General News: ITS Asia Pacific Conference ‘connecting U & I’ in Singapore

Date: 25 July 2008

Vincent Blervaque, Director of Development and Deployment at ERTICO, gave a presentation entitled ‘From Research to Deployment of ITS, funding and implementation strategies in Europe’ at the recent event in Singapore. He presented the major initiatives undertaken in Europe to support the development and the deployment of ITS solutions. The focus was on activities within the 7th Framework Programme, launched in 2007 by the European Commission in order to address the main challenges of European Transport Policy with respect to safety, efficiency and environment. Furthermore, Mr Blervaque introduced the strategy of ERTICO – ITS Europe to work with its Partners in support of successful implementation of ITS in Europe, giving concrete examples of research, demonstration and deployment activities.

A meeting with ITS Japan was held, with a report on activities in Europe and Japan, as well as to exchange views and experience and develop bilateral cooperation on activities such as cooperative systems and field operational tests. This kind of meeting is organised on a regular basis to maintain close relationships. A festive dinner rounded off an interesting an insightful day at the conference. 

Dinner guests at ITS Asia Pacific

Forum & Exhibition

Further discussions took place on the fringes of the conference with major stakeholders from the Asia Pacific Region. ITS development and deployment, including Electronic Tolling Systems and the need for interoperability, real time traffic information, the connected traveller concept, ITS for Environment and opportunities for further international cooperation were among the items discussed.