Skip to main content

ITS Australia starts countdown to ITSWC2016 in Melbourne

In just five month’s time, the 23rd ITS World Congress will open in Melbourne, Australia, hosted by ITS Australia on behalf of ITS Asia Pacific, Ertico and ITS America. Susan Harris, CEO of ITS Australia is here in San Jose to promote what promises to be not just an unmissable event, but an important business opportunity for American firms.
June 14, 2016 Read time: 5 mins
Susan Harris, CEO of ITS Australia

In just five month’s time, the 23rd ITS World Congress will open in Melbourne, Australia, hosted by 858 ITS Australia on behalf of ITS Asia Pacific, Ertico and ITS America. Susan Harris, CEO of ITS Australia is here in San Jose to promote what promises to be not just an unmissable event, but an important business opportunity for American firms.

Q: Why do you think the next ITS World Congress is important for Americans to participate in?

A: We understand that from North America, Australia might seem remote, even exotic, but with the pace of ITS deployment worldwide, transportation present and future are quickly merging into one. Missing the event might mean missing out on an opportunity to close new sales or forge new alliances, and for any company or organisation wanting a voice in the conversation, it’s no longer enough to view ITS from the perspective one nation or even one continent. This will be the largest gathering of its type in 2016 – we’re expecting more than 7,000 international delegates - bringing together ITS leaders to consider the global future of transportation.

So, if you’re a potential exhibitor who wants a seat at the ITS table, you should be in Melbourne for the event, which runs from 10-14 October, and join the thousands of the world’s top innovators, academics, government leaders and financial backers who will gather there for the 23rd 6456 ITS World Congress.

Q: What can North American visitors expect to find in Australia?

A: I have absolutely no doubt that North American exhibitors will be surprised and thrilled by the return on their investment but if that’s not enough, we’ve created a “who, what, where, when & why roadmap” to help fence-sitters understand the benefits of exhibiting in Melbourne. “Who” is pretty obvious. For innovation leaders from Australia, Japan, China, Singapore and others from the Asia Pacific region, this world congress will be held on their home-field. It’s their opportunity to bring their best game, to exhibit unique and cutting edge ITS technologies, and importantly, to network with their North American peers. Many of these innovators haven’t exhibited at other world congresses and for American organisations, they represent new opportunities for collaboration, partnerships and sales. “What” goes to the quality and breadth of the exhibits and discussions. Under the banner of “ITS – Enhancing Liveable Cities and Communities,” Melbourne 2016 will diagram how technologies and organisations can work together efficiently. With an impressive technology showcase, more than 177,000 square feet of exhibit space in the Central Business District and an array of technical tours, this World Congress will show off unique deployments while advancing global conversations on big data, cyber security, connected and autonomous vehicles, freight movement and sustainability.

 “Where” is just as important. The Asia Pacific Region has deployed intelligent transportation systems, often in unique ways, for years. Consider Japan’s real-world experience deploying connected vehicle technologies for example. But the region is not only responsible for some of the most innovative ITS ideas, it also represents one of the world’s strongest economies. In fact, economic forecasters are largely united in predicting that the Asia Pacific Region, particularly its emerging markets, will continue their trend of solid and sustained GDP growth in the near-term.

World’s most liveable city

Melbourne has repeatedly been voted the world’s most liveable city, with transport options including trains, trams, toll roads, cycle routes, airports and Australia’s largest container shipping port. There are many business opportunities, partners and suppliers to connect to.

“When” is clearly right now in 2016! Intelligent transportation is evolving before our eyes and with many nations embracing ITS as the solution to the world’s transportation issues, the regulatory process is beginning to keep pace with the innovation cycle. Meanwhile, our industry’s leaders, regardless of which nation they’re from, are constantly developing exciting new products and services that redefine safe, efficient transportation on an almost daily basis.

“Why” is literally, all of the above! North American ITS organisations exhibiting in Melbourne will find new audiences for their innovations. They’ll penetrate entirely new markets, see unique intelligent transportation deployments and network with an entirely new group of potential partners. They’ll also discover an ITS savvy, welcoming community, in a beautiful country that understands hospitality and welcomed 7.5 million international visitors last year. We’d love to welcome you too.

Q: You’ve just mentioned the theme of this event is Liveable Cities and Communities. How has this theme shaped the event?

A: Enhancing Liveable Cities and Communities is a reference to what makes Australia a leading country in ITS technologies – not just in our Asia Pacific region, but across the globe. With one of the leading information technology industries within the Asia Pacific region, Melbourne in particular is the national leader, with 8,000 technology companies employing 91,300 people, earning $34 billion in revenue annually based in the country's southeastern state.

Additionally, Melbourne boasts the world’s largest continually operating tram network. Proudly, our integrated tram, train and bus network is free within the CBD, providing World Congress visitors with the opportunity to experience our tram tracker service and other real-time traveller information services – very much a theme that is enhancing our community!

Q: So how is the programme shaping up?

A: I have already mentioned that we have an impressive technology showcase, more than 177,000 square feet of exhibit space in Melbourne’s Central Business District and an array of technical tours, but that barely scratches the surface of what will be the most important global ITS event in 2016. Before the official opening of the ITS World Congress Melbourne 2016 on Monday 19 October, there will be a High Level Policy Round Table.
We have four Plenary sessions and a packed programme of Executive Sessions and Congress Sessions. The Gala Dinner on Thursday 13 October is definitely not to be missed. But don’t take my word for it – I would urge everyone to check out the Congress website to see what Australia and Melbourne have laid on.

There’s also additional information about how to exhibit in Melbourne, or come and see me, or one of my team at Booth 338 here at ITS America San Jose.

Related Content

  • February 20, 2019
    Road death toll increasing in poor countries, says WHO report
    The latest figures from the World Health Organisation on road deaths make sobering reading – but they are particularly shocking when you consider how the relative poverty of countries contributes to high fatality rates, says Adam Hill Around 1.35 million people died on the world’s roads in 2016, while road traffic injuries are now the leading cause of death among young people, according to new statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Perhaps the most sobering point from its latest research
  • July 31, 2012
    Future of US cooperative infrastructure networks
    Peter H. Appel, the new Administrator of the USDOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration, on his vision of the US's future cooperative infrastructure networks. Peter H. Appel comes to the post of Administrator of the US Department of Transportation's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) from a background in transportation-related work which stretches back over 20 years. Most recently with management consultancy A. T. Kearney, Inc., where he focused on busin
  • February 1, 2012
    Need for harmonisation in ITS standards
    As the calendar rolls over, and we hop from continent to continent and World Congress to World Congress, where Memoranda of Understanding and cooperation agreements are the headline news, it is easy for those not intimately involved to forget that standards definition is a well-nigh continual process. Significant progress has been made in recent months towards achieving the critical mass and economies of scale which are going to drive development and deployment in, amongst other things, cooperative infrastr
  • April 4, 2014
    International ITS leaders to network in Melbourne, Australia
    Intelligent transport systems (ITS) leaders from Asia, Europe, USA and Australia will meet in Melbourne at a free half-day business exchange and networking event on Friday 2 May. Convened by ITS Australia, the meeting will provide updates on ITS developments and deployments across four continents, including innovations for vehicles and infrastructure, legislative initiatives, telematics technologies and plans for the ITS World Congresses in Detroit in September this year and in Melbourne in 2016, as well