Overview
The Transport Research Arena Conference is the top transport research event in Europe, gathering every two years. The key stakeholders are experts, operators, industry and policy-makers. The Transport Research Arena Conference 2012 ('TRA2012') took place in Athens Greece, in April 2012.
TRA2012 Conference contributes to innovation in sustainable mobility for Europe, by bringing together all the stakeholders of the transport system. The conference dealt extensively with all surface transport modes: road, rail and waterborne and underline interlinks between them.
The main theme of TRA2012 was Sustainable Mobility Trough Innovation. It sought to reflect the multidisciplinary nature of the transport sector and, thus, addressed all stakeholders in both the public and private sectors and all professionals, regardless of their roles (researchers, practitioners, designers, constructors, operators, administrators etc.).
This project provided support for organising and promoting the Transport Research Arena 2012 in Athens. It reinforced the scientific excellence of the conference and cemented its position as the main transport research event in Europe.
The fourth Transport Research Arena (TRA2012) was supported by five stakeholder organisations:
- the Conference of European Directors for Roads (CEDR);
- the European Commission (EC);
- the European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC);
- the European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC) and;
- the European Waterborne Technology Platform (Waterborne TP).
The project was a coordinated commitment of partners from all of the relevant stakeholder organisations plus the TRA2012 and TRA2014 organisers.
Funding
Results
The following key results can be pointed out:
- The work performed in 2011 consisted mainly of structuring an attractive programme and exhibition for the participants;
- The TRA2012 conference programme was composed of five different session types, namely plenary, strategic, technical, poster and special sessions. Plenary sessions, including the opening and the closing session were addressed to all conference and exhibition attendees and hosted personalities from Europe and worldwide, who spoke about the future prospects of the transport system, its role in the societies of tomorrow and the steps to be taken towards the desired targets;
- Special sessions were organised by national European and international bodies, federations, associations, projects, initiatives, professional institutions and Unions on the topics of their interest during the conference.
Policy objectives
Innovating for the future (technology and behaviour):
- A European Transport Research and Innovation Policy
- Promoting more sustainable development