Skip to main content

EU transport commissioner and Austria's transport minister open TRA 2018

EU transport commissioner Violeta Bulc and Austria's transport minister Norbert Hofert have opened transport research conference TRA 2018, on 16 April. Both highlighted the importance of digitalisation and decarbonisation for the Vienna-based conference and transport research. The event features a theme of A Digital Era for Transport - solutions for society, economy and environment. At the opening, Gerd Leonhard, futurist, humanist, author and chief executive officer of The Futures Agency presented the
April 18, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

EU transport commissioner Violeta Bulc and Austria's transport minister Norbert Hofert have opened transport research conference TRA 2018, on 16 April. Both highlighted the importance of digitalisation and decarbonisation for the Vienna-based conference and transport research.

The event features a theme of A Digital Era for Transport - solutions for society, economy and environment. At the opening, Gerd Leonhard, futurist, humanist, author and chief executive officer of The Futures Agency presented the importance of new technologies and the roles of humans in the digital world of mobility. He predicted that the transport of people and goods will be organised more smartly, efficiently and sustainably and be supported by networking, robotisation and artificial intelligence.

An Industrial Round Table explored the key role of industry in transport and mobility research. The session was attended by European industry representatives from all major transport sectors.

Over 100 individual events are planned for diverse topics, with every conference day operating under a theme, which is also discussed in a plenary session. Topics planned for the event include Digitalisation, Decarbonisation & Future Growth and Shaping Future Transport Research in Europe. In addition, a marketplace will offer researchers an opportunity to present their current research projects to an international audience.

Participants can also visit an exhibition area with an Interactive Zone. The conference is sponsored by Asfinag, Anstalt für Verbrennungskraftmaschinen List, BMW, Heremobility, ITS Vienna Region, Kapsch, Man, Österreichische Bundesbahnen, Plasser & Theurer, Siemens, Voest Alpine and Volkswagen.

TRA is hosted by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Innovation and technology, who organised the event with the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and AustriaTech in cooperation with the European Commission and European Technology Platforms.

Related Content

  • Technology ‘can challenge car ownership’, Whim’s Hietanen will tell conference
    April 24, 2018
    Technology now provides transport operators and authorities with an opportunity to compete with car ownership in the minds of consumers, Mobility as a Service (MaaS) inventor Sampo Hietanen will tell the forthcoming MaaS Market Conference in Atlanta. “Cities worldwide are facing increasing congestion and pollution, putting additional pressure on their transport systems. Technology now has the potential to change the way people travel and MaaS brings all travel options together in one seamless on-demand
  • Bringing the Internet of Mobility to life
    July 16, 2021
    As we chart our route to the ITS World Congress in Hamburg, a recent Ertico-ITS Europe webinar explored the future of connectivity including policy, infrastructure and security
  • Toyota to turn Mobility Teammate concept into reality by 2020
    October 6, 2015
    Toyota has pledged to make its Mobility Teammate concept a reality by 2020. The Japanese manufacturer announced during the ITS World Congress in Bordeaux yesterday that it has been testing a new automated driving vehicle – called Highway Teammate - in Japan and planned to bring products based on it to market in the next five years. The new vehicle, a Lexus GS which has been modified for autonomous driving, has been tested on a section of highway in Tokyo, changing lanes and entering and exiting at junctions
  • ITF annual transport summit
    May 8, 2015
    The Annual Summit of the International Transport Forum (ITF) provides a platform for global discussion on strategies for transport in the 21st century. Since 2008, the Annual Summit has developed into the leading global get-together of the key players in transport and transport-related sectors, providing a unique platform for high-level exchange on strategic policy issues. The theme of the 2015 Summit is Transport, Trade and Tourism. It takes place in Leipzig, Germany from 27-29 May 2015, under the presi