As the historic city of Seville prepares to host the 16th ITS European Congress (May 19-21) industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators are set to tackle the pressing challenges of modern mobility with a focus on sustainability, resilience, and connectivity. We take a look at some of the highlights to watch out for in a busy three days in Spain
The 16th ITS European Congress, taking place from May 19-21, 2025, comes at what Joost Vantomme, CEO of organizers ERTICO-ITS Europe, describes as “a critical juncture” for transportation.
The event has registered a record-breaking number of submissions for its Technical Programme from 41 countries across Europe, highlighting the growing importance of intelligent transportation systems in addressing mobility challenges across the continent, with visitors expected from all around the world, facilitating a truly international knowledge exchange.
“In the last few years, there has been a seismic shift in the development of transportation systems and services”
Joost Vantomme, CEO, ERTICO-ITS Europe
“In the last few years, there has been a seismic shift in the development of transportation systems and services powered by the convergence of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligent, virtual and augmented reality, the roll-out of next-generation communications, and the ubiquity of data use,” says Vantomme.
The congress theme, Clean, Resilient, and Connected Mobility, highlights the need for transportation systems to be sustainable, robust and increasingly connected.
Europe is striving to meet its ambitious climate goals, with ITS solutions driving the transition to cleaner mobility and lower emissions through the development of electric vehicle infrastructure, optimization of public transport systems, and sustainable logistics.
Connected for success
One of the major themes of the event in Seville will be cooperative, connected, and automated mobility (CCAM), the development of which is accelerating across Europe, with €1 billion invested through Horizon Europe’s CCAM Programme, the CCAM Partnership has fueled progress in technology, safety validation, infrastructure and societal needs.
However, advancing CCAM from pilots to real-world applications requires compelling business cases to prove the technology will improve efficiency and safety. With each city presenting unique needs, scaling these solutions across Europe adds layers of complexity that must be navigated carefully.
Such challenges will be examined in Seville, with conversations facilitating the exchange of ideas between those who have already completed pilots, sharing best practice and lessons learned. Sessions will explore funding mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and infrastructure critical for modern ITS. Case studies of CCAM scaling, especially those revealing adaptable approaches to existing urban layouts, will provide city planners and policymakers with tools to transform pilot projects into sustainable infrastructure.
One of the critical hurdles in CCAM’s full-scale deployment remains the lack of harmonized standards in Europe. The regulatory landscape is a patchwork, with each EU member state often implementing its own standards for data, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications, and cybersecurity. Sessions at the congress will highlight the success of schemes already underway to create unified frameworks for cross-border CCAM implementation, and look at ways these could be expanded to transform mobility right across the continent.
Artificial intelligence is helping to enhance CCAM capabilities, enabling real-time environment perception and decision making, predictive maintenance, and seamless traffic management. The Seville congress will showcase how AI systems can process vast data in real time, optimizing energy use and enhancing traffic flow while remaining resilient against unexpected disruptions. A high-level look at these issues will take place in the event’s third plenary session, Towards Leadership in CCAM and Automated Driving Technologies (see Plenary Sessions, below).
Underpinning every kind of ITS, from CCAM to enforcement, is data. The handling of data is entering a new era in Europe this year with the EU’s Data Act coming into force in September 2025. “Harnessing data effectively and ethically is fundamental to creating seamless, multimodal mobility services that meet user needs and address societal goals such as accessibility, inclusivity and equity,” says Vantomme.
CCAM promises to enhance Europe’s social and economic landscape, positioning mobility as a force for equality and connection. Congress sessions will explore how realizing CCAM’s potential for accessible, sustainable mobility in underserved areas requires a nuanced approach and discussions will include scalable deployment strategies for both densely populated and remote areas.
