On 28-30 August, ERTICO – ITS Europe CEO, Jacob Bangsgaard, and CFO & Congress Director, Didier Gorteman, visited the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, to learn more about how the state is developing and implementing ITS mobility solutions and to discuss further cooperation.

Tatarstan is a keen proponent of ITS development and a great partner to exchange knowledge and know-how of ITS development, as ERTICO continues to establish international relations with ITS stakeholders across the world.

The ERTICO – ITS Europe delegation was warmly received by Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, who shared his cabinet’s strong support for ITS development and the work that ERTICO does. Following this meeting, there was a visit to the Kazan Expo exhibition facilities, currently under construction. The facilities will be completed in 2018 as Tatarstan aims to attract international congresses and messes such as the ITS European Congress, which Kazan is a candidate for 2020.

ERTICO leaders also met with the Vice-Prime Minister of Tatarstan Albert Karimov at the newly developed IT Park Tatarstan built within the State programme “High Technology Technoparks Creation in the RF” implemented by the Ministry of Communications of the Russian Federation. This high-technology technopark is focusing on the development of the IT industry s start-ups and as well advancing IT entrepreneurship by providing favourable conditions for their business.

Among the outcomes of the trip was an agreement for ERTICO to participate in the Tatarstan national ITS conference. The fifth International Research and Practice Conference entitled ‘Modern problems of life safety: Intelligent transport systems’ will take place on 27-28 February 2018 in Kazan.