Following the European Commission’s Strategic Dialogue initiative to support the transformation of the European automotive industry, ERTICO was honoured to be invited by Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen of the European Commission, to participate in the high-level meeting on Technological and Digital Innovation on Monday, 17 February.
CEO Joost Vantomme, pitched ERTICO’s vision to advance Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) towards a safer, more resilient and sustainable future for all, “The mobility and automotive ecosystem is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven by digitalisation, software-defined vehicles (SDVs), and transformative technologies including AI.”
He continued and emphasised, “This shift increasingly moves towards a more connected, automated, and software-driven mobility future which is becoming key for all stakeholders. As a key enabler of collaborative innovation in ITS, ERTICO is uniquely positioned through its public-private partnership to shape the future of European SDVs”.
During the High-Level meeting, Joost highlighted two main elements:
Vehicles are more than mere products; they are societal vectors for moving people, goods, and data. In an increasingly competitive global market, Europe must assert its digital sovereignty while fostering innovation beyond digitalisation. A strong focus on intelligence in transport and mobility systems is essential. This is at the core of ERTICO’s work on advancing ITS together with its Partners across eight public and private sectors, focusing on enhancing digitalisation, automation, efficiency, safety, and inclusivity, as well as the broader sustainability goals for future mobility. This requires continuous dialogue with all sectors involved to drive impactful change.
A strong research and innovation (R&I) agenda is critical for the future of the automotive value chain. ERTICO strongly supports a dedicated FP10 R&I programme in alignment with initiatives such as the CCAM Partnership and 2Zero. Expanding FP10 funding can unlock millions of high-skilled jobs, enhance industrial competitiveness, and attract private investment, amplifying the impact of public funding. FP10 must bridge fundamental research, pre-competitive collaboration, and industrial implementation to accelerate the innovation cycle and secure Europe’s leadership in mobility technologies.
Through cross-sector collaboration and thought leadership, ERTICO works towards:
- Bridging the automotive, ITS, and semiconductor ecosystems through multi-stakeholder collaborations.
- Leading discussions on AI, software-defined mobility, and secure data-sharing frameworks to foster innovation.
- Advocating for regulatory alignment to accelerate the deployment of connected and autonomous vehicles in Europe.
Background
The Strategic Dialogue brings together key stakeholders to address critical industry challenges, including access to talent and resources, technological innovation, and a predictable regulatory framework. The process includes high-level discussions with President von der Leyen, thematic workshops led by Commissioners on clean transition, industrial value chains, digital innovation, and workforce skills, and a public consultation. The resulting Action Plan will be presented by Commissioner Tzitzikostas on 5 March.