The three-day RTR Conference (Results from Road Transport Research) was held at The EGG Brussels, bringing together over 900 guests (500 on-site and 400 online) , underlining the growing importance of collaborative research in the road transport sector.

An innovation platform for road transport

The RTR Conference addressed a wide range of essential topics for the future of the road transport sector. Discussions covered crucial areas such as decarbonization, digitalization, urban mobility, road safety, and more. The event was a unique opportunity to highlight the results, discoveries, and impacts of research in these areas, while exploring new connections and potential deployments of innovative technologies.

High-level speakers

The opening speech was delivered by Rosalinde van der Vlies, Director of the Clean Planet Directorate at the European Commission, who emphasized the importance of competitiveness, accessibility, circularity, and inclusivity (CACI) for the future of the sector. She also stressed the need to better communicate the concrete results and tangible impacts of research. Pablo Perez-Illana from CINEA highlighted the importance of fostering synergies between European funding programs to bridge the gap from research to deployed innovation.

The circularity challenge in the automotive industry

One of the major plenary sessions focused on the question: “How can we achieve circularity in the automotive industry?” This multifaceted challenge was explored by experts, who discussed opportunities related to the circular economy and new business models that could emerge. Recycling valuable components and investing in R&D within the recycling industry were identified as strategic priorities to make this transition feasible on a European scale.