Skip to main content

Key transport research conference underway in Brussels

Some 200 automotive and road transport researchers have gathered for the annual ERTRAC conference, which was opened by Jean-Luc di Paola-Galloni, acting Chairman of ERTRAC and EGVIA. "Road transport today offers major opportunities for innovation, which are also opportunities for job creation and competitiveness in Europe," said Paola-Galloni, who is Corporate Vice-President for Sustainable Development of the automotive supplier VALEO. ERTRAC, as the European Road Transport Research Advisory Council, provid
March 3, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
Some 200 automotive and road transport researchers have gathered for the annual ERTRAC conference, which was opened by Jean-Luc di Paola-Galloni, acting Chairman of ERTRAC and EGVIA. "Road transport today offers major opportunities for innovation, which are also opportunities for job creation and competitiveness in Europe," said Paola-Galloni, who is Corporate Vice-President for Sustainable Development of the automotive supplier VALEO.

ERTRAC, as the European Road Transport Research Advisory Council, provides a unique platform to develop a vision for road transport research in Europe. At the conference, ERTRAC’s Working Groups have presented research needs as identified in continuous work. Stakeholders from industry, researchers and representatives of national and local authorities collaborate through ERTRAC to identify the research needs related to the following topics on the agenda: powertrains (engines, fuels, and electrification), connectivity and automated driving, and infrastructures, urban mobility and freight. In these three strategic sessions, ERTRAC Working Group leaders and invited high-level speakers from industry and the 2465 European Commission will exchange information and ideas on the research and innovation priorities for Europe.

Innovative vehicles such as electric cars have been exhibited at the conference and this includes test drives through Brussels.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • FEHRL and CEDR pledge more road research cooperation
    February 10, 2015
    The Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories (FEHRL) and the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR) have pledged to increase cooperation on road research. A memorandum of understanding to cement the cooperation was signed during a one-day event that featured speakers from national members of FEHRL and CEDR. Stefan Strick, president of FEHRL and also of the German Federal Highway Research Institute, signed the memorandum alongside CEDR president Simon Grima, who is also chief office
  • Success of toll road operators' conference
    July 12, 2012
    The 37th ASECAP Annual Study and Information Days held in Krakow, Poland, gathered some 300 road transport CEOs, experts and government decision-makers making the event "a huge success." Patrick Smith reports Toll road operators from across Europe have met to discuss the state of their businesses in the current economic climate and how to tackle it. Fabrizio Palenzona, the outgoing President of ASECAP (the European professional Association of Operators of Toll Road Infrastructures) and president of AISCAT (
  • Record attendance at TRA 2014
    April 22, 2014
    Organisers of the 5th edition of the Transport Research Arena (TRA), Europe's largest conference on transport research and innovation, say the event attracted record attendance levels. Held at CNIT in Paris 14-17 April 2014, the event drew almost 3,000 visitors from 56 countries. Over 130 sessions, 650 presentations, 15 associated events and 1,000m² of exhibitions welcomed researchers and industrial and public policy players. They came together to examine their ideas about our society's changing transpor
  • TRA 2014 showcases the best of cutting-edge transport research and thinking
    July 1, 2014
    Despite tight finances due to the current global economic climate, the recent Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2014 show in Paris showed how innovative transport research, largely using cutting-edge ITS, is creating safer and smarter highways of the future. Guy Woodford reports How far can you drive around a car race track with no other vehicles on it on half a glass of fuel while attempting to maintain a speed of 60kph? After taking up the challenge offered by the Eco Driving Simulator using SiVIC (Simulatio