Seville – city of the future
As the host city, Seville offers a dynamic backdrop for the Congress – it is part of the EU’s Mission Cities initiative, which aims to create 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by the end of this decade, meaning city officials are well placed to lead the Congress’s Smart Mobility Summit of Cities and Regions
“Seville, with its vibrant history and forward-looking spirit, is proud to host the Smart Mobility Summit”
José Luis Sanz, Mayor of Seville
“Seville, with its vibrant history and forward-looking spirit, is proud to host the Smart Mobility Summit,” says José Luis Sanz, Mayor of Seville. “Seville’s journey toward sustainable mobility has seen it pioneering a comprehensive network of cycling infrastructure, promoting electric mobility, integrating advanced technologies in public transportation, and developing multi-modal hubs. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our city, where the past and future converge.”
The city’s Mobility Management Centre (CGM) demonstrates how AI-driven transport operations can enhance efficiency and sustainability. “For more than four decades, the DGT [Directorate-General for Traffic, Spain’s national department for transportation] has been a pioneer in deployment of ITS,” says Ana Luz Jiménez Ortega, provincial head of traffic for Seville. “During the ITS European Congress in Seville, attendees will have the opportunity to discover more about our reality and we will be able to share with them our experience in the use of ITS to save lives, reduce pollution and traffic jams.” See Demos & Technical Tours, below.
The congress will also provide an opportunity to focus on national achievements. “We will be proud to showcase Spain’s innovative contributions to ITS at the event in Seville and eagerly anticipate learning from global advancements to further refine our approaches,” says Sebastian de la Rica Castedo, chairman of ITS Spain.
“I call upon the ITS community to come together to address the challenges and opportunities we are faced with,” says Vantomme. “With a clear vision, a commitment to shared values, and our joint efforts, we can harness the potential of new technologies to drive the agenda forward towards a climate-neutral and inclusive future in Europe and around the world.”
Plenary sessions
Each day of the event will have a plenary session that bring to life the overarching congress theme of Clean, Resilient, and Connected Mobility
Plenary 1: Sustainable future
The Green Shift – Accelerating a Sustainable Future through ITS
Monday May 20th, 15:15 – 16:15
The first plenary will explore how ITS can accelerate the transition to a more sustainable society. The keynote will be from Maria Corral, deputy director general of the Spanish Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility. Other distinguished speakers will include MEP Virginijus Sinkevicius, Belén Linares from MOEVE (formally CEPSA), and Adam Wieczorek, deputy mayor of the City of Łódz.
Plenary 2: Preparing for uncertainty
Resilient by Design – Shaping a Competitive Mobility Value Chain
Tuesday May 20th, 9:00 – 10:00
On Day 2 the plenary will address the urgent need for resilience in Europe’s mobility and logistics ecosystems to withstand environmental, technological, and geopolitical uncertainties. Herald Ruijters, deputy director general of the European Commission’s DG MOVE, will deliver the keynote, with speakers including Laura Eiro from the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications, Marco Falcone from the European Space Agency, and Elena Fernandez from Correos.
Plenary 3: Accelerating connectivity
Towards Leadership in CCAM and Automated Driving Technologies
Wednesday May 21st 9:00 – 10:00
The final plenary will focus on strategies to foster innovation and accelerate market adoption of connected and automated mobility solutions. Jim Misener, global V2X lead at Qualcomm, will deliver the keynote, with panelists including Ana Blanco from the Spanish Directorate General of Traffic and Francisco Sanchez Pons, Electronics, ITS & Smart Mobility Director at CTAG.
Demos and technical tours
Live demonstrations and technical tours will be available to ITS European Congress visitors. Here are some of the highlights to look out for
1 – TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CENTER TOUR
The Directorate-General for Traffic and City of Seville are offering a unique glimpse into the nerve centers of modern mobility with a tour of the DGT Traffic Management Center and the Seville City Council Mobility Center. Attendees will see how cutting-edge technology and real-time data are being used to ensure safety, efficiency, and fluidity in Seville and across Spain.
Duration: 140 minutes (including travel)
2 – AUTONOMOUS SHUTTLE SERVICE
Attendees will have the chance to ride an autonomous shuttle service connecting the Torre del Oro and the Seville Aquarium, with extensions to the cruise terminal on specific days. Featuring Level 4 autonomy and V2X-enabled connectivity the proof-of-concept (PoC) pilot is organized by Port of Seville and CTAG to showcase the potential of autonomous and connected shuttles operating in real-world, high-demand scenarios.
