Transport Research Arena conference

Transport research arena (TRA) is the largest European research and technology conference on transport and mobility.

In 2026, the TRA conference will take place in Budapest, Hungary, from 18 to 21 May.

The European Commission Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (MOVE) and the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (RTD) are co-organiser of the TRA2026 conference, together with the Hungarian host.

The mission of TRA is to foster collaboration and exchange among European, national, and regional transport research and innovation stakeholders. As a platform for dialogue between the research, industry, and policy communities, TRA facilitates the sharing of knowledge and expertise to address the transport sector’s most pressing challenges. Through plenary sessions, strategic sessions, and networking activities, TRA supports the development of Europe’s transport research and innovation landscape.

The European Commission will actively participate in the conference programme and will be represented by a dedicated 'Transport for Europe' stand in the exhibition area where key Horizon Europe projects will be exhibited. In addition, the EU Joint Undertakings will Clean Aviation, SESAR, EU’s Rail and Clean Hydrogen will be present. Visitors to the stand will have the opportunity to attend special lunchtime sessions, as outlined in the programme below, focusing on diverse aspects of transport policy and its connection to research and innovation. 

Monday 18 May - 12:30 to 13:30: Latest developments in EU Transport Policy – an overview

Organised by DG MOVE, this lunchtime session will provide a concise tour of key EU transport policy priorities since the last TRA and their implications for transport research and innovation. It will cover the delivery of transport decarbonisation and system readiness, the strengthening of the Single Market through implementation of the Revised TEN-T Regulation 2024 (including new European Transport Corridors and urban nodes) and developments in transport digitalisation. It will also address the competitiveness dimension, presenting newly adopted initiatives such as the EU Automotive Industrial Action Plan and the EU Ports and Industrial Maritime Strategies and the needs for effective R&I and deployment support. Finally, the session will address key initiatives on the social dimension of transport. 

Tuesday 19 May - 12:30 to13:30: Aviation R&I success stories

Organised by CINEA; Aviation is one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonize, yet global air travel continues to grow each year. Can the industry ever truly become sustainable? And if so, which emerging technologies could make it possible? These questions lie at the heart of the ClimAvTech cluster — a network of projects supported by CINEA under the Horizon Europe programme — which is exploring innovative pathways to reduce aviation’s climate impact. Those innovations will be presented during the lunch time session at TRA”. 

Wednesday 20 May -12:30 to 13:30 : CCAM tech trends & your chance to shape EUCAD 2027

Organised by DG RTD and the Joint Research Centre, this lunchtime session is introducing a new Global Technology Observatory, a user-friendly database tracking the development of Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM) technologies worldwide. The second half of the session will launch the call for sessions for EUCAD 2027, inviting proposals to shape Europe’s leading CCAM conference. Don’t miss this chance to explore the observatory and contribute to the future of automated mobility. 

Thursday 21 May - 12:30-13:30: User-Centred Mobility Systems

Organised by CINEA, this session will look into transport systems design that prioritises user needs through the integration of public transport with New Mobility Services. Featured projects, including MetaCCAZE, GEMINI, UPPER, and SPINE, will present their findings on economically viable solutions that leverage the synergies of electrification, automation, and interoperability in urban environments. The session will also explore the development and impact of multimodal hubs and the importance of ensuring accessible, resilient transport services that strengthen local and regional economic competitiveness. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research and innovations that are paving the way for more sustainable, smart and user-oriented transport systems.

The European Commission is supporting the ‘TRA VISIONS Awards’ that will be given during the conference to young researchers and to senior researchers involved in EU projects.

TRA is a conference covering all transport modes, directly supported by several European Technology Platforms (ERTRAC, ERRAC, WATERBORNE TP, ALICE, ECTP and ACARE) and associations like ETRA (European Transport Research Alliance) and CEDR (Conference of European Road Directors). TRA is organised every two years.