On 5th December, it was officially announced that the Netherlands will host a leading European Congress on the topic of Smart Mobility in 2019. The European ITS Congress will take place from 3 to 6 June 2019 in the Brainport region Eindhoven-Helmond. The congress gives centre stage to innovation and projects to do with smart mobility, such as self-driving cars, traffic jams avoidance developments and logistics. A few of these innovations could already be seen at the announcement at the Automotive Campus in Helmond.
The congress is an important international event to show both industry and business what the Netherlands, and in particular the Brainport region, can offer in the field of Smart Mobility. It offers the Netherlands the chance to confirm its leading position to around 2,500 visitors from all over Europe, but also to the international trade press. Interested parties, including the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management were fully engaged in hosting such a high level gathering, and have now been rewarded by the allocation of the event to the Netherlands by the event's organiser Ertico.
Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuijzen: "I'd like to congratulate the region and the organisations involved. It's an honour for the Netherlands to host the ITS Congress 2019. For both governments and the sector, it's a something to look forward to, an opportunity to show what we're able to do."
Nico Anten, managing director of trade organisation Connekt, on behalf of all partners: "The Netherlands wants to become and remain a global leader in Smart Mobility. Through intensive collaboration - something we're very good at in the Netherlands - we can improve traffic flow, reduce harmful emissions, increase road safety and contribute to a healthy and vibrant economy. Just how we can do that, and how other countries can make use of our services, is something we're going to demonstrate at the ITS Congress 2019."
Together with Jacob Bangsgaard (CEO of ERTICO-ITS Europe), the Mayor of Helmond, Elly Blanksma-van den Heuvel signed the contract on behalf of all 60 partners in the Netherlands. Helmond and Eindhoven will host this event and will be supported by the Province of North Brabant, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Brainport Development and Connekt/ITS Netherlands. The Congress is sponsored by Dynniq (main sponsor), Goudappel Coffeng, VDL Group, Hermes and HERE.
Gert Blom, Chairman Host of the ITS Congress Committee, about the Congress Destination:
"Following an intensive bidding process, and two site visits we managed to convince Ertico that the Eindhoven-Helmond region was best placed to host the Congress. For European conferences like this one, issues such as international accessibility, a favourable and varied selection of hotels and professional venues for congress, expo and side programmes are very important. With this bid, we were able to show that we definitely compare well to other European cities."
Eindhoven365 & VisitBrabant Convention Bureau
The bid process for the ITS European Congress was co-supervised by Eindhoven365 on behalf of VisitBrabant Convention Bureau. Eindhoven365, from its role marketing the city, focuses on conferences that can increase the global profile of Eindhoven and the region. VisitBrabant Convention Bureau focuses on positioning Brabant as a MICE destination, and facilitates meeting planners, PCOs and other professionals in organising their meetings, incentives, conferences and/or events.
End Press Release
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Note for the press
Organiser ITS European Congress 2019: ERTICO – ITS Europe
ERTICO-ITS Europe is a multisectoral collaboration of around 100 businesses and institutes that are involved in developing Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). ERTICO partners develop collective initiatives for the design and implementation of intelligent transport systems, that can improve road safety, help achieve a cleaner environment, and deliver cost-effective mobility. Ertico hosts the ITS Nationals Network which Connekt/ITS Netherlands is affiliated with on behalf of the Dutch parties.
Hosts of the ITS European Congress 2019: the municipalities of Eindhoven and Helmond.
Within Brabant, government and business work together as a Smart Mobility Region. With the mobility consumer as a central linchpin, Brabant is working on a network of smart mobility solutions which will improve accessibility, quality of life and safety.
Eindhoven365 http://www.eindhoven365.nl/en
VisitBrabant Convention Bureau www.visitbrabant.com/conventionbureau
Would you like more information?
For more information, please contact Cuno Groenewoud, Eindhoven365: cuno@eindhoven365.nl, +31 (0)6 20600385, http://www.eindhoven365.nl/en
