Pathfinders – The Future of Transportation

The aim of the day is to encourage insightful discussions between academia, industry and policy makers, with a focus on how we can shape impactful technologies and applications that benefit society. 

The day will start with a look at European perspectives, followed by a session highlighting Scandinavian perspectives on transportation. Next, we will dive into industry viewpoints, bringing together experts from various transport modes − road, sea, and air.

At the end of the day all presenters will join a panel discussion focusing on bridging the gap between innovative ideas and their realisation in practice.

Program

08:30-09:00 Registration and coffee

09:00-09:15 Opening 
Balázs Adam Kulcsár, Director, Transport Area of Advance, Chalmers University of Technology
Johan Woxenius, Co-ordinator, Transport Area of Advance, University of Gothenburg

09:15 European perspectives
Margriet van Schijndel, Program Manager Responsible Mobility, Eindhoven University of Technology

Lóránt Tavasszy, Professor, Freight Transport & Logistics, Delft University of Technology

Discussion

Coffee

10:35 Scandinavian perspectives 
Malin Andersson, Program Director, Drive Sweden 

Jonas Eriksson, Head of Gothenburg Green City Zone, Business Region Gothenburg

Discussion

Lunch 

12:45 Industry perspectives
Elna Holmberg, Vice President Electromobility, Volvo Group

Jacob Norrby, Deputy Technical Director, Stena Teknik

Henrik Runnemalm, VP Global Technology Centre, GKN Aerospace Sweden

14:00 Panel discussion with all speakers

15:00 Closing remarks

Coffee and mingle 

Meet the international speakers

Margriet van Schijndel

Margriet van Schijndel is the Program Manager for Responsible Mobility at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e).

Within the Program Responsible Mobility, TU/e combines a set of diverse expertise and skills for addressing societal challenges regarding sustainable, inclusive, safe and efficient transport. Thematic scope of the research program includes:
 

• Safe, clean and energy efficient mobility; vehicle level & system level
• Efficient logistics, incorporating new vehicle concepts
• Human behaviour, acceptance 
• Accelerating energy and mobility transitions through integral, multidisciplinary research

Since 2021, Executive Board Member CCAM Partnership, leading Cluster 5 Key enabling Technologies.

Since 2022, member of the Delegation to the Partnership Board, 2Zero Partnership.

2013-2020 EARPA Secretary General, since then Foresight Group leader on Connectivity, Automation, Safety, and per 2024 Board members

Educated as mechanical engineer, TU/e.

Lóránt Tavasszy

Lóránt Tavasszy (1967) is full professor in Freight Transport & Logistics at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. 

Until 2016 he worked with the Dutch national research institute TNO and held part time chairs at the University of Nijmegen and TU Delft.

His research focuses on freight transportation modelling at urban, national and global level. Professor Tavasszy actively participates in the European Technology Platform ALICE and in committees of the Transportation Research Board (TRB), and leads the scientific committee of the World Conference for Transport Research Society (WCTRS).

Transportation research week

The initiative seminar is the final part of the Transportation research week in Gothenburg, a week-long series of events that bring together researchers, industry experts, and policymakers to explore the latest advancements and challenges in the field of transport.