ERTICO News: Geneva Congress makes a strong push for ITS

Date: 19 June 2008

The 7th European Congress and Exhibition on Intelligent Transport Systems and Services was held in Geneva, Switzerland from 3-6 June. More than 1200 participants representing key industry stakeholders, IT companies, service providers, public authorities, user association, universities and research institutes attended the Congress.

The Opening Session on 3 June, chaired by Mr Matthias Rapp, saw key personalities from European authorities and Switzerland presenting their views on ITS. A group of musicians playing traditional Swiss horns further contributed to the very special and festive atmosphere. The ITS exhibition featured nearly 40 exhibitors, among them 11 ERTICO Partners and several national ITS Associations. A VIP tour of the exhibition was organised on 4 June, with the Deputy Minister for Roads of Saudi Arabia Mr Abdullah Al Mogbel, the Director of the Swiss Federal Roads Office, Mr Rudolf Dieterle, the Director of the Director of the Transport Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Ms Eva Molnar, ERTICO Chairman Monica Sundström, and ERTICO CEO Hermann Meyer.

Highlights of the Congress included an international Plenary Session with distinguished speakers from different regions sharing their insights and Executive Sessions on co-modality and Swiss best practice examples, paying for mobility, and traffic and transport management. The results of many European Commission-funded projects were presented. The Intelligent Car Initiative, the activities of the eSafety Forum, the status of ITS Action plan, eCall, electronic tolling services, safe nomadic device integration, ICT for mobility services for goods, ICT for energy efficiency, field operational tests & Easyway, to name only a few, attracted many interested delegates.

Experts from Europe and around the world exchanged views in 5 Executive Sessions, 37 Technical Sessions, and 42 Special Interest Sessions, not to mention the numerous ancillary events. A special highlight was the Gala Dinner on 5 June, which took place on board the MS Lausanne and offered the more than 400 guests a stunning view on Lake Geneva.

Thank you for your contribution to the Congress and the exhibition, and we look forward to seeing you at the next ITS World Congress in New York later this year, as well as in Stockholm for the 16th ITS World Congress!

ERTICO Chairman Monica Sundström welcoming delegates      

VIPs visiting the exhibition                  Distinguished guests prepare for

                                                         opening ceremony