Periodic Reporting for period 1 - TRA2026 (Transport Research Arena 2026: Budapest)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2024-04-01 al 2025-09-30
The transport sector is a key enabler of economic growth, social development, and cultural exchange. However, a multitude of factors – ranging from environmental concerns to technological advancements and societal changes – are driving the need for new generation solutions in the transport sector, so this edition of the TRA conference revolves around the idea and burning issue of “Re-generation in Transport”. Addressing these factors requires innovative and forward-thinking strategies to create a transport system that is sustainable, resilient, and capable of meeting the demands of a rapidly evolving world. To formulate such solutions, policy objectives and perspectives, research ideas and results, technological and industrial developments need to be discussed from time to time. Creating frameworks for impactful presentations and informative discussions are crucial to initiate or substantiate cohesive and holistic strategies and actions, which drive the European Union towards achieving a more sustainable and responsible transport sector.
In line with the above, this project has set the following goals:
• To provide high visibility for the role of the transport sector in facilitating the movement of goods and people, fostering economic growth and societal development.
• To offer a unique platform for researchers to disseminate their findings, communicate with peers, and highlight the value and impact of their research, ultimately contributing to the advancement of knowledge and the potential real-world applications of their work.
• To create opportunities for effective exchange and cooperation between researchers, policymakers, industry representatives, professionals, and other stakeholders from the transport sector and beyond.
• To raise attractiveness of research and transport related studies, as well as reinforce the pursuit of excellence in European transport research and innovation by giving recognition and visibility to the best achievements with a better involvement of the younger generations.
These goals are achieved through the following measurable and verifiable key objectives:
1. To provide support for a high profile European transport conference discussing political, industrial, and research issues (Transport Research Arena) scheduled for 18-21 May 2026 in Budapest, Hungary.
2. To organise competitions addressing innovative transport concepts (TRA Visions).
Further specific objectives have been identified as part of the key objective to reach the goals:
1. Provide support to the planning and organisation activities for the successful delivery of TRA in 2026
2. Engage and bring together relevant stakeholders for the TRA 2026 conference
3. Create an attractive program by identifying thematic focal points and topics for discussion in 2026
4. Make research excellence visible through recognition, publication, and dissemination activities
5. Act as a bridge between previous and future editions
In line with the above, this project has set the following goals:
• To provide high visibility for the role of the transport sector in facilitating the movement of goods and people, fostering economic growth and societal development.
• To offer a unique platform for researchers to disseminate their findings, communicate with peers, and highlight the value and impact of their research, ultimately contributing to the advancement of knowledge and the potential real-world applications of their work.
• To create opportunities for effective exchange and cooperation between researchers, policymakers, industry representatives, professionals, and other stakeholders from the transport sector and beyond.
• To raise attractiveness of research and transport related studies, as well as reinforce the pursuit of excellence in European transport research and innovation by giving recognition and visibility to the best achievements with a better involvement of the younger generations.
These goals are achieved through the following measurable and verifiable key objectives:
1. To provide support for a high profile European transport conference discussing political, industrial, and research issues (Transport Research Arena) scheduled for 18-21 May 2026 in Budapest, Hungary.
2. To organise competitions addressing innovative transport concepts (TRA Visions).
Further specific objectives have been identified as part of the key objective to reach the goals:
1. Provide support to the planning and organisation activities for the successful delivery of TRA in 2026
2. Engage and bring together relevant stakeholders for the TRA 2026 conference
3. Create an attractive program by identifying thematic focal points and topics for discussion in 2026
4. Make research excellence visible through recognition, publication, and dissemination activities
5. Act as a bridge between previous and future editions
The preliminary high level program, list and descriptions of plenary and technical sessions have been agreed based on the concept and structure of the TRA2026 conference set by CSA, PC and MC. Conference and TRA VISIONS calls targeting professionals, researchers, and practitioners from each transport sector to encourage participation and idea exchange has been published on the conference website, in social media and via emailing lists.
The publication of the Call for papers is a core step in preparing the scientific part of the conference. The main topics and subtopics of the conference and the competition expanding the main idea of "Regeneration in transport" have been developed in cooperation with the host and the EC as co-organizers, PC and all relevant stakeholders. These topics are supposed to attract participants with innovative ideas and high-quality scientific papers. The submission of applications for TRA VISIONS awards using the same platform as the conference paper submission aims at supporting the integration of the TRA conference and the TRA VISIONS competition, and to facilitating the involvement of young researchers and PhD students – the new generation – in the largest transport science event in Europe.
