LCRIG helps give UK SMEs a chance to shine at ITS European Congress

The Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) helped play a key role in bringing together a British delegation of small and medium sized companies which took part in the ITS European Congress in Lisbon this week.

Zenzic, Navtech Radar, Clearview Intelligence, Nicander, Now Wireless, Angoka, Ito World, Neology, Arup, Grid Smarter Cities, See.Sense and VESOS all formed part of the UK Pavilion, showcasing a range of the country’s latest innovations in improving sustainability, transport network efficiency and safety over the three-day event.

LCRIG Finance and Operations Director Kerry Winstanley said: ”It’s been a fabulous opportunity to be able to organise the UK pavilion at the ITS European Congress on behalf of the Transport Technology Forum (TTF). It has been a great few days and the event has proved to be extremely beneficial to the UK organisations who came to Lisbon with us as part of the UK delegation. With fantastic support from the British Embassy in Lisbon and the LCRIG team, we’ve been able to share on a global scale the innovative technology being developed by UK organisations in road transport technology.”

The British Ambassador to Portugal Chris Sainty hosted a drinks reception on the UK stand on Monday afternoon (22 May) and there was also a reception at the Ambassador’s residence which was hosted by the Deputy Head of Mission, Ross Matthews. The stand was supported by the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) which has a dedicated team based at the Embassy in Lisbon that helps companies wishing to export to Portugal. Members of this team were on hand during the reception to meet exhibitors and discuss services they can provide.

The British Ambassador praised the innovation of UK companies exhibiting at the ITS European Congress in Lisbon. He said: “I am truly delighted to support such a great initiative organised by the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) for the Transport Technology Forum (TTF), an organisation co-funded by the Department for Transport and Innovate UK. The UK plays a leading role in the development and delivery of road transport technology.”

ITS (UK) attended the event with Chief Executive Max Sugarman commenting: “The UK Pavilion in Lisbon has been a fantastic showcase for the industry and it’s been brilliant to see so many innovative SMEs on the stand, showing what the UK ITS sector can do. ITS UK have thoroughly enjoyed supporting the pavilion – and congratulations to TTF and LCRIG on such a well organised operation!”

Peter Cattell, Head of Technical Sales at Clearview Intelligence, added: ”As an SME, it’s been great to work alongside the friendly, efficient and highly talented LCRIG team to exhibit at the ITS European Congress. It’s very unlikely that Clearview Intelligence would have been able to have such a strong presence in Lisbon without their support. It’s still early days, but Nora Ali (our International Channel Manager) has a huge list of follow up activities in her quest to grow our international business.”

Paul Hudson, Head of Sales at Now Wireless said: “LCRIG did an amazing job organising the UK Pavilion at ITS Europe. Bringing in companies like ourselves that would normally not be able to be a part of these events. Doing it in their own inimitable way, creating a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, and allowing us all to benefit in meeting companies we would never normally have the opportunity to reach. They also brought on the stand the British Ambassador, and helped arrange the Ambassador’s Drinks reception at his residence, where we had yet more opportunities to meet UK and Portuguese companies. Ultimately it was great to be a part of something much bigger than just NOW Wireless, and reap the benefits of this collaborative event.”

Image source: Paul Hutton, TTF