The Transport Research Arena 2026 is just around the corner! It is time to skim through the conference programme and pin down your sessions of interest. ECTRI will be organising the following two special sessions, reflecting current trends and challenges in European Transport Research.
Special Session 29: Research and Technology infrastructures in transport: Boosting Europe’s competitiveness and research excellence in the transport sector
📆 May 18, 2026 🕰️17:30-19:00📍Room G9-G10-G11
The Special Session 29 is organised by ECTRI, together with the European Commission, ERTRAC, ERRAC and Waterborne TP.
🎤 Moderated by Caroline Almeras, ECTRI Secretary General
Presentations include:
✔️ European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures (RTI): State of play and future perspectives(Maria Guillen-Molina, European Commission, DG RTD)
✔️ Outlook on European RTI in Transport (Kay Gade, DLR, and ECTRI rapporteur European Policy Task Force)
✔️ AVL ZalaZONE: Newest European RTI in the field of automotive developments (Zoltan Hamar, ZalaZONE)
✔️ From Lab to Rail: Paving the way towards zero on-Site Testing (Michael Meyer zu Hörste, DLR)
✔️ From Lab to Sea: De-resking the path to zero-emission shipping (Anders Öster, Wartsila)
Special Session 18 – Responsible Artificial intelligence in Transport Research and education
📆 May 20, 2026 🕰️ 16:00-17:30📍Room G9-G10-G11
The Special Session 18 is organised ECTRI, together with SESAR JU and ALICE TP.
🎤 Moderated by Irina Yatskiv from TSI
Presentations include:
✔️ Challenges and risks of AI: how a change of paradigm in training and education can support (Cristina Pronello, POLITO)
✔️ Responsible AI Agents in Transportation Research: Opportunities and Risks for Ethical and Impactful Innovation (Dmitry Pavlyuk, TSI)
✔️ How AI is enhancing the vision of the European ATM Master Plan (Riccardo Massacci, SESAR JU)
✔️ AI4CCAM: Trustworthy AI for Automated Driving Systems (Arnaud Gotlieb, SIMULA Research Lab)
✔️ AI-Driven Predictive Analytics for Port Transport Operations (Salvador F. Prunñonosa, Fundacion Valenciaport)
➡️ Learn more on the TRA2026 Conference Programme
At TRA2026, ECTRI supports, co-organises and sponsors activities promoting the excellence of transport research in the EU.