A preliminary conference budget has been approved by MC. Contract with PCO has been signed, the contract with TRA2026 venue (Hungexpo) has been prepared, the contracts with sponsors can be signed afterwards (preliminary talks with more than 30 sponsors and exhibitors are in process, and we are working on attracting more sponsors and participants). Participant and exhibitor registration process has been finalized, the demo version of registration platform has been demonstrated at the MC meeting, the platform launch is scheduled for autumn 2025.
Project Management Handbook and Data Management Plan (and its revision), Conference concept, Communication Plan (and 1st revision), Reports on online platform, website, venue, exhibition plan have been compiled by TRA2026 consortium partners. A long list of possible technical visits has been developed, currently it is under discussion with Local Advisory Board and Hungarian CSA partners. The lead partner organised monthly consortium meetings and responsible partners held thematic meetings, in line with the project structure defined in the workplan.
Consortium members actively communicated and disseminated the project (TRA 2026 and VISIONS) on a wide range of channels and conferences, seminars and other meetings (incl. visits to universities and research institutes).
The publication of the Call for papers is a core step in preparing the scientific part of the conference. The main topics and subtopics of the conference and the competition expanding the main idea of "Regeneration in transport" have been developed in cooperation with the host and the EC as co-organizers, PC and all relevant stakeholders. These topics are supposed to attract participants with innovative ideas and high-quality scientific papers. The submission of applications for TRA VISIONS awards using the same platform as the conference paper submission aims at supporting the integration of the TRA conference and the TRA VISIONS competition, and to facilitating the involvement of young researchers and PhD students – the new generation – in the largest transport science event in Europe.
A preliminary conference budget has been approved by MC. Contract with PCO has been signed, the contract with TRA2026 venue (Hungexpo) has been prepared, the contracts with sponsors can be signed afterwards (preliminary talks with more than 30 sponsors and exhibitors are in process, and we are working on attracting more sponsors and participants). Participant and exhibitor registration process has been finalized, the demo version of registration platform has been demonstrated at the MC meeting, the platform launch is scheduled for autumn 2025.
Project Management Handbook and Data Management Plan (and its revision), Conference concept, Communication Plan (and 1st revision), Reports on online platform, website, venue, exhibition plan have been compiled by TRA2026 consortium partners. A long list of possible technical visits has been developed, currently it is under discussion with Local Advisory Board and Hungarian CSA partners. The lead partner organised monthly consortium meetings and responsible partners held thematic meetings, in line with the project structure defined in the workplan.
Consortium members actively communicated and disseminated the project (TRA 2026 and VISIONS) on a wide range of channels and conferences, seminars and other meetings (incl. visits to universities and research institutes).
The website of the current TRA edition (integrated with TRA VISIONS) has been launched and continuously updated. The submission platform for TRA conference papers and Visions competition (in case of young and senior researcher awards) has been successfully integrated.
More than 1500 abstracts have been submitted for TRA2026 conference, 466 young and 168 senior researchers expressed interest in TRA Visions competition. (The conference full paper and Visions application submission deadline has been prolonged deadline until 30 September 2025, thus the final submission statistics will be available only in October 2025.)
The venue for TRA2026 gala dinner has been secured.
A Local Advisory Board has been created with the aim of ensuring broad involvement of representatives from industry, business and civil society. The consortium strongly relies on inputs from key actors and stakeholders represented in MC, PC and other partners (e.g. Local Advisory Board).
More than 1500 abstracts have been submitted for TRA2026 conference, 466 young and 168 senior researchers expressed interest in TRA Visions competition. (The conference full paper and Visions application submission deadline has been prolonged deadline until 30 September 2025, thus the final submission statistics will be available only in October 2025.)
The venue for TRA2026 gala dinner has been secured.
A Local Advisory Board has been created with the aim of ensuring broad involvement of representatives from industry, business and civil society. The consortium strongly relies on inputs from key actors and stakeholders represented in MC, PC and other partners (e.g. Local Advisory Board).