ITS United Kingdom (ITS UK) has signed three new international Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) at the ITS World Congress in Melbourne, Australia.
ITS UK, the not-for-profit public/private sector association for the promotion of intelligent transport systems (ITS) in the UK, has signed MoUs with three new countries at the ITS World Congress, expanding the organization’s global reach and helping to raise awareness of the country’s latest transportation initiatives.
ITS UK has signed new MoUs with Germany, Greece and Thailand, with the aim of promoting greater collaboration and closer ties with the three countries and their governments and transportation industries. ITS UK’s membership of over 150 UK organizations, comprises government departments, local authorities, consultants, manufacturing and service companies, and academic and research institutions. ITS UK encourages national and international discussion on issues such as public/private co-operation, standards, legislation, information provision, and new technology.
The new MoUs were signed by Richard Harris, ITS UK’s international director, taking the total number of national ITS organizations with which he has secured MoUs on behalf of ITS UK to 35.
At last year’s ITS World Congress in Bordeaux, France, Harris, director of communications and marketing for transportation and government in the international public sector at Xerox, was awarded the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award by ERTICO – ITS Europe and was inducted into the ITS Hall of Fame. As international director of ITS UK, Harris has overseen the establishment of an international contacts network unparalleled at the level of national ITS associations, and has ensured that ITS UK is known and respected around the world.
Speaking exclusively to Traffic Technology Today, Harris said, “We’re happy to collaborate with everyone, for greater links between ITS organizations around the world. Jennie Martin, our secretary general, sends out information to the membership, and she also sends it to all of our international partners. So they all get information on what we are doing, and what is going on. It’s good for the UK and it’s good for ITS. We are hoping these MoUs between ITS organizations will also help to foster greater collaboration between governments on transportation issues.”
As well as the new partnerships with Germany, Greece and Thailand, Harris has previously signed MoUs on behalf of ITS UK with: ITS America, ERTICO – ITS Europe and ITS Arab, as well as Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brittany (France), Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Finland, France, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malta, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, Shenzhen (China), Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Russia, and Taiwan.
