As we step into 2026, ERTICO – ITS Europe marks its 35th anniversary, and we do so with confidence, optimism and a clear sense of purpose. This milestone year will reflect more than three decades of collaboration and tangible impact in shaping Europe’s intelligent transport and mobility ecosystem.
In a rapidly evolving and increasingly competitive mobility landscape, we remain uniquely positioned to connect policy, technology and deployment, ensuring that innovation delivers lasting societal value. Our unique role as a unifying voice for public and private stakeholders is more critical than ever, building on 35 years of bringing together industry, public authorities, service providers, and research to drive innovation and deliver tangible impact across Europe and beyond.
Together with our Partners, we will continue to strengthen the intersection of policy, technology and deployment, interlinking closely with policymakers, associations and institutions active in innovative transport and mobility services. Through increased thought leadership and advocacy, we ensure that informed, evidence-based perspectives contribute meaningfully to decision-making processes.
As highlighted by our Chairman, Dr Angelos Amditis, in his end of year message, 2025 was a year of momentum, strengthened partnerships and growing influence at both European and global levels. The collective energy of our Partnership, the clarity of our shared strategic vision, and the commitment of our team provide a strong foundation upon which we will build further progress and impact throughout 2026.
Looking back, the year 2025 marked an important phase of consolidation and progress for ERTICO. We launched a renewed Vision and Mission, structured around four Strategic Areas with clear enablers and outcomes. A comprehensive overview of ERTICO’s activities, achievements, and organisational evolution throughout the past year is set out in the 2025 Annual Review, offering in-depth insight into our projects and platforms, strategic initiatives, Partnerships, and governance.
Strategic Priorities for 2026: Shaping the Future of Mobility
2026 will be a year of strategic consolidation, expansion and delivery. With decades of experience, extensive involvement in European-funded projects and a strong track record of ecosystem leadership across all activities, including the ITS Congresses, our focus on delivering tangible results, to turn ideas into action, will be guided by our Vision 2035.
Partners first is our motto. We will tighten the links among our 120+ Partners and create even more cross-sector synergies. Partnerships remain at the heart of ERTICO’s capacity to generate innovation and deliver lasting societal value. Collaboration, trust, and co-creation empower the community to address challenges beyond the reach of any single actor. As participation from Partners and non-members across ERTICO Platforms continues to grow, expectations rise in parallel with our collective ability to deliver impact.
The increasing demand from policymakers and stakeholders for guidance on transformative technologies, policy evolution, and emerging trends underscores the strategic importance of this unified voice.
Building on 35 years of knowledge and hard-earned experience, ERTICO will intensify cross-fertilisation across its current activities, such as data sharing, artificial intelligence, connected cooperative and automated mobility, electrification, and human-centred mobility.
As we expand into new domains and outline our Vision 2035 Roadmaps, we will consolidate our thought leadership while amplifying advocacy, visibility, and value for all Partners.
Our expanding body of expertise will continue to shape policy, investment, and deployment decisions, reinforcing ERTICO’s position as a trusted thought leader at both European and global levels. In 2026, we have clearly entered a deployment-driven phase, closely aligned with the European Commission’s priorities on industrial competitiveness, technological sovereignty and security.
We will continue to play a proactive leadership role in European Commission Expert Groups, including the Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM), with a specific focus on ‘City Access for Businesses’ during the 2026-2027 cycle. We will also provide guidance to the ITS European Advisory Group and CCAM +2Zero Partnerships, to ensure stakeholders' expertise is fully integrated in the research and innovation agenda.
Furthermore, ERTICO will actively shape the research agenda for the upcoming FP10 through its candidature to join the European Union Research and Innovation for the Automotive Sector expert group (EURIAS) and sustain our active participation in the European Automotive Industrial Action Plan through the European Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Alliance (ECAVA) with a strong focus on autonomous driving, data and AI solutions, and in-vehicle computing architecture for software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
ERTICO has expanded its role in the Military Mobility chapter by bridging the gap between civilian and military transport through digital innovation and ‘dual-use’ infrastructure. As outlined in our recent Perspective Paper, we are contributing to the digital backbone of the 2025 Military Mobility Package.
ERTICO also plays a pivotal role in the European Commission's Apply AI Strategy, providing the technical expertise to ensure the mobility sector remains compliant with the EU AI Act without losing its competitive edge. Our 2024-2025 White Paper, ‘Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence in the Domain of Transport & Mobility’, serves as the industry's foundational document for balancing innovation with ethics. We will continue our European activities in the AIAMO project led by the ITS Germany, in sync with other ITS National organisations.
Cybersecurity has become a cornerstone of our Vision 2035. In 2026, it is no longer treated as a technical consideration but recognised as a prerequisite for industrial competitiveness and national security. ERTICO’s cybersecurity activities are currently focused on three strategic fronts: regulatory compliance, software-defined vehicle (SDV) security, and resilience of dual-use infrastructure.
To further reinforce our thought leadership, the third edition of the ITS Market Radar, developed in collaboration with EY, will place a sharper analytical focus on the core of the industrial value chain, namely the connectivity industry and automotive suppliers and vehicle manufacturers sectors within ERTICO.
By deepening integration across Platforms and activities, we will ensure to with a coherent, authoritative, and trusted voice on behalf of our partners, ensuring sustained benefit from ERTICO’s positioning, influence, and actions in alignment with the European Commission priorities.
A defining moment of 2026 will be the celebration of ERTICO’s 35th Anniversary celebrations from 9-11 June, where we will host the 36th General Assembly alongside the second edition of our Annual Partnership Forum and Activity Development Days. This gathering will provide a unique space for cross-sector dialogue between our Partners, ERTICO leadership and European Institutions, celebrating our legacy while shaping the future together.
