trough event sponsoring, advertisement in IRF publications, exhibition stands as well as trough one to one introduction to other stakeholders.
- Who’s Who Directory: The IRF’s Membership Directory provides worldwide key contacts in public and private entities involved in road planning, development, construction, management and usage, consultants and potential partners. Members know whom to contact and could find business opportunities and business partners within IRF.
- IRF International Conferences and Events: IRF events provide exclusive opportunities for its members to network with other road industry professionals as well as to explore business endeavours in new markets.
- Speakers Slots: IRF members can have preferential and reserved speaker’s slots at renowned national and international IRF Conferences and Events, offering international exposure and recognition for their company’s products and services.
- IRF’s Ambassadors:The Ambassadors are representatives of the IRF GPC in their country. They are formally responsible for acting as a link at national level between members, the road infrastructure industry and the IRF GPC Executive Committee and Chairman.
- New Membership Announcement: IRF offersthe opportunity to new member to place an ad in the electronic IRF Newsletter which is sent to over 10’000 contacts around the world.
- IRF Fellowship Directory: An annual directory listing all the graduates from the IRF’s Fellowship Programme.
2. IRF:The catalyst for new BUSINESS opportunities
By uniting the entire supply chain of road players, the IRF is an ideal platform for developing business partnerships and joint ventures. IRF helps people meet the right contacts in a neutral and trusted atmosphere, thereby fostering investment in the sector, improving product development and accelerating sales cycles.
- Business Development Missions: Those specific international missions take IRF members to countries where major road development is taking place offering highly focused and individually tailored visits in new and developing markets. Attendees are introduced to high level officials and businessmen, establishing essential contacts.
- Major Road Programmes: Such as the Black Sea Ring Highway, the Silk Road, the South East European network, have been initiated by IRF and the official and valuable first hand contacts give members opportunities to be at the forefront of new road development projects.
3. IRF: ADVOCATE for the Road Industry Sector
IRF works to mobilise political will with sound evidence, and to create a favorable climate for the road sector. IRF has a strong voice and significant influence when it comes to defending the members’ interests. IRF reinforces members’ dialogues with their own stakeholders, supporting individual advocacy efforts.
- International and National Lobbying: IRF is active in lobbying the EU institutions, the United Nations and its agencies, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, International Transport Forum and many other government stakeholders. IRF is committed to promoting road industry’s interests and thus is involved in a number of government commissions.
- International Stakeholders: IRF has very close relationship with many international organizations such as FIA Foundation, ITS Societies, World Bank and ADB and acts as partner of choice representing the road industry to these societies.
- Position Papers: Emanating from working groups on highly relevant issues such as road safety or infrastructure charging, IRF produces position papers which reach decision-makers at regional and international levels.
- Advisory Services: Specialist advisory services offered by IRF, provide expertise to governments and national road administrations and enable IRF members to voice their concerns in road policy formulation.
4. IRF: The promoter of INNOVATIONS and forward-looking solutions
IRF is a forward-looking Federation, striving to anticipate the needs, identify and promote future solutions for the road sector.
- Committees and Working Groups: IRF provides its members to work on serving on various committees and working groups, (on different topics: Road Safety, PPP, Environment and ITS), designed to provide the road-development industry with a broad perspective of thoughts from the stakeholders. These working groups promote innovative approached to the road sector.
- The CHANGER: The IRF’s Greenhouse gas Calculator ‘CHANGER’ is a user-friendly software tool enabling road construction and engineering companies to act proactively by constituting their own green gas inventories and measure their impact on the environment. A preferential rate is given for IRF Members.
5. IRF: The global centre of KNOWLEDGE and know-how
IRF acts as the point of reference and a centre of best practices and benchmarking for the road industry. IRF acts as a knowledge hub on past and current developments and future trends. As such, IRF is the worldwide expert on global transport and related issues.
- World Road Statistics: The only global compilation of road and vehicle statistics. This indispensable reference tool, used by the United Nations Development Program and the World Bank, comprises data on over 185 countries sourced from national statistics offices and road associations. This is a product which is sold at international level. IRF members receive it free of charge.
