On Thursday, 18 September, an ERTICO – ITS Europe delegation met with European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ms Ekatarina Zaharieva and her team in Brussels to discuss the evolving priorities for mobility, digitalisation and sustainability across Europe’s transport sector.
ERTICO was represented by its Chairman, Dr Angelos Amditis, CEO, Mr Joost Vantomme, and Director of Strategy & Innovation, Mr Vladimir Vorotovic. The meeting provided an opportunity to present ERTICO’s ongoing work in fostering innovation, advancing smart mobility solutions, and contributing to the European Union’s long-term policy objectives for greener and more connected transport.
During the exchange, the importance of public–private cooperation in delivering effective Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and ensuring Europe remains a global leader in digital transport solutions was discussed. ERTICO’s leadership reaffirmed the Partnership’s commitment to supporting European policy frameworks, deploying new mobility technologies, and promoting interoperability across modes and regions.
The meeting also welcomed a constructive dialogue on the Commission’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10). The discussion underlined the importance of designing funding programmes that foster closer links between research, innovation, and the development of evidence-informed public policies, ensuring Europe’s continued leadership in innovation and sustainable growth. ERTICO reaffirmed its commitment to actively support the development of this strong and efficient funding programme. Read more about ERTICO's Perspectives on FP10 and the Multiannual Financial Framework (MMF).
Key themes included:
- The role of ITS in achieving the European policy objectives and the role of forthcoming funding programmes, such as MFF and FP10, in achieving the above objectives.
- Opportunities for accelerating research and innovation of multimodal, data-driven mobility services.
- Strengthening collaboration between industry, cities, and policymakers to ensure inclusive, citizen-focused transport innovation.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to maintain close dialogue and to align future actions with European strategies on sustainable and digital mobility. The delegation following the meeting:
ERTICO remains dedicated to working alongside the European institutions to ensure that the next generation of transport solutions delivers on safety, sustainability, and innovation
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