Over the past months, ERTICO has conducted six sector meetings, bringing together a variety of representatives from the ERTICO Partnership to discuss the latest developments in Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and Smart Mobility. Aiming at fostering in-depth discussions on pivotal topics and sharing updates from the ERTICO office, these sessions underscored the importance of understanding partners’ expectations and gathering valuable feedback.
Each meeting included various briefs on European policy developments, such as the AI Act, the revised ITS Directive, and the European mobility data space (EMDS). Amongst many open dialogues on opportunities and challenges, the adoption of CCAM technologies was one of the main focal points. In addition, the discussions also covered the development of the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC), aiming at enhancing mobility and logistics data solutions across countries.
The ERTICO team also delivered an extensive update on the organisation’s recent initiatives, including 24 projects alongside the forthcoming plans for future proposals, showcasing the growth of ERTICO’s Innovation Platforms. Beyond these activities, ERTICO also facilitated and contributed with thought leadership activities and invited participants to contribute to the ERTICO Academy Partnership survey for future developments.
A series of detailed presentations
Public Authorities: On 23 April, Jon Kuiper from the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management emphasised the importance of new technologies and European data strategies for enhancing data sharing. He discussed the EMDS initiative, highlighting the need for common standards and governance frameworks for interoperability. Steve Phillips, Secretary General of the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR), also brought up to the importance of collaboration among road authorities, businesses, and research organisations. He addressed challenges in infrastructure scope and the need for digital road management integration.
Research: On 25 April, Andrea Gentili from DG RTD shared updates on the reception of 60 proposals for Programme 24 and the selection process for the 2025 work programme. He also discussed the Smart Cities mission and upcoming events, including the EU Car Conference and TRA 2026 in Budapest.
Service Providers & Traffic and Transport: Petra Soderqvist, Policy Officer at DG MOVE, provided an update both on 2 May and on 13 May. She outlined the priorities of the ITS Working Programme, including information and mobility IT services, and road safety and security ITS services. She emphasised coordination with the ITS advisory group and integrating aviation information with land transport.
Original Equipment Manufacturers: Mark Nicklas, Head of Unit at DG GROW, spoke on 3 May, discussing regulatory updates for transitioning to 4G/5G networks and the need for a future-proof regulatory framework. He addressed concerns about the homologation process across EU Member States and committed to discussing these issues with relevant working groups.
Suppliers: On 27 May, Dr. Max Lemke, Head of Unit for IoT at DG CNECT, provided an overview of the Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) initiative, highlighting the need for hardware-agnostic software. He discussed progress on the EMDS and the importance of data access and sharing for AI and greener mobility systems.
These sector meetings have been instrumental in fostering dialogue and collaboration among ERTICO Partners. The insights and updates provided by ERTICO, and in-depth presentations by guest speakers, equipped participants with valuable knowledge to navigate the evolving landscape of ITS and Smart Mobility. Continued engagement and feedback from stakeholders remain crucial as ERTICO advances towards a more connected and sustainable transport ecosystem.
Download the Partnership Brochure for more information about the opportunities and benefits of becoming a member, and watch the Partnership video for more insight.