Geplaatst op 27 maart 2017
With the offering of the bid book to ERTICO at the opening of the Automotive Week 2017, the Netherlands is officially in the race to organise the prestigious ITS European Congress about intelligent transport systems (ITS) in 2019. Enjoying broad support from other cities and regions, and the Dutch ITS industry, the Brainport Region is the Dutch candidate to receive more than 2,000 participants. The municipal councils of Helmond and Eindhoven, Brainport Development, the Noord-Brabant province, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment and Connekt are all involved in this collaboration. With the slogan: fulfilling ITS promises!
From left to right: Jacob Bangsgaard (CEO Ertico), Nico Anten (managing director Connekt), Christophe van der Maat (representative of the province of Noord-Brabant), Elly Blanksma (Mayor Helmond), Jannie Visscher (alderman Traffic & Transport City of Eindhoven) and Florien van der Windt (ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment)
The Netherlands and ITS
The Netherlands has been working on the implementation of an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) as an integral part of our approach to mobility, since the 1980s. We urgently need much more efficient, environmentally friendlier and safer mobility in our densely-populated country. The Netherlands also wishes to lead in the development of smart vehicles and infrastructure, with which we can drive connectedly and later, autonomously. The ITS industry is exactly the industry to give this ambition a strong impulse, with which we can hugely increase our accessibility, safety and quality of life.
Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen of Infrastructure and the Environment: “We want to keep away from a patchwork of systems and rules. Autonomous vehicles of different producers must be able to communicate. And we want smooth overland border crossings, without having to provide updates all the time. That is why we have to collaborate in Europe. The Netherlands took the initiative during the Dutch presidency last year. Holland has a unique combination of good infrastructure, smart researchers and an innovate industry. The Netherlands is the ultimate location for the ITS European Congress.”
Nico Anten, managing director of Connekt: “Another important factor is that the Netherlands is good in public-private collaboration. All the ITS parties involved unite within Connekt, a network for smart, sustainable and social mobility. A connection of trust is paramount to that. A successful public-private collaboration only works when there is a shared interest. That’s an important message for ‘Fulfilling ITS promises’ in 2019.”
Why the Brainport Region?
Christophe van der Maat, Deputy Councillor for Mobility and Collaboration, for the province of Noord-Brabant: “We want to advance the future of new mobility, to force a breakthrough an achieve measurable results. This is why we offer a test situation in Brabant for smart mobility: we have space here to develop, test and roll out on the public road. And by doing so, we can discover what works, and what doesn’t. Together with the SmartwayZ.NL programme, we are working toward realising that ambition in Zuid-Nederland. Our Brabant cities are happy to set an example to Europe, by showing what’s possible with innovative mobility solutions for road-users and on the road. During the 2019 ITS EU Congress, visitors will be able to experience and learn this for themselves.”
Three quarters of the Dutch automotive sector is located in the Brainport Region. This region forms a living laboratory for smart mobility solutions. The Helmond Automotive Campus has expanded in recent years into an international hotspot for the development of knowledge and innovation in the field of smart and green mobility. “The 2019 ITS European Congress is giving a strong impulse to the many innovative companies and organisations which are involved with smart mobility solutions on and around the Automotive Campus. That helps us to attract more companies, and consequently create more jobs. The fact that ERTICO regards us as a promising candidate is confirmation of the good reputation the region has built”, says Jos van Bree, Alderman for Economy for the municipality of Helmond.
Jannie Visscher, Alderman for Traffic and Transport for the municipality of Eindhoven, sees great opportunities: “Eindhoven is specialised in ‘Mobility as a service’. We collaborate with residents on smart mobility services. The quality of life is also extremely important. Our Public Transport has the largest fleet of electric, emission-free buses in Europe. The ITS Congress will feel right at home here”.
Further steps
The 2017 ITS Congress will take place in Strasbourg, in June. Government officials and partners are making a strong case to congress organiser ERTICO, to fulfil the ambition to welcome the congress to the Brainport Region in 2019. ERTICO will decide in September 2017, which of the candidates will be organising the 2019 congress.