TRA 2014:
Another successful edition makes this an event
transport industry stakeholders cannot afford to miss
La 5th edition of the Transport Research Arena (TRA), the Europe's largest conference on transport research and innovation, came to a close in Paris on Thursday, following record attendance levels. Over four days in Paris, the full range of public and private sector stakeholders were able to discuss their concerns, promote their ideas and plan the transport of the future.
With almost 3,000 visitors from 56 countries, TRA2014 was attended by record numbers. Over 130 sessions, 650 presentations, 15 associated events and 1,000 m² of exhibitions welcomed researchers and industrial and public policy players. They came together to examine their ideas about our society's changing transport usage and requirements in the face of increasingly serious energy and environmental challenges.
"We wanted this conference to cover all the stages from laboratory research right through to industrial implementation, and I am delighted with the result. Half of all our participants were researchers, the other half were policy-makers, engineers and industrial players... Mission accomplished!" says a delighted Hélène Jacquot-Guimbal, Managing Director of IFSSTAR (the organising body) and Vice President of the TRA2014 steering committee.
Keen to assist in creating a favourable environment for jobs and the economy, TRA2014 for the first time offered business opportunities for capitalising on research findings, backed by a desire to help to strengthen European competitiveness.
In addition to the high-level scientific discussions, TRA also helped to create links between different transport industry players. The various work sessions all demonstrated that each mode of transport depends on all of its stakeholders.
The dynamic created at this event has also encouraged the European technological platforms ALICE (logistics) and ECTP (infrastructures) to request seats on the TRA steering committee.
A summary of the scientific findings from TRA2014, along with the principal directions that can be drawn from them to assist with planning public transport policy, will be presented at the European Mobility Exhibition from 10 to 12 June 2014 in Paris.
TRA2014 ended with the baton being passed to Poland, where the subsequent edition will be held in 2016.
In her concluding remarks, Hélène Jacquot-Guimbal gave her sincere thanks to the European Commission as well as to the CEDR (Conference of European Directors of Roads) and the European technological platforms ERTRAC (automotive), ERRAC (rail) and Waterborne TP (maritime, port and river) for the quality of their partnerships.
Images: R. Eberhard, messekompakt.com, EBERHARD print & medien agentur gmbh
Source: IFSTTAR