The idea of integrating expertise and knowledge through co-ordinationa activities is widely recognised as an important tool for stimulating the European research community.

This project is the fourth project that is initiated by them major partner group under the
co-ordination of the Fraunhofer Institute IFF/FhG (Germany).
All previous projects: AMCAI (COPERNICUS 1994), DAMAC-HP (COPERNICUS 1998), BALTPORTS-IT (IST FP5, 2001) - were aimed at creating an international network of scientists and experts dealing with the problems of improving transport logistics and harbour processes by using advanced IT-solutions.

The major aim of the eLOGMAR-M is to gather and co-ordinate activities in the field of IT- and Communication solutions (Web-services, GPRS and WAP/WML mobile services, simulation, technologies for information systems design, virtual reality) with maritime and logistics applications. The maritime freight route "Baltic Sea feeder ports - Western Europe hub ports (Hamburg) - Mediterranean ports - Chinese ports" is selected as the subject of investigation and demonstration.

The network of branch offices of the Baltic Regional Competence Centre in the field of advanced IT- and communication solutions and transport logistics will be established, covering the three Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania).