On the Road to Istanbul: A Preview of the 17th ITS European Congress 2026

The journey towards the 17th ITS European Congress in Istanbul has begun, with a strategic conversation that will set the tone for what lies ahead. On Monday ,2 March at 11:00 CET, AUS Türkiye, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (Turkey), and ERTICO – ITS Europe will co-host a live webinar offering an exclusive preview of the ITS European Congress 2026, taking place in Istanbul from 27–29 April. 

Register to join the webinar

More than a programme introduction, this session underscores the strong and growing cooperation between ERTICO and the Turkish ITS community, positioning Istanbul 2026 as a milestone for Europe’s smart mobility ecosystem. Agne Vaitekenaite, Head of Partnership & Advocacy at ERTICO – ITS Europe, will moderate the discussion and frame the strategic context of the Congress within ERTICO’s wider mission.

Following the welcoming remarks by Erol Aydin, who will highlight the significance of Türkiye hosting the Congress at a time when intelligent transport systems are moving decisively from pilots to deployment, Joost Vantomme, CEO of ERTICO – ITS Europe, will introduce its mission and activities, reflecting on the legacy of the ITS European Congresses as platforms that connect public authorities, industry, research and EU institutions to accelerate tangible implementation. 

Over decades, the Congress has evolved into Europe’s flagship ITS gathering, where strategy meets application and collaboration drives impact. Pamela Valente, Senior Manager, Congresses at ERTICO – ITS Europe, will outline what participants can expect from this year’s edition in Istanbul, from programme highlights and exhibition opportunities to networking opportunities designed to strengthen partnerships. Building on the recently launched Preliminary Programme, Rita Bhandari, Senior Programme Manager & Knowledge Integration, will provide insight into the Preliminary Programme, explaining how the sessions reflect Europe’s most pressing mobility priorities.

Bringing the national perspective, Çağrı Yüzbaşıoğlu, Vice President of AUS Türkiye and CEO of ISSD Bilişim, will present Türkiye’s recent achievements and innovations across the transport and mobility landscape. Through concrete examples, he will demonstrate how delegates will experience these advancements first-hand in Istanbul.

This joint initiative reflects a clear communications approach: positioning the Congress not simply as an event, but as part of ERTICO’s broader leadership in shaping intelligent, safe and sustainable mobility 

The webinar will conclude with a live Q&A, inviting participants to engage and explore how they can contribute to Istanbul 2026.

As preparations gather pace, one message is clear: the journey to Istanbul is already creating momentum, strengthening partnerships and aligning Europe’s mobility leaders around a shared vision for deployment at scale.

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