Preparations for the 33rd ITS World Congress continue to gather pace. The organising team from ERTICO – ITS Europe joined host Transport for West Midlands, the Department for Transport (DfT) on behalf of the UK Government, the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) to advance preparations across the Congress experience.
As part of the visit, the team met with the newly appointed Jo Field OBE under the new "Silver Command" function on behalf of the host organising committee. Jo will be one of the key people responsible for ensuring the months of planning and ambition translate into action on the host side.
"This meeting showed how quickly preparations are now moving forward and, importantly, the strength of the collaboration behind the Congress," said Didier Gorteman, Chief Finance & Operations Officer at ERTICO – ITS Europe. "There is a shared ambition across the teams involved to create a Congress that delivers a strong experience for all participants, Partners and exhibitors, while showcasing what the UK has to offer to the world."
The visit also highlighted the UK Government's increasingly active role in preparations for Birmingham 2027.
Darren Capes, Head of Road Infrastructure Technology at the Department for Transport and the UK Government's lead official working on the Congress, said: "The UK Government is proud to take a more active role in supporting and delivering the ITS World Congress in Birmingham next year. It is a major opportunity to welcome the global ITS community to the UK, showcase the innovation and expertise being developed here, and strengthen the collaboration needed to turn new transport technologies into practical benefits for people and places."
The Congress experience takes shape
The organising team also toured the NEC venue to plan how the exhibition, conference programme, demonstrations and other elements of the Congress will come together across the venue.
The layout is being developed to create a natural flow between the Programme and Exhibition, encouraging participants to explore the technologies, services and solutions on display, meet exhibitors and connect with the wider ITS community throughout the week.
"We want to offer participants something they will not only see, but experience and remember," Didier added. "The combination of the exhibition, live demonstrations, showcase areas and operational content gives us a real opportunity to create that atmosphere."
Live demonstrations will form another important part of the Congress experience, with the Call for Demos opening on 22 October 2026. Plans include indoor demonstrations alongside the exhibition, complemented by dedicated outdoor areas on the NEC site where participants can see technologies operating in real-world conditions.
Dedicated showcase and control centre areas are also being developed within the exhibition hall, combining visually engaging displays with live operational content. "Technologies on display and Operations Centre areas will help bring the exhibition to life and give visitors compelling reasons to explore the whole hall," explained Transport for West Midlands' "Silver Commander" Jo Field OBE.
"By connecting the exhibition closely with the sessions and demonstrations, we can create a much more dynamic experience and strong opportunities for interaction between participants, partners and exhibitors," said Didier. "We want to offer participants something they will not only see and photograph, but remember for a long time. These areas will help bring the exhibition to life and give participants compelling reasons to explore the whole hall."
Connecting the Global Scale of the Congress with the UK Host Region
The team discussed technical visits that will give the international ITS community opportunities to experience firsthand the innovation and expertise being delivered across Birmingham, the West Midlands, the UK and beyond, connecting the Congress more closely with its host region and providing a broader showcase of UK transport innovation.
Reflecting on the visit, Didier also highlighted the close relationship between the organisations responsible for delivering the Congress.
"I am extremely happy with the way the teams are working together," he concluded. "ERTICO, Transport for West Midlands, the Department for Transport, and LCRIG are working closely together towards a shared ambition for the ITS World Congress in 2027.
"Everybody understands the scale of the opportunity and what needs to be delivered. There is a very positive spirit across the whole team, and this visit has given us even greater confidence in the plans for Birmingham."
The 33rd ITS World Congress will take place at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham from 25 to 29 October 2027.
