There are many challenges to be addressed, from technical, regulatory, economic, and ethical perspectives. The conference alternated strategic discussions and more technical break-outs, where key issues as, for instance, new business models, open road testing, infrastructure readiness were debated.
Autonomous vehicles on European roads
EUCAD2019 was the occasion for important announcements from the European Commission. First, the release of the new Connected and Automated Transport (CAT) Roadmap from the Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda (STRIA), a collaborative effort where industries, member states, and research players pave the way for the future research priorities in CAT. Second, the official launch of the “Single platform for open road testing and pre-deployment of cooperative, connected, automated and autonomous mobility (CCAM)”, where a group of experts will be invited to support the next steps in the field of testing and pre-deployment activities for CCAM.
During EUCAD2019, Luxembourg played an important role. Participants were able to try at the social event on the first day and around the Berlaymont building the autonomous shuttle Sales Lentz tested in Contern and Pfaffenthal.
Develop a common vision for road transport research
The Annual Conference of the European Technology Platform ERTRAC took place on 4 April. ERTRAC, the European Road Transport Research Advisory Council, brings together road transport stakeholders to develop a common vision for road transport research in Europe. And in the context of this vision, centered on a safe and sustainable road transport for the mobility of people and goods, serving the society and the economy, the conference was the occasion for the launch of new roadmaps for the prioritisation of future research, in particular with an eye on the next framework programme, Horizon Europe.