“With just one year to go until we welcome the international ITS community to Birmingham, the UK-ERTICO – ITS European Pavilion in Korea provides a fantastic opportunity to showcase the very best of UK transport technology.”
These words from ITS UK Chief Executive Max Sugarman come as UK-based organisations prepare to take part in the 2026 ITS World Congress in the east Korean city of Gangneung next week, demonstrating their technology, meeting international partners and building excitement for the next Congress, which takes place in Birmingham in October 2027.
The Pavilion is co-funded by the Department for Transport, ERTICO – ITS Europe and Transport for West Midlands. It will bring together ITS UK alongside AGD Systems, Q-Free Podaris and Zenzic, alongside participants from across Europe and beyond. As well as showcasing transport innovation, it will offer Congress visitors an introduction to Birmingham 2027 and the opportunities to take part.
Mr Sugarman added: “For ITS UK, it’s also a chance to build new international partnerships, particularly with our counterpart associations across Asia.”
Visitors to the Pavilion will be able to explore expertise in connected and automated mobility, detection, transport planning and road technology. They will also be able to meet the Department for Transport delegation and the Birmingham 2027 team, who will be inviting businesses, authorities and researchers to participate in next year’s event.
Zenzic’s Head of Technology, Francis McKinney, said: “We are fortunate to be showcasing some fantastic projects and organisations this year, so it will be great to show the rest of the world just how innovative a Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) ecosystem we have in the UK and the exciting opportunities it presents to businesses who choose to invest here.
“We look forward to showcasing the UK’s growing CAM capability on the global stage and are excited to host businesses from across the globe when the conference comes to the UK next year for ITS 2027.”
AGD Systems is also looking forward to exchanging ideas with the international industry. Giorgio Potenza, International Business Development manager said: “AGD Systems are excited to be attending ITS Korea, connecting with industry leaders, exploring new prospects and sharing our expertise in above-ground detection. World Congresses are also a great opportunity to learn nuances of the global industry.”
For Podaris, the Congress is an opportunity to show work already connecting UK and Korean partners, while looking ahead to its next stage in Birmingham. Co-founder and UK KUDATA Lead Devon Barrett said: “For two years we’ve worked with UK and Korean partners on KUDATA, an AI-enabled digital twin for designing fairer bus networks. Korea’s data-rich cities and Transport for West Midlands’ advice shaped it. See it in Gangneung, and what’s next for Birmingham 2027.”
Q-Free will use the Pavilion to present its weigh-in-motion and road user charging work. Its Global Event & Marketing Manager, May Gulbrandsen, said: “The ITS World Congress brings together the people, ideas, and technologies shaping the future of transportation. Q-Free is proud to be part of the UK Pavilion and look forward to showcasing our weigh-in-motion and road user charging solutions, alongside our broader ITS portfolio, helping make mobility safer, more efficient, and more sustainable while strengthening collaboration across global markets.”
On the European side, the Pavilion will include the CAR 2 CAR Communication Consortium, representatives from Ireland’s Department of Transport, TamData and AUMOVIO. ITS Africa Conference will also be presented, alongside ERTICO – ITS Europe and the Birmingham 2027 team. Together, the participants will give visitors a place to discover technologies, discuss shared transport challenges and make connections across markets.
The Pavilion will also serve as a launchpad for the invitation to Birmingham. Throughout the week in Gangneung, the 2027 team will explain how organisations can exhibit, form partnerships, contribute to the programme or demonstrate technology when the Congress comes to the NEC from 25–29 October 2027. This is the 33rd ITS World Congress, and brings the international ITS community back to the UK for the first time since London hosted the event in 2006.
A series of Pavilion events will carry that invitation to visitors, including a panel session focusing on a Connected World, drinks receptions promoting Birmingham 2027 and interviews with stand participants.
To find out more about the Pavilion click here.
The 33rd ITS World Congress will then be held at Birmingham’s NEC from 25–29 October 2027. It is organised by ERTICO – ITS Europe and hosted by Transport for West Midlands with the support of the Department for Transport.
For information about opportunities to participate in the ITS World Congress in Birmingham, contact Jordan Cowley from Transport for West Midlands’ commercial team at Jordan.Cowley@tfwm.org.uk, or Jasvinda Sidhu from ERTICO at j.sidhu@mail.ertico.com.
(Picture shows the UK Pavilion from last year’s ITS World Congress in Atlanta, courtesy of TfWM)