The West Midlands has been confirmed as host for the ITS World Congress 2027, to be held at the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham.
It follows a successful bid led by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and was signed during an Intelligent Transport Systems reception at the Houses of Parliament today (Wednesday)
Thousands of delegates from all over the world will attend to demonstrate and promote the latest technology, including autonomous vehicles electric and zero-emission vehicles, 5G technology and traffic management systems,
The successful bid was a collaboration between TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), the Department for Transport (DfT), Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK), Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) and the NEC Birmingham.
The 2027 host city was awarded by event organiser ERTICO – ITS Europe.
The West Midlands, through initiatives like the Future Transport Zone, is seen as a national leader in the field and at the cutting edge in key areas of research and development such as autonomous vehicle development, battery technology, the emerging very light rail system and smart ticketing.
Cllr Sharon Thompson, the Deputy Mayor of the West Midlands said: “The West Midlands has a proven track record in hosting major international events from Crufts to the Commonwealth Games and will give the leaders in global intelligent transport systems a very warm welcome when they visit for what I’m sure will be a memorable conference in 2027.
“We are also looking forward to showcasing our region’s own cutting edge developments in transport which will soon be making a difference to the people who live and work here – from best value smart ticketing to the last mile delivery systems we are developing.”
The ITS World Congress attracts thousands of international delegates and speakers, and includes seminars, exhibitions, technical visits, and outreach events. It provides a platform for the latest developments in transport technology and mobility solutions.
The 2027 event partnership was signed at a Parliamentary reception by Cllr Thompson and Joost Vantomme, chief executive of the event organiser ERTICO – ITS Europe.
He said: “This partnership demonstrates a testament to our joint commitment and leading role in shaping the future of mobility. The commitments I have seen so far are remarkable. Through the combination of ERTICO’s innovative approach with Birmingham’s rich industrial history and forward-thinking mobility initiatives, the 2027 ITS World Congress will perfectly blend tradition with future vision, driving transformative advancements in mobility.”
ITS World Congress is an annual event held in rotation between three global regions – the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa. Birmingham will host the 33rd event.
This year’s event takes place later this month in Dubai. Highways News will be there, and covering the event extensively.
(Picture – Highways News)
