IRF President Talks Data and Digitalisation at 88th ITC - High-level Policy Segment
IRF President Dimitrios Mandalozis is at the 88th session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Inland Transport Committee in Geneva to address the High-level Policy Segment on driving innovation in inland transport.
In his intervention, he emphasised that “infrastructure, data and digitalisation must be treated as one,” noting that roads are evolving from static assets into performance-based systems that must operate reliably under climate pressure and rising mobility demand. He highlighted the role of digital tools in extending asset life, improving safety and strengthening resilience.
Drawing on IRF’s global evidence base, including the IRF World Road Statistics, President Dimitrios underscored the importance of harmonised data for benchmarking and informed policymaking. He also outlined IRF’s commitment to practical implementation roadmaps that support countries in planning, designing and managing roads to meet social, environmental and economic objectives.
Read full transcript of his intervention:
Excellencies, Ministers, distinguished delegates,
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to UNECE for convening the 88th session of the Inland Transport Committee and for providing a multistakeholder platform to articulate priorities and share innovations.
The International Road Federation, active since 1948 and headquartered in Geneva, works to support countries in delivering road systems that are inclusive, safe, green and efficient.
In today’s context, infrastructure, data and digitalisation must be treated as one. Roads are no longer static assets. They are performance-based systems that must operate reliably under growing climate risks, rising mobility demand and increasing expectations for transparency and efficiency. Digital tools and data are essential to extending asset life, improving safety outcomes, reducing lifecycle emissions and ensuring resilience.
IRF has contributed to the global evidence base through our World Road Statistics, published annually since 1964. Drawing on national data and aligned with internationally harmonised definitions, WRS now covers more than 200 countries and territories and over 200 indicators across 11 thematic areas. It supports benchmarking, policy evaluation and planning at national and international levels. The IRF WRS Data Warehouse further enhances accessibility through interactive dashboards and analytical tools, enabling decision-makers to translate data into informed action.
Besides data, to support the implementation of the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport, IRF and a coalition of partners have committed to helping countries strengthen how roads are planned, designed, financed and managed to address the social, environmental and economic challenges of the decade ahead. At the core of this commitment is a series of implementation roadmaps that translate the Decade’s objectives into practical guidance for the road sector. These roadmaps will emphasise data-driven decision-making, digital asset management systems, innovation in materials and design, among other key issues.
In parallel, IRF is also active in many international initiatives that advance connected and automated mobility, ensuring that digitalisation and innovation improve road safety and more efficient traffic operations. We work with infrastructure operators, technology providers and research institutions to bridge the gap between research and deployment. These initiatives reinforce the principle that digital transformation must be integrated into infrastructure governance, standards and operational frameworks from the outset.
I would like to conclude by warmly inviting Member States and stakeholders to join us at the IRF Annual Conference 2026 in Geneva, taking place from 16 to 18 November. The Conference is designed as a platform for countries, international organisations and industry leaders to exchange practical experience on how roads can better fulfil sustainability objectives. In a period of rapid technological and climate change, international cooperation is essential. We would be honoured to welcome your participation and to continue this important dialogue together.
Thank you.
On the Road with ecopals: Innovation After the IRF 2025 Start-Up Label Win
Interview with Fabian Zitzmann, Managing Partner from ecopals.
Last 4 December, during the IRF 2025 Annual Conference, ecopals was named the winner for IRF Start-Up Label 2025. We caught up with them to talk about their work and how IRF is supporting their efforts to better the mobility and transport sectors.
To begin, could you briefly introduce ecopals?
ecopals develops technologies that reduce the dependence of road construction on fossil raw materials. Asphalt traditionally consists of aggregates and bitumen, a petroleum-based binder whose performance is enhanced through newly produced polymers. Both components are cost-intensive and associated with a significant carbon footprint. This is precisely where ecopals comes in. We process recycled plastics into a high-performance asphalt additive called EcoFlakes. In asphalt mixtures, EcoFlakes replace virgin polymers and simultaneously substitute a share of the bitumen, without compromising quality or durability. The result is longer-lasting roads, lower CO₂ emissions and reduced total lifecycle costs of infrastructure.
Our asphalt technologies were developed in close collaboration with leading German research institutions, including the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology and the University of Kassel. Today, EcoFlakes are used in more than 40 projects across seven countries, ranging from heavily trafficked motorways and logistics hubs to bus stops and municipal roads.
What problem is ecopals addressing?
Road construction is often perceived as a conservative industry, yet it is of critical importance. It shapes the carbon footprint of entire economies, consumes vast quantities of raw materials and is increasingly affected by rising costs. To date, the industry relies on newly produced polymers to enhance pavement performance. This approach is neither environmentally nor geopolitically sustainable. With EcoFlakes, we demonstrate that identical performance can be achieved using recycled plastics. In doing so, we address two challenges at once. We reduce the consumption of fossil resources while giving recycled plastics a new and valuable purpose. At the same time, we extend the service life of roads and lower maintenance and rehabilitation efforts. This makes road construction not only more climate-friendly, but also more economically efficient.
