Three of Europe's most forward-thinking logistics and transport organisations, ALICE, Einride and Gruber Logistics, have taken their seats at the table of EURIAS, the newly formed EU expert group tasked with shaping the future of research and innovation in the European automotive sector. Their inclusion in the group, which convened for the first time in Brussels on 27 March 2026, signals a decisive shift: logistics is no longer a downstream consideration in automotive innovation, it is central to it.
Credit: Gruber Logistics
Andrea Condotta, Director of Public Affairs, Innovation & Sustainability at Gruber Logistics (left), with the logistics partners within EURIAS: Pia Wijk, Project Manager for Research & Innovation at Einride (centre), and Fernando Liesa, Secretary General of ALICE (right).
EURIAS, which stands for European Union Research and Innovation for the Automotive Sector, brings together around 60 organisations spanning car manufacturers (OEMs), suppliers, research and technology institutions, and universities.
ALICE plays a key role in driving strategic research and innovation deployment within EURIAS. Building on its experience in major European initiatives such as 2ZERO, CCAM, the European Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Alliance (ECAVA), and large-scale cross-border testbeds announced in the Automotive Action Plan, ALICE shapes logistics innovation with the broader transformation of the automotive sector.
Fernando Liesa, ALICE Secretary General, states: “EURIAS is a critical step in ensuring that Europe's automotive innovation reaches the market and is fully embedded in real logistics operations and systems. By bringing logistics to the core of EU automotive research and innovation discussions, we help turn technological ambition into deployable, economically competitive solutions for road freight decarbonisation and automation.”
Einride, a pioneer in autonomous and zero-emission transport, brings the perspective of next-generation truck technologies to the group. As a company already operating at the frontier of what is possible in sustainable freight, Einride's involvement ensures that the most advanced and future-ready solutions remain firmly on EURIAS's agenda.
“Europe's freight sector stands at a defining moment and through EURIAS, Einride is committed to working alongside European stakeholders to ensure that autonomous and electric technologies are embedded in the continent's transport policy from the ground up,” said Henrik Green, Chief Technology Officer at Einride. “We bring proven, real-world experience in deploying zero-emission, autonomous freight at scale, and we are ready to put that knowledge to work in shaping a regulatory and innovation framework that positions Europe as a global leader in sustainable logistics.”
“The transformation of the European automotive sector can only succeed through close collaboration between policymakers, researchers, industry and the logistics sector,” says Andrea Condotta, Director of Public Affairs, Innovation & Sustainability at Gruber Logistics. “We are contributing our experience in managing complex, international supply chains to help make innovations practical, scalable and ready for real-world deployment.” Through its participation, Gruber Logistics reinforces its commitment to actively shaping the future of the automotive sector at EU level.
The expert group’s tasks are clearly defined: it supports the European Commission by providing practical expertise on research and innovation priorities across the automotive value chain. In addition, it identifies key future topics that can strengthen the competitiveness of the European automotive sector. The group will be working on a Strategic Research, and Innovation and Deployment Agenda (SRIDA) until June 2026.
The recommendations included in the SRIDA developed within EURIAS will be implemented through the next European Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034) contributing to shape the future EU instruments, notably the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) and the European Competitiveness Fund, thereby supporting the sector’s long-term innovation, deployment and competitiveness.