Before a journey begins, having a map makes all the difference. Without it, each traveller may move forward, but not necessarily in the same direction. For 35 years, ERTICO – ITS Europe has played a defining role in turning mobility innovation into real-world deployment. By bringing together public and private stakeholders, aligning priorities and enabling collaboration at scale, it has translated innovation into tangible progress across Europe’s mobility ecosystem.
A single road can improve mobility locally, but it is only when roads are connected into a network that movement becomes efficient and reliable.
Through its legacy of delivering flagship EU-funded projects, the impact of its Innovation Platforms and the landmark ITS Congresses, ERTICO has consistently translated collaboration into tangible outcomes that improve how people and goods move across Europe.
During the 17th ITS European Congress in Istanbul, ERTICO Chairman, Dr Angelos Amditis and CEO Joost Vantomme marked the launch of ERTICO’s 35th anniversary at its reception on Tuesday, 28 April, highlighting over three decades of measurable impact and a strong ambition for the future of intelligent mobility.
Dr Amditis highlighted, “Building on a legacy that began with the 1994 ITS World Congress in Paris, it is no coincidence that this moment is anchored here at the ITS European Congress in Istanbul, one of 17 editions organised by ERTICO. These unique gatherings have consistently translated vision into action, and ERTICO will continue to play a key role in facilitating cooperation across borders. I very much look forward to continuing to build on this foundation, strengthening collaboration, scaling innovation, and ensuring that intelligent mobility solutions are delivered where they matter most. A big thank you to everyone for making these 35 years a huge success, and thank you to the European Commission and all our partners for their dedication and hard work to make this happen.”
Mr Vantomme, echoed this sentiment, “For 35 years, ERTICO has demonstrated that real progress in mobility happens when collaboration turns innovation into deployment. The ITS European Congress in Istanbul reflects exactly this dynamic: bringing together public and private actors to move from ideas to implementation. This progress is only possible thanks to our Partners, whose expertise, commitment and collaboration form the foundation of everything we achieve.”
An anniversary rooted in Europe’s transformation
ERTICO’s origins are closely linked to Europe’s own evolution. In the mid-1980s, the ambition to create a Single Market set in motion the removal of physical, technical and fiscal barriers across borders. The Single European Act reinforced this vision, establishing a true Single Market from 1 January 1993, a one-stop-shop in the EU with free movement of goods, services, capital and people.
This new level of integration created both opportunity and complexity for transport systems. By 1990, it had become clear that while research into intelligent transport technologies was advancing rapidly, deployment remained fragmented and limited in scale. Bridging this gap required coordination across sectors that did not traditionally work together.
In response, ERTICO – ITS Europe was established in 1991 by 15 industry leaders and public authorities, under the impulse and auspices of the European Commission.
As European research programmes such as DRIVE produced promising ITS solutions, ERTICO was created to unlock their full potential. Connecting stakeholders early on, it helped ensure that innovations did not remain in laboratories, but could be deployed across Europe’s transport networks.
From the outset, ERTICO brought together industry, policy makers, public authorities, and research to align innovation with real-world needs. This collaborative foundation continues to define its strength and relevance today.
Building Europe’s Intelligent Transport Ecosystem
Throughout the 1990s, ERTICO continued to lay the foundations of Europe’s ITS landscape, including the launch of its first strategic roadmap under the motto “Cooperation and Coordination for better transport in Europe”.
At the same time, the ITS community began to take shape. The first ITS World Congress in Paris in 1994 marked a new era, becoming an annual global platform for innovation showcases and knowledge exchange. Four years later, the first ITS European Congress was organised by ERTICO in Amsterdam, demonstrating how ITS solutions could be applied across cities, regions, airports and ports, and highlighting practical benefits for travellers and transport operators.
These early milestones shaped a structured and connected ecosystem, enabling stakeholders across Europe to work towards common objectives and long-term impact.
Through programmes such as DRIVE II and projects like CORD, ERTICO contributed to evaluating emerging technologies and identifying viable application areas across Europe. This work helped move ITS from isolated research initiatives towards coordinated implementation.
Alongside these developments, ERTICO expanded its Partnership and governance structure, creating dedicated committees and partner-led fora to ensure that industry, public authorities and research could align priorities and contribute to common objectives.
By the early 2000s, the focus shifted from planning to deployment
In the years that followed, ERTICO played a central role in translating innovation into tangible solutions. Through leadership and participation in major European projects, initiatives such as eCall demonstrated how technology can improve safety and save lives.
Large-scale initiatives such as the GST project, involving more than 50 partners, demonstrated how integrated approaches could deliver coordinated ITS solutions. The launch of the CVIS project further advanced connected mobility, focusing on vehicle-to-infrastructure communication and cooperative systems.
One of the most significant outcomes was eCall. Through cross-border pilot projects, including HeERO, ERTICO helped demonstrate how a pan-European emergency call system could function in practice, contributing to faster response times and improved road safety.
At the same time, ERTICO continued to expand its reach by fostering collaboration through platforms and forums, including ADASIS, the eSafety Forum and, later, a series of Innovation Platforms. These initiatives enabled stakeholders to move from ideas to implementation, creating scalable and interoperable solutions across Europe.
ERTICO also supported the European Commission’s ITS Action Plan and contributed to the broader framework that led to the ITS Directive, helping to create the regulatory conditions necessary for deployment at scale.
Scaling collaboration and strengthening impact
As mobility systems evolved, so too did ERTICO’s role. Its Partnership expanded to over 100 members, reflecting a broad and diverse representation of the mobility ecosystem.
To address increasing complexity, ERTICO introduced Innovation Platforms as structured environments for collaboration. Platforms such as TN-ITS, TM2.0 and SENSORIS have enabled stakeholders to collaborate within shared frameworks, making it possible for innovation to scale across borders.
Initiatives such as the European Truck Platooning Challenge further illustrated how coordinated efforts can enable seamless cross-border operations. At the same time, ITS Congresses have provided opportunities to showcase innovation in real-world conditions, allowing stakeholders to experience emerging technologies in action, from connected systems to early automated mobility demonstrations.
These activities reinforced ERTICO’s role not only as a facilitator of dialogue, but also as an enabler of tangible implementation.
A public–private partnership model that delivers impact
Today, ERTICO continues to stand out through its unique public–private partnership, bringing together the most influential actors across the entire mobility value chain. Its strength lies in its ability to convene, align and enable cooperation across sectors and borders.
Progress in mobility is not a single breakthrough, but a continuous process. Over the past 35 years, ERTICO has ensured that innovation builds on previous achievements, maintaining momentum and delivering long-term impact throughout many cities and regions across Europe and beyond. Through initiatives such as City Moonshot and National Moonshot, ERTICO continues to engage with cities, regions and national authorities, strengthening alignment and supporting more coordinated mobility systems.
Its close cooperation with the European Commission reflects a strong legacy of trust and supports policy development, implementation and harmonisation across Europe. ERTICO has also contributed to shaping a European ITS ecosystem that is structured, interoperable and focused on deployment. Its track record reflects consistent delivery and measurable impact.
Leading the next chapter of Europe's mobility evolution
Mobility systems today are increasingly complex, behaving more like living systems that continuously adapt to new technologies, data and user needs. Managing this complexity requires flexibility, coordination and shared expertise. ERTICO supports this evolution by bringing together the right actors to address emerging challenges in a structured and collaborative way.
With 35 years of experience and a strong foundation of trust, ERTICO is well-positioned to lead the next phase of intelligent mobility. Its mission remains clear: to connect stakeholders, accelerate innovation and ensure that solutions are delivered where they matter most.