Where do you see ecopals in the coming years? What are you working on at the moment?
Our focus is on international scaling, building on Germany as our domestic market. Sustainability targets and rising cost pressure are not unique to Germany but shape road construction markets worldwide. Across regions, public authorities and private asset owners seek solutions that use materials more efficiently while improving the performance, resilience and service life of infrastructure. In the coming years, we aim to establish EcoFlakes as a globally recognised standard solution for polymer-modified asphalt based on recycled materials.
To achieve this at scale, we have deliberately built capabilities that go beyond a single product or application. While road construction remains our focus, we see significant untapped potential for environmentally friendly and cost-effective materials across a wider range of industries. To systematically unlock this potential, we rely on our in-house software to assess material formulations before physical production and testing. Our cloud-based virtual laboratory predicts rheological, structural-mechanical and physico-chemical properties, enabling data-driven decisions at an earlier stage and significantly shortening development cycles. This capability extends beyond road construction, as core material performance characteristics are decisive in many industrial applications.
What has been the most important lesson learnt from implementing your technology across different countries and project types?
One of the most important lessons has been that performance-based innovation travels better than purely regulatory-driven solutions. While standards, specifications and approval pathways differ significantly from country to country, the core challenges are remarkably similar: rising costs, limited resources and the need for durable infrastructure. Projects in different regions have shown us that once decision-makers see reliable performance data and real-world references, openness to recycled-material solutions increases rapidly. This has reinforced our focus on close collaboration with local partners as the foundation for successful international deployment.
What does IRF offer in terms of supporting and strengthening ecopals’ work?
The IRF represents a network that is unique within the road and infrastructure sector. Decision-making in this industry is strongly relationship-driven. Therefore, progress is often enabled through personal exchange rather than purely formal processes. The IRF brings together precisely those stakeholders, public authorities, operators and industry leaders, who shape infrastructure development globally, in a way that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
For ecopals, this network is highly valuable. Beyond the visibility created by sharing member news within and beyond the Federation, we are particularly looking forward to active exchange, informed feedback and learning from experienced practitioners. At the same time, the reputation of the IRF and the perspectives of its members provide important third-party validation, which supports trust-building and accelerates adoption when entering new markets.
Photo from ecopals
Prepare for Impact! The Thinking Behind the IRF’s Masterclasses and Panels
Originally published by Intertraffic through intertraffic.com.
The International Road Federation (IRF) is set to highlight innovative and sustainable road practices at the Intertraffic Amsterdam 2026 Summit Programme with a must-attend series of masterclasses and panel sessions.
Across the four days and multiple stages, IRF, a member-based organisation active in over 130 countries will deliver a fast-paced programme of masterclasses and member-led panels designed to ‘translate global trends and challenges into operational guidance and real-world impacts'.
Across the four days and multiple stages, IRF, a member-based organisation active in over 130 countries will deliver a fast-paced programme of masterclasses and member-led panels designed to ‘translate global trends and challenges into operational guidance and real-world impacts'.
"IRF will deliver a fast-paced programme of masterclasses and member-led panels designed to translate global trends and challenges into operational guidance and real-world impacts"
Intertraffic’s editorial team caught up with the IRF’s Senior Advisor Brendan Halleman and Head of Membership & Partnerships Olivia Denzler to discuss the thinking behind the format and content of their thought-provoking sessions and masterclasses.
“Intertraffic has always been a big feature in IRF’s calendar, but perhaps even more so this time around than it has before,” says Olivia. “The IRF team has collectively attended many editions of Intertraffic, but we always look forward to the next one. We’ve got two booths this year, one in Hall 3 and one in Hall 11, and we're hosting several sessions in the Summit programme and within the Road Safety stage that we're particularly looking forward to.”
“We've really upped the game here in terms of the partnership with Intertraffic,” Brendan adds. “Historically the IRF and Intertraffic have always been ‘a thing’ since the show’s early days. With this year's line-up, we’re reconnecting with that glorious past. We’re running masterclasses that are short, focused mini training seminars as well as panels with our members for a deep dive into contemporary topics.”
Great Expectations
As an example of what to expect, one such session will focus on the notion of a greener, safer future that brings together climate and safety specialists to discuss shared challenges.
"We've really upped the game here in terms of the partnership with Intertraffic. We’re running masterclasses that are short, focused mini training seminars as well as panels with our members for a deep dive into contemporary topics"
“We are also participating in a number of other sessions, some of which are organized by Intertraffic,” he adds. “We’re doing one in partnership with FIDIC [International Federation of Consulting Engineers], the organization our former Director General Susanna Zammataro is now heading up. This is a multi-level, multi-tiered, engagement with this year's show.
“The panels will be something you're a bit more familiar with in terms of the format,” Brendan continues, “where we bring three or four speakers, with a good background of private and institutional research. We're getting speakers from the City of Amsterdam and Rijkswaterstaat, so we are fully leveraging our host country. The master classes are a slightly different creature in the sense that they are 45 minutes long and instructor-led. What we're trying to do is provide key insights from a learning perspective.”
