Industrial insights

These panel sessions, proudly sponsored by our French partners and institutions, take place over lunch. We’ll have a delicious, fully vegetarian lunch box waiting for you at the door when you arrive. All sessions start at 12:45 and run for 70 minutes.

A personal registration link for the Industrial Insights sessions has been sent to the email address you used to register for the congress.

If you have not received the link, please feel free to contact us at registration-wctr2026@europa-organisation.com.

Programme

Sessions at a glance

1Tuesday, July 7

Amphi G 12:45 · 70 min

In partnership with Air France – KLM Group

Global Air Transport: Can Sustainability and Fair Competition Be Aligned?

Air transport in Europe is facing a structural competitiveness challenge in a globalized, highly competitive market, where the capacity of competitors — particularly in Asia and the Middle East — is growing rapidly, sometimes against a backdrop of state support. By contrast, France and Europe are mature and relatively illiquid markets, limiting the scope for internal growth. The economic model is highly capital-intensive and heavily dependent on fossil fuels, which weigh on variable costs. Any fluctuation in production input costs (energy, taxation) can erode profitability and investment capacity.

Moderator

Jennifer Stephenson

Speakers

Martin Dresner — Chair of the WCTRS Special Interest Group on Air Transport and Airports, University of Maryland
Laurent Joly — Director of the Institute for Sustainable Aviation, Toulouse
William Morrison — Wilfrid Laurier University
Lucie Muniesa — General Secretary, Air France – KLM Group

Amphi H 12:45 · 70 min

In partnership with EIT Urban Mobility

How can urban mobility innovation drive the decarbonisation of our cities?

Transport makes up about a quarter of energy-related emissions and still relies heavily on fossil fuels. To reach the EU’s 2050 climate-neutrality goal, cities need to rethink how people and goods move by prioritising high-capacity, low-carbon public transport, active travel, and smarter operations over private cars. This panel will examine how new ideas in urban mobility can accelerate progress toward climate neutrality while keeping travel affordable, accessible, and safe. Trends such as the integration of mobility with energy and digital systems, electrification combined with smart charging, data-driven traffic management, and the expansion of shared and active mobility are gaining momentum. Equally important are solutions that address behavioral change alongside technology. This panel looks at how innovation can transform mobility from a major challenge into an opportunity for better climate, health, and equity. Innovation is the enabler that allows cities to build fair and sustainable mobility systems that respond to urgent climate needs and rapid urban growth. The conversation will also consider how public institutions, universities, research centers, and private companies share responsibility for moving toward sustainable mobility. We will examine how the most promising innovations drive decarbonization in our cities. Panelists will share how cities test, learn, and scale to accelerate towards climate-neutral mobility.

Moderator

Sophie Voinis

Speakers

Maxime Boyer — Deputy Mayor of Toulouse in charge of mobility
Marti Massot — Regional Director, EIT Urban Mobility
Rosário Macário - Professor and Coordinator of EIT Urban Mobility, University of Lisbon
Laia Pagès - Executive and Research Manager at CARNET, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya

2Wednesday, July 8

Amphi G 12:45 · 70 min

In partnership with EGIS

Rebalancing Urban Space: Reducing Car Use in Favor of Public Transport and Cycling

In major urban areas, cars still overwhelmingly dominate public space. Faced with the climate emergency and increasing pressure on cities, this model is now reaching its limits and calls for a profound transformation of mobility systems. The ecological transition in mobility requires encouraging a modal shift toward more sustainable alternatives such as public transport and cycling. Reducing dependence on cars is not only an environmental imperative; it is also a key lever for improving air quality, reducing congestion, enhancing urban attractiveness, and reclaiming space for urban uses. Egis supports cities and regions in the design and implementation of integrated mobility solutions: high-capacity public transport systems, cycle express networks, and metropolitan regional express services (SERM). However, their deployment — particularly at street level — requires a redistribution of public space at the expense of private cars. This roundtable aims to shed light on the conditions for successfully achieving this modal rebalancing, highlighting feedback from practical experience and concrete levers to accelerate the transition toward cities that are less dependent on cars.

