The series of six conferences and two workshops will establish a coherent thematic network. Each conference will build upon the conclusions reached in the course of the previous conference(s). CONFERENCE 1: The state of the art in benchmarking in all sectors. The aim of the first conference is to present successful examples of innovative benchmarking from a range of non-transport sectors, and to assess the applicability of these 'good practices' to the transport sector. CONFERENCE 2 : The state of the art in benchmarking in the transport sector. Successful examples of benchmarking in the transport sector will be presented, with a focus on cases which have resulted in performance improvement. The conference will also consider the use of benchmarking as a tool in the implementation of sustainable transport strategies. CONFERENCE 3: Identifying effective benchmarking criteria. The objective of Conference 3 is to analyse both quantitative and qualitative indicators in order to identify the most effective and practical criteria for successful benchmarking. The conference will consider benchmarking methodologies based on the complementarity of qualitative and quantitative criteria. CONFERENCE 4: Identifying effective benchmarking methodologies. The aim of the conference is to bring together experts to identify effective benchmarking methodologies in order to formulate 'best practice' benchmarking methods for application in the transport sector. CONFERENCE 5: The application of benchmarking in transport policy. Benchmarking transport policy is a new area of application for benchmarking. The conference will bring together policy makers in order to identify the potential of benchmarking to promote the development of sustainable transport policies in Europe. WORKSHOPS: Putting BEST into practice BEST will be linked with BOB, 'Benchmarking of Benchmarking', an eighteen-month accompanying measure under the European Commission?s Fifth Framework Programme. BOB will set up three parallel pilots which will act as a 'laboratory' to test the recommended criteria and methodologies identified in BEST Conferences 3 and 4. The results of the pilot projects will be presented in two workshops which will take place between BEST Conferences 5 and 6. CONFERENCE 6: The final conference. The final conference will consolidate the conclusions and recommendations of the series of BEST conferences, and will include the results from the accompanying measure BOB.