Duration: 70 minutes
3 – AIR MOBILITY VISIT
There will be a chance to discover the cutting-edge aviation at CATEC, advanced aerospace technologies center, as well as the Airbus plant. Visitors will explore state-of-the art facilities, groundbreaking projects, and collaborative hubs that drive advancements in ITS and aerospace technology.
Duration: 150 minutes (including travel)
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A visit to one of Amazon’s most advanced robotics-enabled centres will show how smart logistics can reduce the need to transport heavy loads, driving efficiency, precision, and sustainability in supply chain operations. Supporting Amazon’s first-mile operations in Spain, the center can store several million units, leveraging ITS to optimize logistics.
Duration: 130 minutes (including travel)
4 – ITS CORRIDOR
On the urban and interurban C-ITS corridor in Seville visitors will be able to experience live demonstrations of cooperative services, including real-time traffic information, hazard alerts, and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication. The City of Seville will show how these innovations enhance safety, efficiency and sustainability on the roads.
Duration: 20 minutes
6 – PORT OF SEVILLE
There will be a chance to explore the dynamic operations of the Seville Port and its cutting-edge management centre, where technology ensures seamless logistics and maritime efficiency. This tour will also give the chance to ride the Port of Seville and CTAG autonomous shuttle offered standalone in a separate tour.
Duration: 150 minutes (including travel)
Exhibitor Highlights
Monotch – Stand B7
Monotch will unveil the latest version of its TLEX (Traffic Live Exchange) platform in Seville on Stand B7, featuring innovations that drastically cut lead time and effort for C-ITS implementations. Monotch’s TLEX ecosystem partners can generate recurring revenue through real-time data integration, shared revenue propositions, or even by white-labeling TLEX. Monotch will also lead Special Interest Session 21: Societal Benefits to Business Models: the Benelux C-ITS Ecosystem (10:30am-11:30am, Tuesday May 20th, Paris ABCD room) with experts from the Dutch and Flemish governments, Kia, Swarco, and Be-Mobile. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover how Monotch is shaping the future of intelligent transportation in the Benelux region and across Europe.
Quarterhill – Stand A64
Quarterhill is a leading provider of tolling and enforcement solutions. At the ITS European Congress in Seville on Stand A64 it will be showcasing radar-based intersection detection products that provide precision in traffic flow optimization and pedestrian safety. Its Icoms radars are ideal for loop replacement, traffic counting/classification and bicycle counts. Also on show will be its commercial vehicle enforcement solutions for monitoring and enforcement of heavy vehicle weights and tire safety. Quarterhill’s weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems and products deliver accurate vehicle weight and classification data, critical for infrastructure protection and traffic management.
Swarco – Stand B5-A
At Swarco’s stand (B5-A) visitors will have the chance to experience the new multi-user VR experience showing what cities can do to come closer to the targets of the European Green Deal. This is an evolved version of the GoGreen initiative launched during the Lisbon congress in 2023. As the event is hosted in Spain, Swarco is taking the opportunity to exhibit alongside new colleagues from Swarco in Madrid, showcasing their technology to support modal shift to public transportation. Latest advancements in MyCity urban mobility software, including how CCAM and AI-driven innovations enhance traffic control, will also be on display.
Triplesign – Stand E5
At the ITS European Congress, Triplesign will present its revolutionary 0.2W solution for traffic safety. Unlike LED VMS, the three-message Triplesign is highly durable, energy-efficient, and wireless – ideal for quick and easy installation. It operates anywhere: school zones, slippery roads, floodprone areas, or wildlife crossings. It’s also perfect for dynamic lane management, rush-hour use of emergency lanes, or traffic redirection during events or roadworks. With its ultra-low power consumption, the Triplesign VMS offers a smart and sustainable alternative. Curious? Visit Tiplesign at the Nordic+ Pavilion, Stand E5
You can also read this guide in the May 2025 edition of TTi magazine
