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ERTICO reached its thirty-fifth anniversary this week, a milestone that invites reflection on how a European partnership grew into one of the most influential forces in intelligent transport. The organisation has spent decades building bridges between public authorities, industry leaders, research institutions and innovators who share a belief that mobility should be smarter, safer and more sustainable. Its birthday arrives at a moment when preparations for the 2027 ITS World Congress in Birmingham are gathering pace, creating a sense of continuity between the origins of the movement and the next chapter of its global story.
The early years of ERTICO were shaped by a desire to bring coherence to a sector that was beginning to recognise the potential of digital systems. Traffic management, telematics, mapping, communications and automation were developing rapidly, yet often in isolation. ERTICO created a platform where these ideas could be shared, tested and refined. The ITS World Congress emerged from that ambition, offering a stage where the international community could gather to explore the future of mobility. Over time, the Congress became a place where new technologies were launched, partnerships were formed and strategies were shaped. Its influence grew as cities, regions and nations began to understand that intelligent transport was not a niche interest but a foundation for modern life.
The anniversary highlights how far the sector has travelled. Intelligent transport is now woven into the daily experience of millions of people. Digital ticketing, real-time passenger information, connected freight, adaptive traffic signals, automated enforcement, integrated mobility platforms and data-driven operations are no longer experimental concepts. They are essential components of transport networks that must respond to rising demand, environmental pressures and expectations for reliability. ERTICO’s role in nurturing this evolution is widely recognised, not only through its projects and partnerships but through its stewardship of the Congress, which has become a global reference point for innovation.
Birmingham will host the 2027 edition at a moment when the UK transport sector is undergoing significant transformation. The West Midlands has positioned itself as a region that embraces new ideas, supported by a strong ecosystem of research, industry and public leadership. The NEC provides a venue that is both practical and symbolic, sitting at the heart of the national network and offering a space where the full breadth of the sector can be showcased. Highways UK will be co-located with the Congress, creating a combined presence that reflects the intersection between digital mobility and physical infrastructure. Delegates will move between environments that highlight the technologies shaping the future and the engineering foundations that support them.
Preparations for the Congress are already well underway. The Technical Programme has been structured around four topics that capture the technological, operational and societal dimensions of intelligent transport. These themes provide a framework for contributions that explore automation, digitalisation, sustainability, multimodal integration, resilience and user experience. The Call for Contributions opens on 22 October 2026, inviting experts from across the world to submit papers, propose sessions and share insights. Organised Sessions will bring together speakers to discuss achievements, challenges and trends. Special Interest Sessions will explore work that is underway or recently completed. Technical Papers will present deployments, pilots and operational experience. Research Papers will push the state of the art forward through novel concepts and rigorous analysis. Posters will offer a concise and visual way to present early-stage ideas or work in progress.
The organisers are encouraging submissions that are relevant to the Congress theme, engaging in content, broad in scope and rich in perspective. Contributions that bring diverse voices, gender balance and clear strategic focus are particularly valued. The programme aims to reflect the complexity of modern mobility, where technology interacts with policy, operations, economics and human behaviour. It also aims to create space for debate, recognising that the future of transport is shaped not only by innovation but by collaboration and shared understanding.
Exhibition planning is progressing in parallel. Exhibitors are being encouraged to secure space early to protect budgets, maximise choice of location and give teams more time to prepare. The exhibition will showcase technologies that span every mode and every discipline. Visitors can expect to see advances in autonomous vehicles, electrification, traffic analytics, multimodal platforms, intelligent signalling, connected freight, active travel solutions and integrated corridor management. Demonstrations will provide live, interactive experiences that highlight real-world applications. These will include autonomous systems, clean transport solutions, digital traffic tools and logistics technologies. The Call for Demonstrations opens on 22 October 2026, offering organisations the opportunity to place their innovations in front of a global audience.
The launch of the new ITS Congresses website marks another step in the preparations. The digital platform has been redesigned to provide easier navigation, richer content and a clearer structure. It brings together everything delegates, contributors and exhibitors need in one place, from programme details and submission guidelines to exhibition information and demonstration opportunities. The website reflects the modern identity of the Congress, which has become not only a physical gathering but a digital hub for the global ITS community.
ERTICO’s anniversary provides a moment to consider how the Congress has evolved. The event has grown in scale, ambition and influence. It has become a place where cities share lessons from rapid growth, where operators discuss digital transformation, where researchers present breakthroughs and where industry leaders reveal new technologies. It has also become a place where the human dimension of mobility is explored. Workforce skills, leadership culture, public engagement and trust in new technologies are now central themes. These discussions matter because transport is shaped by people as much as by systems.
Birmingham 2027 will carry this legacy forward. The UK has long been home to engineering excellence, policy leadership and research innovation. Hosting the Congress provides an opportunity to showcase these strengths on a global stage. It also invites international perspectives that can help shape the next chapter of British transport. The event will highlight projects that blend ambition with practicality, from metro extensions and rail modernisation to active travel infrastructure and digital traffic management. It will reflect a region that is not only hosting the Congress but actively shaping its own mobility future.
ERTICO’s thirty-five years of collaboration have created a foundation for this moment. The organisation has helped build a community that understands the value of shared knowledge and collective ambition. The Congress embodies that spirit, bringing together people who are shaping transport systems that are safer, cleaner, more efficient and more resilient. Birmingham promises to deliver a gathering that is both global in scope and distinctly British in character. It will celebrate the past, embrace the present and look towards a future where intelligent transport continues to evolve through innovation and partnership.
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