On September 17–18, the 17th International Scientific Conference “TRANSBALTICA 2026: Transportation Science and Technology” was held at the VILNIUS TECH Faculty of Transport Engineering, bringing together researchers, experts, business representatives, and young scientists from more than 25 countries worldwide.
The two-day conference provided an international platform for presenting the latest research findings, discussing the transformation of the transport sector and its future challenges, sharing professional experience, and exploring new opportunities for collaboration. The conference was held in a hybrid format, allowing participants to attend in person at VILNIUS TECH or join remotely.
The Future of Transport – From Artificial Intelligence to Railway Innovation
The conference programme covered a broad range of topics related to transport and logistics, including artificial intelligence, autonomous transport, supply chains, railways, aviation, maritime transport, sustainability, energy, road safety, inclusive mobility, military mobility, and other relevant areas.
The first day of the conference began with a plenary session featuring four presentations. The conference was opened by Prof. Dr Vidas Žuraulis, Professor at the Department of Automobile Engineering, who presented the challenges of human–machine interaction in autonomous transport and explored the capabilities of artificial intelligence (presentation title: “Challenges of Human-Machine Interaction in Autonomous Transport. Can Artificial Intelligence Solve Everything?”).
Director of UAB “Girteka Dedicated” Eva Leckaitė-Končanina shared insights into the future of supply chains and the factors that may shape leadership in the transport and logistics sector by 2030 (presentation title: “Supply Chains 2030: What Will Define the Leaders in Transport and Logistics?”).
Assoc. Prof. Metin Mutlu Aydin from Ondokuz Mayıs University (Turkey) discussed technological solutions for advanced and inclusive mobility (presentation title: “Technological Solutions for Advanced Inclusive Mobility”), while Prof. Dr Gintautas Bureika, Professor at the Department of Mobile Machinery and Railway Transport, presented research and innovation directions in the railway sector within EU-funded projects (presentation title: “Railway Research and Innovation in Horizon-Funded Projects at VILNIUS TECH”).
The plenary programme was complemented by 12 thematic sessions, where researchers and practitioners presented their findings and discussed current issues facing the transport and logistics sector. In total, 83 scientific presentations were delivered during the conference.
The International Dimension of the Conference
One of the key features of TRANSBALTICA 2026 was its strong international dimension. Participants of the “TRANSBALTICA 2026: Transportation Science and Technology” conference came from more than 25 countries, including Lithuania, Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Portugal, Sweden, Greece, Slovakia, Czechia, Slovenia, Ireland, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, India, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Australia, and other countries.
The gathering of researchers and transport-sector representatives from different countries provided an opportunity to exchange diverse experiences, establish new professional contacts, and explore potential areas for joint research and projects.
“I believe that the research presented at the conference and the cooperation initiated here will provide a basis for new research projects and advanced transport and logistics solutions,” said Prof. Dr Olegas Prentkovskis, Dean of the Faculty of Transport Engineering.
Science, Practice and Ideas for Sustainability
The conference programme focused not only on scientific research, but also on putting sustainability ideas into practice. Together with the “Commune DIY” team, conference participants gave old skateboard decks a second life by turning them into stylised wheel-shaped accessories.
This creative activity provided a practical example of how the principles of the circular economy and reuse can be applied in everyday practice. It allowed conference participants not only to discuss sustainability but also to experience its principles first-hand.
The Conference Has Ended, but Collaboration Continues
The 17th edition of the scientific conference once again demonstrated that the future of transport and logistics is shaped through cooperation between academia, business, and the public sector. Meetings between experts from different countries and fields, presentations of scientific research, and discussions provided an opportunity not only to address today’s challenges but also to explore solutions for the transport systems of the future.
Although the conference has come to an end, the contacts established, ideas exchanged, and discussions initiated during TRANSBALTICA 2026 will continue to pave the way towards new research, projects, and joint solutions.
The conference was organised by the VILNIUS TECH Faculty of Transport Engineering. The event partners were GIRTEKA, the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania, the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, “Jungent Lietuva” (Shell representative), the Transport Innovation Association, and Springer Nature AG.
Pictures by:Domantas Grigūnas
