Birmingham shows off ITS World Congress 2027 opportunities with Highways UK NEC Open Day

by Paul Hutton

With the major Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress 2027 in Birmingham now just two years away, the organisers are ramping up their engagement with industry by holding an open day to share more details about the event and give an opportunity for businesses to provide their input on how to make it a success.

Organisers ERTICO – ITS Europe and hosts Transport for West Midlands are taking advantage of highways and transport technology professionals visiting the National Exhibition Centre for Highways UK on Wednesday 15 October to hold a special session giving details of partnership and exhibition opportunities at the World Congress.

The invitation-only Open Day takes place at the Crowne Plaza on the NEC Campus and also includes a tour of the NEC and halls set out for a major transport show. This will include details of the space and plans for the Birmingham Congress.

Around 15 thousand people are expected to attend between 25 and 29 October 2027 – one of the biggest industry events ever to take place at the NEC. It’s the second time the Congress has come to the UK, after London hosted it in 2006.

“We have been working in the background on the World Congress for two years now, and are ready to share our exciting plans for creating something really special for the highways and transport technology industries in the UK,” explained Transport for West Midlands’ Strategic Head of Transport Innovation Chris Lane, who is leading local planning for the Congress. “As we welcome the world to the NEC, we have so many opportunities to showcase the brilliant innovations that the UK is delivering to the world’s transport networks, and this means significant business opportunities for these innovators. The longer they have to commit to, and plan for, the World Congress, the greater the value they will realise.”

Starting at 9:00am with refreshments and the welcome speech, the Open Day will include keynotes from ERTICO and TfWM with an overview of the Congress, partnership and exhibition opportunities and a look at the NEC facilities and a current live demonstrator.

Places are by invitation only, but you can apply for a place by emailing Jordan Cowley here.

(Picture shows the UK Pavilion at the 2025 ITS World Congress in Atlanta, courtesy TfWM)