RTR2026 Highlights: Key Innovations in Electric Mobility, Power Electronics & Software‑Defined Vehicles

The Road Transport Research Conference 2026 (RTR2026) brought together 96 European research projects and more than 700 experts in electric mobility, software-defined vehicles, and zero‑emission transport. Over three days in Brussels, the community demonstrated how European R&I is accelerating the transition toward cleaner, smarter, and market‑ready mobility solutions.
Below is our comprehensive recap of the key sessions, project highlights, and takeaways.

A Strong Showing from Our Project Portfolio

Throughout the event, several projects we are involved in took the stage:

  • EM‑TECH, presented by Martin Weinzerl, AVL List GmbH
  • HighScape, presented by Eric Armengaud, Armengaud Innovate GmbH
  • SmartCorners, presented by Walter Lukesch, AVL DiTEST
  • CODE4EV, presented by Valentin Ivanov, Technical University of Ilmenau

We also supported the E‑VOLVE Cluster stand and closely followed the presentation of HAL4SDV, held by Andreas Eckel, TTTech, a Chips JU project we accompany as Project Management Office – PMO.

EM‑TECH: Rare-Earth Reduction and Next-Generation Electric Motor Technologies

As a completed project, EM‑TECH used RTR2026 to present its final results in the session “Electric motor technologies for next‑generation EVs.”
Highlights included:

  • significant rare-earth material reduction in e‑motor designs
  • performance achievements in both in‑wheel motors and axial‑flux motors
  • high audience interest and strong follow‑up discussions at the E‑VOLVE Cluster stand

All results can be explored in the Final Webinar Series and the OnePager summaries on the project website. We encourage everyone interested in advanced e‑motor development to dive deeper into these materials.

HighScape: Power Electronics & Integrated Thermal Management

HighScape, continuing until September 2026, contributed to the session “Power electronics for electric vehicles.”
Key messages included:

  • Power electronics stand alongside electric motors as core enablers of EV performance.
  • Eric Armengaud presented HighScape’s progress in next‑generation power electronics.
  • We premiered a new video on Work Package 5: Integrated Vehicle Thermal Management Systems, developed with WP5 Leader TOFAS and all partners.

This new material attracted considerable interest at the E‑VOLVE Cluster stand, highlighting the relevance of HighScape’s work in future EVs.

SmartCorners: User‑Centric and Energy‑Optimized EV Concepts

SmartCorners’ presentation took place in the session “User-centric energy optimised EV.”
Highlights:

  • A clear focus on user-centric design, usability, and efficiency
  • Insightful comparisons between the three sister projects working under the same call topic, following different approaches
  • Q&A discussions addressing user involvement, cost‑effectiveness, and real-world feasibility

The session showcased how diverse approaches can contribute to a shared vision of more efficient and user-friendly e‑mobility solutions.

CODE4EV & HAL4SDV: Enabling the Future of Software‑Defined Vehicles

In the session dedicated to software-defined vehicles, CODE4EV and HAL4SDV presented complementary approaches supported by two major EU funding frameworks:

  • Horizon Europe (2Zero)
  • Chips Joint Undertaking

Key shared insights:

  • strong alignment around open-source strategies
  • recognition of rapid technological evolution in the SDV domain
  • emphasis on cross-project collaboration to avoid duplication and accelerate impact

Both projects are already cooperating through advisory boards and joint dissemination activities, with more collaboration expected on the road to TRA2026.

E‑VOLVE Cluster: Community, Collaboration & Continuity

Together with Medina Custic (Virtual Vehicle), our co‑lead in communication and dissemination, we facilitated the E‑VOLVE Cluster stand—a central meeting point throughout the conference.

The stand enabled:

  • continuous exchange with project representatives
  • best‑practice sharing within the cluster
  • conversations on the cluster’s evolution since its founding in 2018
  • engagement with experts interested in both technical results and cluster history

Clusters like E‑VOLVE demonstrate the power of community in ensuring that research results translate into meaningful impact.

Panel Highlight: Bridging the Innovation‑to‑Market Gap

A major conference theme was the challenge of bringing research results to market—often referred to as the “death valley of innovation.”

The panel “How to bridge the gap?” featured:

  • Enric Aramburu (Applus+ IDIADA)
  • Arwed Schmidt (EasyMile)
  • Laurence Bechon (Renault Group – Software Republic)
  • Mark Nicklas (European Commission, DG GROW)

Key takeaways:

  • New funding programs are being prepared to support market transition.
  • Both success stories and failures offer valuable learning.
  • A stronger investment mindset, co‑entrepreneurial approaches, and market orientation will be crucial in the coming years.

Looking Ahead to RTR2027

RTR2026 once again showcased the strength of Europe’s collaborative research landscape in electric mobility, vehicle electronics, and software-defined architectures.
The event provided an excellent opportunity to:

  • reconnect with partners
  • engage in new collaborations
  • showcase ongoing achievements
  • strengthen pathways toward commercialization

We extend a warm thank‑you to all organizers – especially 2Zero – for fostering such an impactful environment for exchange and innovation.

We are already looking forward to #RTR2027!