THE FUTURE of transport and technology will be on show at the NEC during a prestigious international conference.
The 2027 ITS – Intelligent Transport Systems – World Congress, will take place at the Marston Green site following a bid led by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM).
Thousands of delegates from all over the world will attend to demonstrate and promote the latest technology, including autonomous (driverless) vehicles, electric and zero-emission vehicles, 5G technology and traffic management systems,
The successful bid for the 33rd ITS World Congress 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 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 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.
Councillor Sharon Thompson, the Deputy Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “I’m excited to welcome the leaders in global intelligent transport systems when they visit for what’s sure to be an unforgettable conference in 2027. It will provide a great platform for the best in transport innovation the UK has to offer.
“I’m especially eager to show off our region’s cutting-edge transport developments that will soon make a real difference for everyone living and working here – from great value smart ticketing to the last mile delivery systems we’re working on.”
The 2027 event partnership was signed at a Parliamentary reception by Coun 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.”