Moderator

Jennifer Stephenson

Speakers

Frédéric Cherbonnier — Professor of Economics, Toulouse School of Economics
Pierluigi Coppola — Professor of Transportation Planning, Politecnico di Milano
Benoît Guillot — Senior Transport Economist, EGIS
Vincent Georjon — Deputy Executive Director for Mobility and Resources, Tisséo, Toulouse

Amphi H 12:45 · 70 min

In partnership with Vinci Autoroutes

Technological, Industrial and Economic Challenges of Dynamic Charging for Future Mobility

Dynamic charging enables EVs to recharge while in motion, offering a unique opportunity to minimize battery sizes, reduce emissions, and optimize operational efficiency. However, several key questions remain: What specific solutions exist? What are the outcomes of the various technologies currently being developed globally? Furthermore, are these systems industrially feasible and economically sustainable?

Moderator

Sophie Voinis

Speakers

François Combes — Director, Département Aménagement-Mobilités-Environnement
Pierre Delaigue — Director, Connected, Automated & Electric Mobility, Vinci Autoroutes
Jakob Rogstadius — Senior Researcher, RISE Institute
Bernard Jacob — Vice President for Research, Université Gustave Eiffel

3Thursday, July 9

Amphi G 12:45 · 70 min

In partnership with Transdev

Can we save the climate without data and the economy?

How mobile data helps us better understand demand and so deploy a tailored offer? What are the connections between medium-sized cities and metropolis and what can we infer from this regarding modal shift? What experimental economics teach us about mobility pricing strategies for modal shift?

Moderator

Jennifer Stephenson

Speakers

Anne Aguilera — Research Professor, Laboratoire Ville Mobilité Transport, Université Gustave Eiffel
Isis Durrmeyer — Professor of Economics, Toulouse School of Economics
Thierry Mallet — Chief Executive Officer, Transdev
Carine Staropoli — Professor of Economics, Paris School of Economics

Amphi H 12:45 · 70 min

In partnership with Région Occitanie

Pioneering Sustainable Mobility: The Strategic Edge of Southern France

Occitanie is France’s second-largest administrative region—located in the South, centered around Toulouse and Montpellier—and serves as a major European hub for aerospace, green hydrogen, and deep tech research. Occitanie spans over 72,000 square kilometers and boasts a population of 6.1 million inhabitants.
The transport sector accounts for approximately 42% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Occitanie region, which is higher than the national average. These emissions are primarily linked to the heavy reliance on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles for both passenger travel (with private cars accounting for over 80% of trips) and freight (trucks). This baseline has remained stable since 2005, despite an increase in traffic volume.
Several levers of action are well established:
•    Electrification of the vehicle fleet;
•    Shifting toward active mobility (walking, cycling) or lower-carbon alternatives (public transit, carpooling);
•    Facilitating multimodality (the seamless connection between different modes of transport);
•    Reducing travel demand (remote work, local businesses, regional tourism).
This session aims to present existing initiatives within the region that contribute to these levers:
1.    Capitalizing on major industries: hydrogen and power electronics;
2.    Mobilizing research to identify and prototype tomorrow's mobility solutions, focusing on both vehicle technology and user behavior;
3.    Facilitating regional collaboration around mobility data to drive new innovative solutions.

Moderator

Sophie Voinis

Speakers

Benjamin Fèvre, Innovation project manager and hydrogen sector specialist, Ad’Occ
Bruno Guillet, Project manager, Ad'Occ
Christophe Turpin, Research Professor, Scientific leader of Technocampus Hydrogène Occitanie
Elsy Kaddoum, Associate Professor, University Toulouse Jean-Jaurès, Director of the MIDOC Federation