Strengthening Capacity and Governance
Capacity and governance will be significantly reinforced through structured cooperation with National ITS Associations to promote a joint approach to knowledge sharing and strategic alignment, ensuring that the European and national advancements are synchronised while fully respecting national autonomy.
To strengthen this collaborative ecosystem, we are formalising strategic alliances through new partnerships with key international stakeholders such as the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR) and the International Transport Forum (ITF/OECD).
Deploying Projects and Platforms
In 2026, ERTICO embarks on new projects, including periASTY, Corespaces and BoostEDIC. We will further leverage and cross-fertilise our Innovation Platforms and data spaces to ensure that innovation is deployed effectively. The increasing blurring of boundaries between our eight sectors and adjacent ecosystems makes it even more important to safeguard the ITS identity and ensure that our work continues to deliver societal impact.
Engaging in Events, Congresses, and Global Activities
ERTICO will maintain a strong and highly visible presence at major international events throughout 2026. At the heart of our efforts will be the 17th ITS European Congress in Istanbul, held from 27 - 29 April 2026 in collaboration with the European Commission. The Congress is hosted by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and İSBAK with the support of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye, ITS Türkiye, and the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB). ‘Bridging Innovation: Integrated, Safe and Seamless Mobility’ is the core theme this year.
Preparations are also progressing rapidly for the ITS World Congress in Gangneung (19-23 October 2026). With its focus on AI-driven and data-centric systems, the Congress will provide a premier platform to highlight European leadership in AI-powered safety, efficiency and innovation.
Simultaneously, planning has accelerated for the ITS World Congress in Birmingham (25–29 October 2027), ensuring that our long-term roadmap for smart mobility remains ambitious, resilient and forward-thinking.
Looking further ahead, we have officially launched the tender process for the ITS European Congresses of 2028 and 2029, as well as the EMEA ITS World Congress 2030, securing a sustainable future for our community’s knowledge exchange and collaboration.
Beyond our flagship events, ERTICO will remain deeply embedded in the global mobility dialogue through active engagement and co-steering at major community milestones, including as Intertraffic Amsterdam, TRA Conference, the International Transport Forum (ITF) Summit, Smart City Expo World Congress 2026 and the Transportation Research Board (TRB), contributing to and co-steering the global mobility dialogue.
Supporting the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport
The start of 2026 marks the commencement of the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035). Its Implementation Plan identifies six focus areas which resonate strongly with the European Commission’s 2024-2029 mandate, placing transport at the crossroads of climate action, industrial competitiveness, digital leadership, and social cohesion. This alignment reflects ERTICO’s vision of intelligent, safe, inclusive, and resilient mobility for an environmentally responsible society.
Shaping the Mobility and Technology Outlook for 2026
There is a growing focus on societal impact, user acceptance and readiness, safety, security, resilience, and data interoperability across sectors. In a landscape where sector boundaries are increasingly fluid, ERTICO’s role remains central in enabling responsible, inclusive, and impactful deployment.
Projects such as CAMBER , CERTAIN and CulturalRoad are ensuring that CCAM and automated shuttle solutions are co-created with diverse user groups, including those with reduced mobility, building genuine public trust. CulturalRoad complements these efforts by embedding inclusivity and human factors into every deployment.
At the same time, TM2.0, CHORUS, and NEXUS are operationalising AI to harmonise efficiency with urban requirements, demonstrating how intelligent systems can serve people and communities. ERTICO is also leading the expansion of the European Mobility Data Space (EMDS) through deployEMDS and FEDORA , enabling secure, cross-border data sharing, while TISGRADE and NAPCORE harmonise standards to deliver authoritative, real-time traffic information.
Across our corridors, SMARTIN, SCUDO, EvoRoads, and CAMBER are creating Digital Twins, harnessing AI and real-time data to maintain infrastructure, monitor safety, and strengthen resilience against hybrid threats.
Together, these initiatives embody ERTICO’s commitment to people-centred, secure, and forward-looking mobility for Europe and beyond.
Developing a High-Impact Team
In 2026, ERTICO will intensify its focus on talent development, enhancing skills and competencies, supporting career progression, and promoting work-life balance alongside effective hybrid working practices. Achieving our ambitious goals amid complex governance structures and increasingly dynamic operational environments requires sustained investment in people. Our team remains the driving force behind strategy execution, guided by ERTICO’s core values: Cooperative, Impactful, Open, Passionate, and Visionary.
Looking Ahead: A Year of Purpose and Impact
With our 35 years of celebrating sustained contribution to the advancement of intelligent transport systems, I am pleased to stand at the helm of a talented organisation with a long-standing commitment to providing a solid foundation as we move forward with confidence, purpose, and a shared dedication to excellence.
The year ahead will be shaped by strategic implementation, deployment at scale, and ongoing engagement with Partners, policymakers, and the wider community. Together, we will drive intelligent, safe, inclusive, and sustainable mobility solutions that deliver tangible benefits for people, cities, and society.
I extend my sincere gratitude to our Partners, the Supervisory Board, Strategy Committee, European institutions, ITS Nationals, and all members of the ERTICO team. Your dedication, creativity, and commitment are the forces behind every achievement, every innovation, and every step forward.
Let us approach 2026 with energy, collaboration, and ambition, transforming challenges into opportunities and turning vision into action.
Here is to a year of meaningful progress, strengthened partnerships, and continued European leadership in intelligent transport and mobility.
Joost Vantomme
CEO, ERTICO – ITS Europe