As Vice-Presidents of the European Commission for Transport and for the Digital Agenda respectively, and as Commissioner in charge of Research, Innovation and Science, we are very pleased to welcome you at the ITS European Congress 2011, hosted by the city of Lyon. The Congress will allow you to listen to, see and experience Europe's latest advances in Intelligent Transport Systems and innovative transport solutions.

Under the motto "Intelligent Mobility - ITS for sustainable transport of persons and goods in urban regions", the 2011 Congress will highlightthe importance of bringing intelligent solutions not only to urban transport, but, more generally, to the interfaces and interchanges of urban and inter-urban networks.

In its current efforts to promote Europe-wide deployment of ITS as well as to put ITS research results into operation, the European Commission is particularly addressing interoperable traffic management systems, efficient, user-friendly EU-wide mobility services and integrated multi-modal freight management solutions. The ITS Directive and Action Plan jointly provide the policy and legal framework for the deployment and use of ITS in Europe. Together with other initiatives such as the Urban Mobility Action Plan, the new Road Safety Programme, the European Green Cars Initiative and the upcoming White Paper on Transport, they will help achieve EU policy objectives of a cleaner, more efficient, safer and more reliable transport system.

The efficient use of energy and a reduced impact on the environment remain key transport-related political concerns in the European Union. Along with accessible, smooth, safe and secure mobility, they are particularly significant to urban areas. To improve urban transport, we are therefore encouraging the ITS community to address, in addition to the ITS Directive's priority actions, urban communities' specific needs in terms of traffic and travel information and management, smart ticketing, urban freight transport and city logistics.

Interoperability of ITS solutions and continuity of ITS services from and beyond urban areas, through regions and across borders are the challenges that we are facing to make optimal use of our transport system. This Congress is an excellent opportunity to discuss current and future ITS technologies and solutions that will shape a smart and integrated multi-modal transport system.

We wish you an excellent Congress in Lyon! We are looking forward to working with you to ensure that Europe will offer its citizens and industry a world-class transport system.

Siim Kallas
Vice-President responsible for Transport
European Commission;

Neelie Kroes
Vice-President responsible for the Digital Agenda
European Commission;

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Commissioner responsible for Research, Innovation and Science
European Commission

First of all I would like to greet and congratulate the elected people from the urban area of Lyon, Region Rhône-Alpes, members the Lyon Urban Truck and Bus Cluster, as well as ITS France for organizing once more the European Congress on Intelligent Transport.

This reflects the gratitude for the work undertaken on a daily basis for almost three years by all those involved namely the State, the local community, the regulating authorities and the companies working towards cleaner transport.

I remember that through the Environment round table, France clearly chose sustainable mobility. This decision implied budgeting 800 million euros for building 365 additional kilometres of TCSP lines (separate lanes for public transport) in 38 urban areas and launching a second invitation to tender with a final scope of tripling the bid for public transport.

Intelligent transport would also ease commuters' life, especially when using different networks across France and abroad. This project will be achieved by setting up real time information systems, spreading integrated prices, and creating exchange areas to make connections easier, to name but a few.

All the actors, and especially the companies, will indeed have to work in close collaboration in order to ensure ever increasing quality, safety and comfort to citizens at an affordable price.

This way sustainable mobility will be neither a mere improvement nor a luxury only for the well-off, but a real social phenomenon.

Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet
French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing

The Rhône-Alpes Region is honoured to have been selected as host of the prestigious conference «ITS in Europe» for 2011. We are also pleased to invite you to the Conference to discuss Intelligent Transport Systems and the efficient, sustainable transport of persons and goods in an urban environment.

The efficient movement of people and goods within urban areas has been a core field of research in the Rhône-Alpes Region for many years. Our LYON URBAN TRUCK and BUS CLUSTER (LUTB) is an efficient network in which researchers, technological centres and industrial partners all collaborate to develop better modes of urban transportation, most notably through technological platforms and Research and Development Projects. Since 2006, 4.5m euros have been committed by the Region to LUTB's R&D projects. These funds have been added to an overall expenditure of over 50m euros dedicated to exploring solutions to urban transport issues. We are excited to be able to share this work with you and our other colleagues through this ITS Conference.

