FISITA - history

In 1947 the president of the French organisation of automotive engineers (SIA), Mr. Maurice Norroy, organised an international congress of engineers in Paris. The great importance of activities of technicians for the social and economic development of the post-war Europe as well as the success of the congress have led Mr. Norroy to propose foundation of an international organisation, that would facilitate permanent contacts between the members of national organisations of automotive engineers. As a follow up, in January 1948 the Federation of the Societies of Automotive Engineers (FISITA) has been found. The organisation has chosen the motto "Let´s Progress Together".

The start-up activity of the federation has been mainly to support the development of automobiles, construction, construction of spare parts, aggregates and their application, exchange of information and co-operation of members and member representations. These activities are still the central focus of FISITA.

FISITA - today

In 1998 the 50th anniversary meeting of the federation has pointed out a great development of automobile industry. The progress was documented by ever growing membership of the federation up to the present thirty-one states represented by their national organisations of automotive engineers and technicians, especially from those countries where the production of automobiles is one of important branches of industry. The aim of the federation is to act as a faciliator of effective, ecological, economical and safe car production.

FISITA programme offers:

·        a global forum for the dialogue between engineers, industry, governments, university staff, organisations from the field of environment, standards and regulations,

·        global technology expertise for the industry, governments, and universities on questions of transport technology and modern engineering and applications that bring quality to environment and protect natural resources,

·        FISITA supports life-long education of engineers as well as their professional development, namely it helps the students and young engineers participate in many international activities.

FISITA - activities

FISITA - congresses

Every other year one appointed member organisation organises the world congress FISITA. In 1998 so far the largest, the 25th in line, congress FISITA was organised in Paris (SIA) for more than 3000 participants. In the year 2000 the congress will be organised in Korean Seoul, in the year 2002 in Helsinki and in 2004 in Barcelona.

FISITA – support to international and national conferences.

In agreement with the aims of the world federation FISITA, national representations develop several important activities, every year minimum ten, under the supervision and auspices of the federation. Slovakia will host the next activity - congress of the European organisations EAEC in 2001.

FISITA - programmes

The strategy of the federation since it was in the years 1994-1996 has supported several programmes that the member states follow:

a) Students and young engineers

·       FSEP – an international exchange programme for university students, including PhD. students. After placing an application the national organisation together with FISITA as a co-ordinator will facilitate the exchange between member states,

·        Travelling Fellowship – is a supportive programme for students from national organisations of FISITA to visit the organising state in the time of the congress and to take part in technical excursions and participate in the congress,

·        Student Competition – is a prize to the best work of art or project (1 000 USD in 1998) that is evaluated and nominates at the time of the congress.

·        Youth Congress – under this initiative the students and young engineers (under 28 years) participate in a parallel specialised programme and in the congress for a reduced participation fee.

b) FISITA - appraisals

·        The medal FISITA – is an appraisal for excellent results in projects focusing on the world of cars (so far thirty medals have been given).

·        FISITA Diploma

·        Appraisal of excellent publications (from the year 1994, in congresses),

·        Manuel Junoy Memorial Prize - the prize for the best paper on the congress (age limit thirty-five years)

c) FISITA services

·        FISITA has a group of experts to solve both the global and regional questions of transport. On the request from national organisations, they are nominated to give expertise, give lectures, etc.

·       FISITA in co-operation with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE – USA) regularly issues World-wide Automobile Supplier Directory which is an address-book of automobile industry suppliers in all continents, it lists contact address, sort of production, capacity of production and supplying capability.

·        FISITA offers services both for university teachers and for study programmes at technical universities with concentration on the automobile industry, etc.

EAEC - history

As closer co-operation was urgent between ATA (Italy), SIA (France), VDI (Germany), IMechE (Great Britain) and SBIA (Belgium), in 1984 five national representations of automotive engineers and technicians (member organisations in FISITA) prepared and in 1985 modified the Statutes of EAEC (European Automobile Engineers Co-operation. The statutes define areas and points of co-operation, their scope and importance, activity toward national governments and the European Community (EU). They naturally comprise the representative bodies of EAEC (Council EAEC, Strategy Committee,...................., specialised activities (congresses, conferences and seminars), co-operation in publishing, membership, visits, delegations, excursions, etc.

EAEC - today

The successful development of automobile production in the European countries has brought up rise in member representations in the federation FISITA in Europe. To date eighteen out of the member organisations in FISITA constitute EAEC. Besides co-ordinated national and international activities run every year by national organisations, EAEC is organised every other year.

EAEC - congresses

The first five congresses (1987 – 1995) were organised by several member organisations in Strassbourgh, France. Since 1997 the place of congresses has been changed every year – in 1997 the congress EAEC was in Cernobbio, Italy, in 1999 in Barcelona, Spain, in 2001 the EAEC congress will be held in Bratislava.