ERTICO-ITS Europe and IRF Sign Memorandum of Understanding
Amsterdam, 29 March 2022. Today, ERTICO - ITS Europe and the International Road Federation (IRF) sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster safer, more efficient and more sustainable transport and mobility. The partnership will ensure further exchange of knowledge and expertise and drive forward active discussion on key issues in the transport and mobility sector. The two organisations plan to organise joint activities to facilitate collaboration in their respective areas of competence in Intelligent Transport Systems and Services (ITS) and innovation.
ERTICO-ITS Europe aims to create safer, smarter and cleaner transport services and networks for the benefit of all by developing, promoting and deploying intelligent mobility services through a multi-stakeholder platform for action. The mission of IRF is to promote the development of road systems that enable access and sustainable mobility for all by building multi-stakeholders partnerships, by assisting countries in building capacity, and by facilitating access to best practices and industry solutions. Both organisations serve a wide range of member organisations in the public and private sectors of the road and transport industry. Together, they extend their global network for information and expertise exchange and provide a platform for the next generation of transport leaders.
"ERTICO welcomes this new partnership with the International Road Federation as it will foster greater synergies and enable the two organisations to share the knowledge we have both gained in our mission as thought leaders," says Joost Vantomme, ERTICO CEO. "We are truly delighted to have established this collaboration that will promote the roll-out of ITS and sustainable mobility solutions, and we are greatly looking forward to designing a shared action plan by connecting the dots with IRF!"
“We at the IRF are pleased to see this partnership moving to the next level. The transformation our sector faces requires well-thought coordinated action and a good dose of innovative thinking”, says Susanna Zammataro, IRF Director General. “By bringing our organisations’ network and expertise together, we are well-equipped to push forward innovation for a more sustainable mobility”.
For more information, please contact the International Road Federation at info@irfnet.ch.
About IRF
The International Road Federation (IRF) is a global, independent, not-for-profit organisation with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Active since 1948, IRF is a membership-based organisation, representing leading corporate and institutional players drawn from the road and mobility sectors worldwide. Its mission is to promote the development of roads and road networks that enable access and sustainable mobility for all. Its approach is centred on key strategic components of knowledge transfer & information sharing, connecting people, businesses, and organisations, and working on policy & advocacy.
About Ertico ITS
ERTICO – ITS Europe, founded in 1991 is a public-private partnership with more than 120 companies and organisations representing Service Providers, Suppliers, Traffic and Transport Industry, Research, Public Authorities, Users, Connectivity Industry, Vehicle Manufacturers. ERTICO innovates, promotes and deploys Intelligent Transport Systems and Services (ITS) through a variety of activities including European co-funded projects, Innovation Platforms, International Cooperation, Advocacy and Events. ERTICO is also the organiser of the ITS European and World Congresses, which take place every year in a different European city. Our focus is on Connected & Automated Driving, Urban Mobility, Clean Mobility, and Transport & Logistics.
The Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Celebrates its 30th Anniversary
The Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) celebrates in 2022 its 30th Anniversary. Founded in 1992 and established in Istanbul as a unique and promising platform for multilateral economic cooperation, BSEC is today the oldest full-fledged Organisation in the geostrategic region of the wider Black Sea.
To mark the 30th BSEC Anniversary, various events will take place throughout year 2022, adding new achievements and memories to the many years to come. In this context, BSEC looks forward to celebrating together with its Member States, Related Bodies, Observers and Sectoral Partners through the organisation of various activities that will give greater visibility to the Organisation, its past achievements as well as the potential that lies ahead.
IRF Addresses the Ministerial Segment of the UN Inland Transport Committee
The 75th anniversary session of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC) concluded at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) last 28 February after a week of forwarding progress in the fields of inland transport connectivity, road safety, accessibility, and sustainability.
The Inland Transport Committee, established in 1947, is the highest policy-making body of UNECE in the field of transport. During the course of the past 75 years, together with its subsidiary bodies, it has provided a unique intergovernmental forum where countries come together to forge tools for economic cooperation and adopt international legal instruments on inland transport.
Among the week’s accomplishments was a ministerial resolution on “Ushering in a decade of delivery for sustainable inland transport and sustainable development”, signed by 41 Ministers and Heads of Delegations at the end of the Ministerial session.
Speaking in the panel “Inland transport as a catalyst of sustainable mobility and sustainable development”, Mr Anouar Benazzouz, IRF Vice-President recalled that the history of IRF is deeply linked to the one of the ITC. The federation will be also celebrating 75 years of existence next year and ITC and the work of UNECE are some of the reasons that pushed IRF to move headquarters from the original Paris and London offices to Geneva. “It has been a 75-year enriching journey” said Benazzouz, “we thank UNECE for the trust, the open spirit, and the leadership which have been the distinctive mark of its work and of our successful collaboration” he added. “We look forward to celebrating jointly our anniversaries at the IRF World Congress which will be hosted in Istanbul, Turkey in 2024. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank his Excellency the Minister of Transport of Turkey - here present today - for his support” he concluded.
IRF Director General, Mrs Susanna Zammataro was among the distinguished speakers of the “Achieving a decade of delivery for Road Safety” panel of the Ministerial segment.
“The question being posed to this panel is how we can turn the second decade of action into a decade of delivery for Road Safety. The answer is simple: by truly working in synergy” she said. “The vaccines for our roads exist, they have been tested over the years, and they have proved their effectiveness. The road safety pandemic is a fight that we can win, that we must win, together” she added.
The global plan for the decade outlines a clear path for that, a path that certainly stresses the responsibility and the leadership to be shown by governments, but a path that recognizes also the importance of working together with the private sector, with civil society, and academia. In this respect, Mrs Zammataro made reference to the work done in collaboration with the TotalEnergies Foundation for setting up private sector road safety coalitions around the world. As an example of leadership in coordinating efforts, she also referred to the Sustainable Mobility for All (SuM4All) initiative and the new working group on safe mobility that IRF is co-leading this year together with Michelin to help bridge the gap between policy and practice.
The ministerial resolution adopted at the end of the Ministerial segment expresses the commitment of member States to build on the progress made by the ITC over the past seven and a half decades in creating safer, more accessible, and sustainable inland transport, while also embracing new changing technology and the needs to address challenges like climate change and disruptions caused by the pandemic.
Join IRF at Intertraffic Amsterdam 2022
The International Road Federation is very pleased to join the transport community at Intertraffic Amsterdam 2022, taking place on 29 March - 01 April at RAI Amsterdam. IRF will be hosting two important workshops in person for those present at Intertraffic, and on remote for those who can't join us.
Make sure you register and have them marked in your calendar!
Innovation Driving the Future of Sustainable Mobility
30 March 2022 | 14:00 - 15:30 CEST
While proving an opportunity to discuss how innovation will drive the future of our sector, this workshop will also mark the launch of a new IRF Committee on Innovation. An overarching Committee with subgroups that will provide a unique platform to share expertise and knowledge and to tailor solutions (policy and technical) to the pressing issues our sector is facing.
Novel Practices for Effective Road Assets Management
31 March 2022 | 14:00 - 15:00 CEST
Strengthening efficiency, climate proofing, resilience, and prevention & preparedness of our road assets has become critical for the resilience not only of our roads but of the entire society. This webinar will look into innovations such as Digital Twins and their potential to enable the needed approach for road condition predictions and proactive asset management.