A Truly Global Perspective
So, from an organisational perspective, what are the IRF aiming to get out of this year’s event? In the ‘olden days’ (which probably ended in the early twenty-teens), a successful event such as an Intertraffic could be measured by the height of the pile of business cards that you and your colleagues had collected – now, Intertraffic asks Brendan Halleman, would it be more a case of feeling as though you have strengthened your position as thought leaders?
“At Intertraffic, IRF aims to connect organisations and stakeholders to shape the future of road and transport infrastructure systems for people and the planet,” he responds. “For IRF, impact means using its tools and resources to engage members, mobilise the global road transport ecosystem, influence policy, and strengthen capacities for inclusive, safe, green and efficient road systems.”
"At Intertraffic, IRF aims to connect organisations and stakeholders to shape the future of road and transport infrastructure systems for people and the planet"
Asked about how the organisation will measure this, Olivia notes: “It's scale, but also the people that it manages to bring together. That's also what the IRF does with our huge network and our membership, and the global nature of that membership. Intertraffic is a great place for us to bring all those people together and to have those conversations from a global perspective.”
“In this day and age, with Zoom- and Team-based events, Intertraffic is one of our touch points,” adds Brendan. “Even within our membership, many of our members, arguably most of our membership, will be present in one form or another. There's no better opportunity for us to connect and reconnect with them, present our programmes, discuss our shared agenda and learn about their innovations. It’s an educational event for us as well.”
Transformational Times
Intertraffic Amsterdam 2026 coincides with something of a transformational period for the IRF. The organisation is in the throes of rolling out IRF’s Vision 2030 strategy, which serves as a roadmap and a call to action for the global road community. It challenges the sector to see road systems not simply as physical assets, but a platform for equity, resilience and shared progress.
“we’re hoping to inform and inspire and help people make sense of no just individual technologies, but how they operate within a broader transport system and their broader impacts"
“At the end of the day,” Brendan concludes, “we’re hoping to inform and inspire and help people make sense of no just individual technologies, but how they operate within a broader transport system and their broader impacts, including in some cases the trade-offs between different impacts. In doing so we will help them better understand the positioning of the IRF as a platform at the service of the sector. It gives us the opportunity to be that kind of conduit, as well as bringing those conversations about successes and challenges together. It’s great to be able to talk about it, because there’s something that everyone can take from those conversations.”
IRF Director General Participates in GRIS 2026
New Delhi, India | 5–6 February - International Road Federation (IRF) Director General Gonzalo Alcaraz participated in the Global Road Infratech Summit and Expo (GRIS 2026), organised by the IRF India Chapter under the theme “Vision Zero India: Integrating Safety, Sustainability and Technology in Infra.”
GRIS 2026 convened policymakers, industry leaders and technical experts to examine how infrastructure systems can simultaneously advance road safety, environmental sustainability and technological innovation. It focused on practical approaches to achieving Vision Zero objectives while supporting India’s transition toward low-carbon, climate-resilient transport infrastructure.
During the event, DG Alcaraz chaired a technical session titled “Sustainable Infratech for Transformative Change in India: Vision Zero for Safety and Carbon-Free Developments,” where discussions centred on integrating safety standards, sustainable design and emerging technologies into infrastructure planning and delivery. He also joined a panel on “Policy to Practice: Enabling Vision Zero through Sustainable Infrastructure and Smart Mobility,” addressing the role of governance frameworks and industry collaboration in translating policy commitments into operational results.
The summit programme covered a wide range of priorities aligned with IRF’s mission, including smart infrastructure governance, innovations in road and pavement engineering, resilient construction practices, asset management and sustainable materials.
The rest of the Summit themes included:
- Policy and Governance for Smart Infra
- Innovations in Road Infrastructure
- Bridges and Tunnels in Future
- Technology Upgrade for Road Infra
- Sustainability and Resilience in Infrastructure
- Smart Infrastructure for Safety
- Sustainable Construction Practices
- Contracting System Innovations for Quality-Sustainable Infra
- Innovations for Durable Pavement
- Recycling of Materials for Infrastructure
- Various Bitumen Formulations
- Smart Asset Management for Economy in O&M
Parallel to the conference, an exhibition showcased advances from road sector companies, academic institutions and research organisations developing next-generation infrastructure solutions.
GRIS 2026 served as a platform for international knowledge exchange and professional networking, reinforcing cooperation between public and private stakeholders working to improve the safety, efficiency and sustainability of road infrastructure. DG Alcaraz’s participation supported ongoing efforts to promote global best practices and strengthen partnerships that contribute to safer and more resilient transport systems.
“GRIS 2026 concluded on a powerful note, bringing together policymakers, global experts, industry leaders, academicians and practitioners on one platform to collectively reimagine the future of road infrastructure and mobility in India. GRIS 2026 was not just a summit—it was a collective commitment towards safer roads, sustainable infrastructure and people-centric mobility. A heartfelt thank you to all speakers, panellists, delegates, partners, sponsors, exhibitors and the organising team for making GRIS 2026 a resounding success. The conversations started here will continue to shape action on the ground.” - IRF India Chapter
Photo credit: IRF India Chapter
