The transport sector is a key enabler of economic growth, social development, and cultural exchange by its ability to connect people, goods, and ideas, promoting cooperation, prosperity, and progress across Europe (and beyond). However, it also faces challenges related to sustainability and environmental impacts, which require continuous attention and investment in research, development, and innovation for creating more sustainable solutions. To formulate such solutions, policy objectives and perspectives, research ideas and results, technological and industrial developments need to be discussed from time to time. Creating frameworks for impactful presentations and informative discussions are crucial to initiate or substantiate cohesive and holistic strategies and actions, which drive the European Union towards achieving a more sustainable and responsible transport sector.

In line with the above, the TRA2026 project provides support for a high profile European transport conference (Transport Research Arena) that over the past two decades has become a unique platform for researchers to disseminate their findings and contributing to the advancement of knowledge and the potential real-world applications of their work. TRA2026 creates opportunities for effective exchange between researchers, policymakers, industry representatives, professionals, and other stakeholders from the transport sector and beyond. The exhibition accompanying the TRA conference with demonstrations, interactive spaces and sessions, as well as technical visits and tours is meant to expose advanced research projects, high-tech prototype demonstrators, innovative services and products designed to interact with the visitors, thus to raise awareness of the transport sector among the citizens and end-users, and to create better links between the different actors among the transport and mobility sectors. Furthermore, in order to raise attractiveness and visibility of research and transport related studies the traditional TRA Visions competition addressing innovative transport concepts will be even further integrated into the TRA2026 conference.

The current edition of the TRA conference scheduled for May 2026 in Budapest, Hungary revolves around the idea of “Re-generation in transport”. A multitude of factors, including demographic trends (e.g. ageing society, population growth), emerging technologies (e.g. digitalisation, connected systems), forthcoming changes in the labour market (e.g. artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles), energy transition (e.g. alternative energy sources, electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles), climate change and environmental concerns (e.g. mitigation policies, active mobility), are driving the need for new generation solutions in the transport sector. Implications of re-generation in transport include accessibility and inclusivity, user-centric design, personalised mobility solutions, reskilling and adaptability, new job opportunities, flexible work arrangements, sustainable transport planning, smart infrastructure, innovative business models, as well as collaboration between authorities, research institutions, tech companies, and start-ups.

The consortium responsible for the delivery of the TRA2026 coordination and support actions consists of 8 partners and an associate partner from Hungary, Belgium and Ireland:

• KTI Hungarian Institute for Transport Sciences and Logistics (KTI),
• Hungarian Public Roads,
• Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME),
• Centre for Budapest Transport (BKK),
• Hungarian Scientific Association for Transport (KTE),
• Széchenyi István University (Győr, Hungary),
• European Conference of Transport Research Institutes (ECTRI),
• Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories (FEHRL),
• University College Dublin (UCD).

KTI Hungarian Institute for Transport Sciences and Logistics Non-profit Ltd. acts as project coordinator. KTI is responsible for project management and coordination.

General project data:

Project name: Transport Research Arena 2026: Budapest (TRA2026)

Project number: 101147335

Lead partner: KTI Hungarian Institute for Transport Sciences and Logistics Non-profit Ltd.

Funding programme: The project is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON) of the European Commission.

Grant amount: 1,46 M EUR

Project starting date: 1 April 2024

Project end date: 30 September 2026

Project duration: 30 months

Responsible person in KTI: András Munkácsy (Research Centre for Transport Development)