Left to right: Donal Hodgins, vice chairperson of ITS Ireland, Brian Negus, ambassador and immediate past president ITS Australia, Susan Harris, CEO of ITS Australia, Dean Zabrieszach, president of ITS Australia, Stacey Ryan, policy manager of ITS Australia
ITS Australia and
ITS Ireland formally agreed to cooperate on research, promotion and deployment of intelligent transport technologies as well as expansion of educational opportunities.
The two ITS organisations inked their intentions in a signed memorandum of understanding at the ITS World Congress.
Ireland and Australia said they are making strong advances in the development of technologies and the exchange of information between the nations will be highly beneficial to continue the progress.
During the signing, ITS Australia president Dean Zabrieszach and ITS Ireland vice chairperson Donal Hodgins agreed that cooperation will lead to better organised development and deployment of intelligent transport systems in both countries. Importantly, it should also improve communication between the organisations’ members and leaders. The agreement will permit exchanges of ITS professionals and information, educational and professional development initiatives and the joint marketing of events in each country.
“We look forward to collaborating more closely regarding ITS developments, in particular connected and automated vehicles as well as Mobility as a Service,” said Zabrieszach. “We will also look to identify opportunities to collaborate on the education and professional development of ITS professionals in both countries.”
Hodgins said that as ITS emerges as a mainstream technology, “the global issues surrounding congestion, safety and sustainability must be addressed through international collaboration”.
The MOU will open doors for a much greater exchange of information between members of both ITS groups, said Hodgins. Member companies will have greater knowledge of who is doing what research and projects and they can be connected. It’s about facilitation.
ITS Australia hosted the ITS World Congress in 2001 and 2016. ITS Ireland hosted the 9th annual ITS European Congress in Dublin in 2013 which attracted over 1,700 attendees from 55 countries.
Stand C1-085