This week, the LCRIG team has been in two places at once split between the ITS European Congress in Seville and Traffex in the UK. Both events are equally important for us, offering vital opportunities to support our members and engage with industry partners.
At Traffex, Keely, Shelley, and Claire represented LCRIG, where they met with members – and met the Minister (watch for Keely’s introductory comments this week for more on that). Meanwhile, in Seville, Kerry, Susanne, and I have been supporting the Transport Technology Forum (TTF) and the Department for Transport (DfT) at the UK Pavilion.
Kerry did an outstanding job organising the UK Pavilion where we hosted several receptions that spotlighted the innovative SMEs that joined us. These events were designed to raise the profile of UK innovation and strengthen our presence on the European stage.
We were also joined by key figures from the Department for Business and Trade, including João Sebastião, UK Country Director for Spain, José Luis Briceño, Director of Trade & Investment and David Montoya, Trade Officer in Bilbao. Their presence was a real asset, offering invaluable support to the 11 SMEs on the UK Pavilion. These SMEs are looking to expand into Spain and beyond, and the support from the Department for Business and Trade provides them with crucial connections and market insights.
I often smile when people assume this kind of collaboration is straightforward – it’s anything but. Kerry and Susanne make it look effortless, creating a welcoming, professional space not only for SMEs but also for dignitaries, ministries, and international partners.
I tend to wear several hats at events like these:
- Policy Support – I support the DfT from both a local government and TTF policy perspective.
- Innovation “Scout” – I seek out and explore global innovations that could benefit the UK.
- Rapporteur Duties – I’m part of the international rapporteur team, responsible for attending and summarising technical sessions for the final ITS Congress reports.
For those unfamiliar, rapporteurs are assigned several submitted congress papers to review ahead of time. At the event, we attend sessions, take detailed notes, and contribute to daily insights and the final summary report. I genuinely enjoy this role – it gives me a chance to explore topics outside my day-to-day remit and satisfy my deep curiosity.
This year, I’ve covered sessions on:
- Resilient and societal mobility
- Drone policy across countries
- AI-powered tools at bus stops tackling illegal parking
- Holistic multimodal transport strategies in Germany
- Sustainable freight via inland waterways
- Building resilience in transport systems
One standout moment was a plenary session focused on resilience, where I asked the first question: “Which resilience factors should public authorities prioritise given limited funding?” The responses were fascinating – while climate change was discussed, the panel also emphasised cybersecurity, energy and data resilience, and human resilience.
Outside of rapporteur work, I’ve been meeting and talking with representatives from various ministries, European countries, and the EU Commission. These conversations help us stay informed about European developments that could impact the UK – be it regulatory, technical, or societal.
A particularly eye-opening topic was “military mobility.” I hadn’t come across this before, but it turns out there’s a significant European funding programme focused on upgrading infrastructure to allow rapid troop deployment. It’s a reminder that transport policy intersects with many unexpected areas.
In all, this congress has reinforced just how critical it is to stay connected to the broader European landscape. Whether it’s collaboration, innovation, or policy development, our work here directly strengthens our ability to support members back in the UK.
Paula Claytonsmith, CEO