Europe's freight transport and logistics sector is undergoing profound change. Decarbonisation, circularity, automation, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructures, resource security and geopolitical developments are reshaping supply chains, business models and the conditions under which organisations operate and compete. At the same time, Europe is defining its future priorities for competitiveness, industrial leadership, sustainability and innovation.

This opening plenary will bring together perspectives from the European Commission, industry leaders and the ALICE ecosystem to explore how policy developments, investment priorities, research and innovation agendas, technology deployment and market realities are converging to create a new logistics landscape.

The discussion will look at what has changed over the last year, which developments are likely to have the greatest influence on freight transport and logistics in the coming years, and what these shifts mean for the capabilities, partnerships and innovation priorities organisations need to remain competitive and create value.

As the strategic starting point of the Summit, the session will establish a shared picture of the main forces shaping European logistics and their implications for industry, policy, research and innovation.

Building on the policy and industry perspectives presented in Plenary 1, this session broadens the view to examine how logistics is evolving internationally and what these developments mean for Europe.

Insights from leading organisations in Japan and Korea, together with the European Logistics Observatory, will provide perspectives on how logistics systems, supply chains, technologies, standards and innovation ecosystems are developing in different parts of the world. These perspectives will provide a basis for examining Europe’s current position, areas of progress, remaining gaps and the implications for its competitiveness and ability to respond to major logistics transitions.

Looking ahead to 2030 and 2035, the discussion will consider the gap between today’s reality and the logistics system Europe aims to build. It will examine the challenges, opportunities and strategic choices facing the European logistics ecosystem, and where further collaboration, innovation and coordinated action are needed.

Based on these foundations, ALICE will show how its Thematic Groups, ALICE Communities, projects and collaborative initiatives are already addressing these priorities. The session will also identify where stronger alignment and further action are needed, while contributing to the evolution of ALICE’s priorities and collaboration mechanisms in response to the changing needs of industry and society.

Following the discussions on global trends, European priorities, and the future direction of logistics innovation, this plenary will focus on the ongoing initiatives shaping the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) period.

The session will provide insights into the preparation of the European Union's future funding and investment landscape, including the Multiannual Financial Framework, FP10 as the successor to Horizon Europe, the European Competitiveness Fund, Connecting Europe Facility instrument. Participants will gain a better understanding of how Europe intends to strengthen its industrial base, technological leadership and logistics competitiveness through coordinated investment and innovation policies.

Building on this overview, a high-level panel will bring together leaders of the major European partnerships and initiatives that are expected to drive innovation and deployment in the years ahead and with whom ALICE is actively engaged. Representatives from Europe's Rail, Waterborne, Automotive partnership, industrial decarbonisation initiatives, and AI and robotics ecosystems will discuss their strategic priorities, investment plans and opportunities for collaboration addressing logistics.

The objective of the session is to help ALICE members and the entire ecosystem understand where future European investments are likely to be directed, how the logistics ecosystem can position itself within these developments, and where collaboration across transport modes, industrial ecosystems and technology domains will be most critical and ALICE will play an important role. The discussion will provide a forward-looking view of the programmes and partnerships that will shape logistics research, innovation, deployment and competitiveness up to 2035, helping organisations identify opportunities to contribute to and benefit from Europe's next generation of investments.