2025 was a landmark year for ERTICO – ITS Europe, marked by tangible progress, strengthened collaboration, and a clear strategic outlook. In the Annual Review foreword, CEO Joost Vantomme reaffirms ERTICO’s new vision and mission, reflecting upon the achievements made throughout the year and the continued commitment to shaping a safer, more resilient, and integrated mobility ecosystem across Europe and beyond.
In a fast-evolving global mobility landscape shaped by digitalisation, automation and climate imperatives, ERTICO sharpened its focus with its +120 Partners, which continued to grow in scale, diversity and impact, bringing together 11 new members to its public-private partnership. Through sector and cross-sector meetings, governance bodies, and the first Annual Partnership Forum, among many other reinforced initiatives, we actively co-shaped strategic priorities, shared expertise, and promoted European mobility discussions across the globe.
From Research to Deployment: Turning Innovation into Impact
Driving innovation towards real-world impact remained a core priority. In 2025, ERTICO supported and coordinated a portfolio of more than 40 European-funded projects, alongside Innovation Platforms and Mobility Data Spaces. 10 new EU-funded projects were launched, while several flagship initiatives reached completion, leaving a strong legacy in areas such as connected and automated mobility, electrification, data exchange, safety and inclusivity. These activities demonstrate ERTICO’s role as a bridge between research, policy and large-scale deployment.
ERTICO’s Innovation Platforms and Mobility Data Spaces also continued to provide neutral, trusted environments for collaboration, advancing interoperability, data governance, specifications, expanded memberships, strengthened links to EU regulation, and concrete steps towards large-scale implementation. Among many milestones, the ERTICO Moonshot initiative advanced strategic dialogue on future mobility with the expansion of its City Moonshot initiative to the National level, marking an important step in engaging national authorities and ensuring alignment between innovation, policy, and implementation.
A New Era for the ITS Congresses
ERTICO’s convening power was once again demonstrated through its flagship Congress, the 16th ITS European Congress in Seville. Bringing together public authorities, industry experts, researchers and academia, the Congress showcased how innovative ideas turned practical solutions and large-scale deployments. Through a strong technical programme, live demonstrations and high-level dialogues, the event reinforced the Congress’s role as Europe’s leading platform for turning innovation into real-world impact. Access the Post-Congress report.
The Annual Review also captures the ERTICO team's contribution to the 31st ITS World Congress in Atlanta and gives a glimpse of what is awaiting at the upcoming editions, including the 17th ITS European Congress in Istanbul (27–29 April 2026), 32nd ITS World Congress in Gangneung (19–23 October 2026) and the 33rd ITS World Congress in Birmingham (25–29 October 2027).
In parallel, an open Call for Tender was launched for future host cities of the ITS European Congresses in 2028 and 2029 and the ITS World Congress in 2030 in the EMEA region. Learn more about the application process and submit the first expression of interest by 13 February 2026.
Contributing to the European Mobility Agenda
Throughout 2025, ERTICO strengthened its role as a trusted, sector-neutral partner to European institutions. Through policy advocacy, strategic publications, and high-level engagement, ERTICO contributed to shaping ITS and smart mobility policy. This includes active involvement in the CCAM Partnership, Horizon Europe activities, the Automotive Action Plan, and initiatives supporting Europe’s ambition for carbon-neutral road transport by 2050.
Throughout the year, ERTICO strengthened its thought leadership role through strategic dialogues, policy advocacy and high-level engagement with the European Commission, the European Parliament and other European and global institutions. Key outputs included the ITS Memorandum, the White Paper on Artificial Intelligence in Transport and Mobility, and the 2025 ITS Market Radar Report. The team were also actively contributing to major European policy initiatives, including the ITS Directive, the Automotive Action Plan, Horizon Europe, and discussions on data, AI and cybersecurity, ensuring that ITS remains central to Europe’s digital and green transition.
Collaboration remained a cornerstone of ERTICO’s impact. Looking ahead, our Vision 2035 will guide future activities across sectors and regions, ensuring that our collective ambition for advancing innovation delivers lasting benefits for society.
Download the 2025 Annual Review
Interested to learn more about future updates?