2026 EMEA ITS Hall of Fame winners announced in Gangneung

The 2026 ITS World Congress in Gangneung, South Korea, has recognised outstanding achievements in Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), honouring Professor Phil Blythe CBE, the City of Leuven in Belgium and ERTICO Partner Monotch for their contributions to advancing safer, smarter and more sustainable mobility.

The ITS Hall of Fame Awards celebrate individuals, organisations and public authorities whose leadership, innovation and collaboration are helping shape the future of intelligent transport worldwide. This year's recipients reflect the breadth of expertise across the ITS community, from pioneering research and urban mobility to connected transport technologies.

Professor Phil Blythe Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Professor Phil Blythe CBE, Professor of Intelligent Transport Systems at Newcastle University and former Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Department for Transport (DfT), received the ITS Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award during the Congress Opening Ceremony on 19 October.

Professor Blythe served as the DfT's Chief Scientific Adviser from 2015 to 2021 and currently leads Newcastle University's Future Mobility Group and its Mobility and Transport Centre of Research Excellence. His work spans connected and automated vehicles, electromobility, transport decarbonisation and accessible mobility.

Unable to attend the ceremony, he was represented by Darren Capes, Head of Road Infrastructure Technology at the DfT, who accepted the award on his behalf.

Reacting to the recognition, Professor Blythe told Highways News: "It's hard to put into words how honoured and grateful I am for the ITS Hall of Fame award. Absolutely delighted."

He also thanked the colleagues and teams who have supported his career, highlighting the ITS community's collective contribution in the UK and internationally.

City of Leuven Recognised for Sustainable Urban Mobility

The City of Leuven, Belgium, received the Local Government Award during the Congress's first Plenary Session on 20 October, recognising its leadership in deploying intelligent and sustainable urban mobility solutions.

From autonomous shuttles and smart traffic management to connected mobility services and intelligent cycling infrastructure, Leuven has integrated ITS into its broader sustainable transport strategy.

Supported by a strong innovation ecosystem, including KU Leuven and imec, the city demonstrates how research, data-driven mobility solutions and collaboration can address urban transport challenges and support climate neutrality.

Read more about Leuven's award and its innovative mobility initiatives here.

ERTICO Partner Monotch Wins Industry Award

Monotch, a Dutch technology company specialising in connected mobility, received the Industry Award during the second Plenary Session on 21 October. The award recognises Monotch's contribution to advancing interoperable ITS solutions and connected mobility through its TLEX platform, which enables the exchange of mobility and traffic data.

In 2025, Monotch further expanded the platform's reach by making TLEX Interchange available through the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, supporting wider adoption of connected mobility services.

The recognition highlights the importance of open, interoperable data exchange in enabling connected transport systems and accelerating the deployment of intelligent mobility solutions.

Recognising Innovation Across the ITS Community

This year's ITS Hall of Fame recipients show how research, industry innovation, and public-sector leadership drive the development and deployment of intelligent transport solutions.

Their achievements also reflect the importance of cross-sector collaboration, a principle at the heart of ERTICO – ITS Europe's mission to bring together public and private stakeholders to advance intelligent, safe, resilient and sustainable mobility.