This proposal describes a series of activities that will support the successful delivery of the TRA conference in Dublin in 2024. A consortium has been assembled that addresses all the key requirements of the call: • They represent the key transport modes with at least 2 partners active in road, rail, waterborne, aviation and cross-modal. • The partners are all active in European research and have the reach to promote the conference across Europe. • The partners have a long history of delivering high quality researcher competitions where Europe’s research leaders are recognised. The partners will work with key stakeholders to ensure the conference themes support European policies. The proposal also has the full support of the Irish Minister for Transport and this will ensure the full support of relevant Irish agencies. The partners will work together to deliver a conference that builds on the success of previous TRA conferences and provide a forum that will allow the key actors in the transport sector come together to develop solutions for society’s needs.

Support for the organisation of EU-US symposia in the field of Transport Research The main objective of the SYMPEUS CSA is to strengthen collaboration in transport research between the EU and the US. The project is closely working with the EC in organising four EU-US Transport Research Symposia: in Washington DC (2024, 2026), in Brussels (2025, 2027). The project will support the symposia participation of the European transport community and will work together with DG RTD and DG MOVE for managing these 3-day events in terms of organisation, content development, reporting. At each event, 25 experts from EU and US, respectively, will discuss and elaborate R&I recommendations on a theme agreed between the EC and US DoT. SYMPEUS will involve and collaborate with all relevant European actors – researchers, industry, users, innovation leaders, etc., and consult key transport players including European Technology Platforms in transport and relevant Horizon Europe partnerships. For each symposium SYMPEUS’s will: • Define overall planning on the EU side (preparation, execution, dissemination of the symposia) • Consult with stakeholders to identify EU expert candidates, to be proposed to the EC, • Manage expert invitations, registrations, travel costs reimbursements, • Prepare communication material, • Provide support in drafting of preparatory documents, design of symposia, programme, • Offer facilitation for the symposium and its break-out sessions. • Provide support in editing, quality management, dissemination of the conference proceedings reports. Additionally, for the two symposia to be held in Brussels, SYMPEUS will manage the overall local organisation including selecting and covering costs for venue, catering and logistics. The lump sum project is managed by a consortium of 3 organisations with complementary competences, experiences and structures: VTI (Swedish public institute), ECTRI (European association) and VDI/VDE-IT (German private research agency).

The scope of this proposal, as requested by the call, is to organise two competitions for transport research awards to be announced at the TRA conference in 2022: - a young researcher competition with the goal of stimulating the interest in the field of sustainable transport among young researchers and students. - a competition for senior researchers in the field of innovative transport concepts based on results only from EU-funded projects.

The TRA2026 project aims to support the organisation of the TRA conference in Budapest in 2026 and deliver the related competitions. This proposal aligns with the specified criteria of the call, namely: • It addresses the expected outcomes, including enhanced visibility of the transport sector, contributions to advancing knowledge, improved cooperation opportunities, as well as increased attractiveness of transport-related studies, as well as recognition of outstanding achievements in this field. • It features a partnership representing the host country and city authorities, as well as the academic and professional realm, with a strong international reach. The proposal involves partners with experience across all transport modes and cross-modal themes, as well as in organising past TRA conferences and researcher competitions. A member state responsible for the Council of the European Union in 2026 is also represented in the consortium. • The partners will work together and with relevant stakeholders, drawing on the traditions of previous TRA editions to bring together key actors in the transport sector to find joint solutions for current and upcoming transport-related challenges.