What will make Birmingham’s ITS World Congress worth your time, your investment and the journey? As this year’s event in Korea draws to a close, Highways Voices brings together the people preparing to turn a week of international collaboration into lasting benefits for transport users and businesses.
Reporting from Gangneung, Paul Hutton hears why Birmingham 2027 promises new commercial opportunities, what the UK can learn from Korea, and why the most important measure of transport technology is the difference it makes to people’s lives.
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Chief Executive of ERTICO – ITS Europe, Joost Vantomme, makes an enthusiastic pitch for next year’s Congress, promising “a festival of ideas” alongside innovation, new business cases and a return on investment for exhibitors. He explains how the NEC’s layout will bring delegates through the exhibition to reach the conference sessions, creating opportunities to meet customers, exchange ideas and demonstrate technology.
There is plenty for practitioners, too. From artificial intelligence and digital twins to automated driving, Mr Vantomme discusses the move from research into deployment, and why the industry must explain the practical value of its innovations to the people using them.
Ireland’s Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer, brings a people-centred perspective, explaining how technology can support better public transport, improve accessibility and reduce isolation. He discusses what he has learnt in Korea and why international collaboration matters to policymakers trying to give people more choice over how they travel.
“Transport’s about moving people, moving services or goods, but it’s about connecting each of us,” he tells Paul.
Mr Buttimer also offers his support for Birmingham 2027 as a European showcase for the world, with an invitation to enjoy some Irish hospitality on the way.
You will hear international cooperation taking shape as ITS UK and ITS Korea renew their memorandum of understanding. ITS UK Chief Executive Max Sugarman explains the shared challenges around safety, seamless journeys, better information and reducing carbon emissions, and the opportunities for members of both organisations to learn from one another.
The ceremony also features contributions from the Department for Transport’s Darren Capes, ITS Korea and Beth Mckendrick, Country Director for South Korea at the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, who discusses how closer links can help turn promising technologies into better journeys.
As the ceremonial globe passes to the UK and the West Midlands, you will also hear from Darren Capes, Head of Road Infrastructure Technology at the Department for Transport, during the handover.
And a special invitation to Birmingham features Professor Patricia Thornley, Ed Cox, Sandeep Shingadia and Richard Parker, setting out the region’s ambition to showcase connected transport and welcome the international ITS community.
Listen to this Highways Voices round-up for lessons from Korea, the opportunities taking shape for Birmingham and why you should be part of the ITS World Congress at the NEC from 25–29 October 2027.
Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.
(Picture – Sarah Hutton)