- IRF Website: IRF Website www.irfnet.org provides relevant and customised international information, including the latest industry news, IRF events, policy papers, road articles and reports and special access in IRF forums in the Members-only section. Through www.irfnet.org people are directed to the websites of the regional offices.
- gTKP: The global Transport Knowledge Partnership Programme is THE reference in terms of knowledge dissemination as it is a unique centre putting at disposal international transport knowledge (expert centre, discussion groups, extensive library, publications, research). The main website www.gtkp.org hosts several thousand of pieces of knowledge resources. Through the gTKP, experts can reply to any requests in relation with roads and transport.
- Newsletters: IRF and gTKP publish monthly electronic news services that bring up-to-date information on road and transport activities throughout the world.
- IRF Bulletins: Two to four times a year, IRF publishes a free magazine for its members. The topics are themed and the members are invited to contribute with articles and advertising to this internationally distributed magazine.
- Publication in Professional Magazines: Members are invited to feature regularly with articles in specialised magazines such as World Highways, Transport Business, etc …. IRF members receive a preferential rate on advertisement in World Highways.
- Support of National Events: IRF supports as a patron at many national and regional events of members, providing speakers, promotional support, keynote addresses, conference support fund for delegates or simply endorses the event.
- Individual and Personalised Information: Custom-made, precise and personalised information from road statistics to projects planned or underway, on a national or international level can be provided by IRF’s staff to its members.
6. IRF: Benefiting of DISCOUNTED Member RATES
IRF Membership allows its members to benefit from a special membership fee rate.
- Preferential Member Rates: IRF provides promotional offers at reduced rates for its members. Members receive very interesting discount rates for attendance of IRF World Meetings and regional conferences, seminars, business development missions, on-line training, executive seminars and IRF training materials. Free of charge services or IRF products at a reduced rate for members are additional benefits.
7. IRF: The Provider of TRAINING and EDUCATION
IRF provides members worldwide with a wide range highly educational and professional development opportunities and resources.
- IRF Fellowship Programme: Through the IRF Educational Fund, IRF awards every year scholarships for graduate studies in a transport related disciplines at the level of a master of PhD and contributes to the development of the future leaders of the road industry. The programme is conducted at American and European Universities.
- Senior Road Executive Programme: TheIRF and the University of Birmingham conduct every year an intensive 4-module-long training programme covering most aspects of road infrastructure and offering the IRF's prestigious Certificate of Sustainable Roads.
- IRF Executive Seminars: The seminars are taught by university professors, engineering, financial and legal professionals, and other experts, these regular one/ two week courses for senior road transport professionals covering topics such as contract maintenance, urban traffic congestion and the environment, and road asset management.
- IRF Training DVD’s: Training DVD’s including training books are available in various languages. They provide complete technical training in road engineering, maintenance and management disciplines.
- Road Audit Courses: IRF implements road safety audit courses adapted to the local environment. These courses are given together with the IRF members and thus help train members with the help of other members.
- Other Training Activities: They include tailored courses designed to serve the needs of different regions in Central and Eastern Europe and Africa.
- Study Tours: IRF organises on demand for its members study tours to countries on specific topics. This allows members to visit training centres, construction sites, traffic control centres and much more. These tours are organised for small groups or individuals.
8. IRF: Giving STATUTORY Rights
Being a member of the IRF gives special statutory rights such as:
- General Assembly: Attendance to the yearly General Assembly of the IRF.
- Vote: Having the right to vote as a collective member.
- Board Member: Stand for election to the Board or as Officer of the IRF.
9. IRF: International AWARDS and RECOGNITION
The IRF Awards Programs are set up gather information on the exemplary people and projects around the world that place this industry at the forefront of social and economic development.
- IRF Global Road Achievement Awards: The award is an annual competition to honour excellence and innovation of IRF members in the fields of research, design, environmental responsibility, safety and aesthetics in world-wide road development.
- Personnality of the Year: Established in 1951, the IRF Personality of the Year Award honours leaders in the road-development community who have demonstrated a profound dedication to the advancement of the world's roads.
- Dr. Mino Award of Excellence:The prize recognizes the outstanding achievement in road development around the world.
- gTKP Award Scheme: The gTKP Award Scheme acknowledges innovative projects in the field of transport carrying positive socio-economic impact. The projects must based in developing countries and contribute to improving quality of life.
