As the industry looks forward to the ITS European Congress in Seville (May 19-21), the city’s Mayor José Luis Sanz gives his opinion on the importance of the event, in particular the Smart Mobility Summit of Cities and Regions, which will be held during the event
The Smart Mobility Summit of Cities and Regions will once again be among the highlights of the ITS European Congress, hosted this May by the City of Seville. This signature event is acclaimed for bringing together decision makers from across Europe to share knowledge and exchange ideas about implementing smart and sustainable mobility solutions. The Summit focuses on the role of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) as an instrument for driving innovation to attain societal, environmental and business goals in cities and regions for the benefit of all.
For Seville and the other cities that are part of the EU’s Mission Cities initiative, this year’s Summit will be particularly significant as it centres on ITS topics that have a direct bearing on this agenda. The Cities Mission 2030 expects to create 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by the end of this decade. Seville is among the 100 cities from the 27 EU Member States and 12 cities from Horizon Europe associated countries that have set targets to implement sustainable transport solutions to reduce emissions, enhance air quality, and increase the overall resilience of urban infrastructure. The Smart Mobility Summit of Cities and Regions will serve as a collaborative platform to exchange knowledge, discuss policies, and share information about successful mobility projects with a view to accelerating the adoption of smart, data-driven technologies and integrated transport systems.
“For cities like Seville and for many of our peers, these discussions go beyond the merely theoretical as they inform real policies that touch the lives of thousands”
As we advance on our mission to augment the quality of life of our citizens and set an example around the world, collaboration is key to ensuring success. Irrespective of size or differences in the state of progress, exchanging insights and best practices is invaluable for cities and municipalities. Besides the implementation of climate neutrality roadmaps, the transition to smart cities involves complexities such as cross-border interoperability, public-private partnerships, and the design and use of public space. The Summit will highlight topics such as digital transformation, decarbonisation, and citizen-centric design, ensuring our mobility systems are not only efficient but also equitable and inclusive.
For cities like Seville and for many of our peers, these discussions go beyond the merely theoretical as they inform real policies that touch the lives of thousands. 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.
To my fellow leaders across Europe, I urge you to join us in Seville this May for this peer-to-peer, by-invitation-only event. Your participation is vital, not just to enrich the dialogue but to ensure the solutions we forge are robust, scalable, and universally beneficial.
Seville, with its vibrant history and forward-looking spirit, is proud to host the Smart Mobility Summit of Cities and Regions as part of the 16th ITS European Congress. We look forward to welcoming you to our city, where the past and future converge, and where with you, we would like to take yet another decisive step forward in our mission toward smarter mobility. Let us seize this opportunity to lead boldly and collaboratively toward the shared vision of a sustainable and interconnected Europe.
To register your interest please contact Rita Bhandari at r.bhandari@mail.ertico.com
This article also appears on the ITS European Congress website