As President of the Rhône-Alpes Region, I am committed to the promotion of intelligent, innovative transport systems as the key to ensure our economy remains competitive. Indeed, I strongly believe that building intelligence into vehicles and infrastructures can help to resolve the problems of congestion, reliability and security in urban areas, as well as to preserve the environment and improve the quality of life for all.

Participating in this ITS Conference will give you a clear overview of Lyon & Rhône- Alpes industrial, research & testing capabilities in these areas. I hope it will also allow us to discuss the ongoing research topics and learn from you, in order to create partnerships for future common projects.

For all these reasons I invite you to take part in this conference, which will give us an opportunity to discuss the future of urban mobility and I do hope that you will also take advantage of your trip to visit our beautiful Rhône-Alpes region.

Jean-Jack Queyranne
President of the Rhône-Alpes Region

I am delighted that Lyon has been chosen to host the 8th ITS European Congress. Lyon is a European metropolis that is very much forward-looking when it comes to transport; indeed, transport is one of the key sectors in the regional economy, representing over 1,000 firms and 80,000 jobs. At the heart of this sector is the Lyon Urban Truck and Bus (LUTB) competitiveness cluster - the only cluster in Europe dedicated to both goods transport and urban passenger transport. Furthermore, Lyon aims to become a reference in the fields of mobility and sustainable development.

However, Lyon is also a city of culture, tourism and gastronomy; I do hope, therefore, that you will have the opportunity to visit the city - a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is renowned for its quality of life and hospitality.

I wish you a very warm welcome to Lyon.

Gérard Collomb
Mayor of Lyon

On behalf of Lyon Urban Truck & Bus - LUTB, we would like to welcome the distinguished participants of the ITS Europe 2011 Congress in Lyon.

As the French Cluster addressing transport solutions for passengers and goods in urban areas, LUTB has been involved in managing R&D projects fostering strong collaboration between industry, academics, and public organisations. Numerous LUTB projects are dedicated either to ITS technologies as enablers (such as Vehicle to- Vehicle (V2V) or Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communications), or to ITS solutions as providers of urban mobility for passengers and goods.

Eric Poyeton,
President, LUTB

Mobility within urban areas, vehicle fleet management, logistics, urban supervision, multimodal information, time- and geo-fencing, green urban corridors, low emission zones…, are some of the research fields in which LUTB members are active. They provide expertise and innovation to support integrated transport solutions: increased urban mobility and safety, together with reduced congestion, carbon footprint, and environmental impact. Electro-mobility, new vehicle concepts for trucks and buses, security of urban transport, modelling and multi stakeholders management of mobility are also of concern.

Since 2006, LUTB has certified more than 90 collaborative R&D projects,  representing a total R&D budget of more than EUR 260 m.

ITS Europe 2011 is a unique opportunity for LUTB to share visions, plans and solutions with the ITS community.

Welcome to Lyon!

Bernard Favre
Programme Director

On behalf of ERTICO - ITS Europe and its Partners, I would like to invite you to attend and actively participate in the 8th European ITS Congress to be held in Lyon, France, from 6 - 9 June 2011.

Lyon, named UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998, and the second leading economic centre in France, is home to key manufacturers in the automobile sector. Therefore it is an excellent arena for the 2011 ITS Congress and will provide a major and unique opportunity to meet different stakeholders such as advanced industry, academics and public organisations.

With the theme "Intelligent mobility - ITS for sustainable transport of persons and goods in urban regions", the Congress will explore common interest in promoting future urban transport systems using ITS with a strong emphasis on co-modality, environment and global mobility services.

This event will be also the perfect place to measure the achievements in term of implementation and deployment which have occurred since the last time the European ITS Congress took place in Lyon in September 2002.

I look forward to meeting you in the cultural and international city of Lyon, and to participating together in the wide range of dynamic events planned for the Congress.

Gunter Zimmermeyer
Chairman Supervisory Board
ERTICO - ITS Europe

ITS France is delighted that the next European Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems and Services will be held at the Cité Internationale of Lyon from 6-9 June, 2011.

The development of clean and energy-saving transport systems have become a worldwide priority. ITS systems and services are able to contribute very significantly to this objective, particularly in urban areas; France takes part in its own context, promoting and disseminating ITS in line with the recent ITS European Directive.

As an actor for over 10 years in this field, ITS France and its members fully support this conference by contributing to achieve the goal of deploying services, equipment and systems able to take up this challenge.

François Malbrunot
President, ITS France