Innovation for Better Mobility Systems: Highlights From the IRF Annual Conference 2023
The IRF Annual Conference 2023 proved to be once again an enlightening experience for the road and transport community, welcoming participants from 105 countries, and 40 distinguished speakers from leading organisations including the IDB, UNECA, the World Bank, ERTICO, ASECAP and many more.
In celebration of World Sustainable Transport Day and under the theme “Innovation for Better Mobility Systems” the conference explored ground-breaking ideas around five thematic sessions, addressing road assets management, road pricing, safety, ITS and big data, and CCAM. Completing the rich programme, the conference hosted a parallel session in Spanish in collaboration with the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) and a special session for the Start-up Label, where finalists of the 2023 Edition pitched their solutions.
The high-level opening session of the conference welcomed leading figures from the transport industry to sketch the salient features of innovation that can help us deliver better mobility systems that leave no one behind. This included Anouar Benazzouz, President of the International Road Federation (IRF) and General Manager of the National Highway Company of Morocco; Joost Vantomme, CEO of ERTICO-ITS Europe; Arianna Legovini, Director of Development Impact (DIME) at the World Bank; Ana María Pinto, Transport Division Chief, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); and Robert Lisinge, Chief of the Energy, Infrastructure & Services Section in the Private Sector Development & Finance Division at UNECA.
“We need to leverage digital systems to support and drive innovation. Governments need to create the right conditions for that to happen” said IRF President in his opening speech. “As we continue our journey into the future of transportation, let us remember that each revolution in transportation has not only shaped the way we move but has also transformed the world around us” Mr Benazzouz added.
Mr Benazzouz stressed that the conference theme was in line with and inspired by the anniversary tagline chosen to celebrate IRF 75th Anniversary.
Sustainable Transportation in Latin America
The dialogue extended to the Latin American audience through a parallel session hosted in collaboration with the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) and conducted in Spanish. Titled "Towards Resilient and Sustainable Mobility: Latin America in Perspective," the session offered insights into the recently-launched IDB report, "Transportation 2050: Pathways to Decarbonization and Climate Resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean" and welcomed distinguished speakers from the Argentina Road Association, the National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) of Colombia, and ASIMOB. The panel discussion examined the current landscape of sustainable transport in Latin America and the role of innovation.
Where is innovation most needed?
Through an interactive poll that delved into the crucial question, "Where is innovation most needed?", the audience also actively provided useful food-for-thought for the conversation. The poll results were further discussed witha distinguished guest – Magali Anderson, former Chief Sustainability and Innovation Officer of Holcim. Infrastructure planning and design, along with policy and regulation emerged as the as the critical areas most in need of innovative interventions.
“Whether is procurement, policy and regulation, or the workforce, a change of mindset is crucial. Innovation does not just mean embracing technology, it’s about changing the process. This will not happen if people continue to think the same way” stated Ms Anderson.
Special Announcements
Recognising the pivotal role that start-ups play in driving innovation, particularly within the road transport sector, on the second day of the conference the IRF welcomed the finalists of the 2023 edition of the IRF Start-up Label: Lane Patrol, Svarmi, BANF and Measure. Each pitched their solutions before the south korean-based start-up, BANF, was announced as the winner of this third edition.
In closing the event, Mr Hamdi Aydin, Board Member of the Turkish Road Association (TRA) and of IRF, introduced the landmark event of 2024: the IRF World Congress 2024 to be hosted in Istanbul on 15-18 October.
The IRF would like to extend its gratitude to all the speakers, its sponsors, Northern Marmara Motorway and Road Trace by Aisin, and its partners, the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) and the China Highway and Transportation Society (CHTS), for their invaluable support in making the IRF Annual Conference 2023 a resounding success.
For a first-hand look at the event, featuring the recordings and insightful speaker presentations, please visit www.irfnet.ch or contact the IRF at info@irfnet.ch.
Transport Experts Gather in South Africa to Rethink Transportation and Celebrate IRF 75th Anniversary
Under the theme “Rethinking transportation: planning and building resilient systems to meet global externalities” the 41st Annual Southern African Transport Conference was held in Pretoria, South Africa, on 10 – 13 July 2023.
The IRF – who has been supporting SATC for several years - was pleased to join industry experts, policymakers and other stakeholders from all over the world for the 4-day conference to discuss how to provide optimum, effective and efficient transportation solutions to improve service delivery and meet the needs of all users of our transport systems.
“Innovative thinking is by itself never only the direction we must take but equally to figure out the most effective integrated way of working together to implement the solutions. The requirement to plan for and build resilient transport systems that must meet global externalities can never be an easy fit and never achievable through working in silos and lacking integrated systems and implementation” said South Africa’s Minister of Transport, Hon. Sindisiwe Lydia Chikunga, at the opening ceremony. She also acknowledged and thanked the IRF for “their continuous support, finding wisdom in our actions and endorsing this auspiciously significant Conference in our annual regional interaction”.
IRF Director General, Susanna Zammataro, led discussions on the IRF Special Session “Innovation and Digitalisation for a Sustainable Future” which was part of the official programme on day 1. The session addressed the pivotal role of digitalisation in revolutionising transportation and welcomed as speakers: Nicolas Miravalls (Oris), Subu Kamal (TRL), Marianne Vanderschuren (University of Cape Town), and Justin Coetzee (GoMetro). More specifically, speakers discussed the potential of data from diverse sources and tools to expedite the transition towards safe, efficient, inclusive and more sustainable mobility.
SATC 2023 is one of the many events through which the International Road Federation is celebrating its 75th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the SATC cocktail party was hosted this year by the IRF and offered the stage to bestow to the South African Road Federation (SARF), an IRF 75th Anniversary Awards as a long-standing member of the Federation. “The South African Road Federation is honoured to be a member of the IRF and to receive the IRF 75th Anniversary Award. We are grateful for the support the IRF has given us all these many years and for the opportunity to serve on various IRF Committees to deliver together sustainable, resilient, and safe transportation” commented Vusi Tshabangu, President of SARF in receiving the award.
A summary of SATC proceedings and final recommendations will be presented over the next weeks to the office of the South Africa Minister of Transport for further consideration and action.
To learn more about IRF 75th Anniversray Celebrations, visit https://irfofficial.org/irf-75th-anniversary/
To access SATC Gallery visit: https://www.satc.org.za/gallery.html
To access the Call for abstracts for SATC 2024 visit: https://www.satc.org.za/index.html
Highlights from the 4th International Symposium on Freeway and Tollway Operations
Under the theme “Innovation Advances Towards the Future of Managing Traffic”, the 4th International Symposium on Freeway and Tollway Operations was held in Vienna on 26-30 June. Hosted by Austriatech and co-organised by IRF and other leading US and EU organisations, the symposium offered a dynamic platform to exchange expertise among managers, traffic engineers, practitioners, and researchers.
With over 400 experts in attendance, the symposium featured a diverse program with more than 40 sessions and workshops. An opportunity for participants to share their insights and collectively explore disruptive approaches towards making traffic management more efficient and sustainable. IRF President A. Benazzouz, IRF DG S. Zammataro and IRF Deputy DG G. Alcaraz were amongst the distinguished list of speakers and moderators discussing topics ranging from road user charges, automation, to data sharing and workforce development. By embracing innovation and collaboration, participants paved the way for transformative solutions that can enhance mobility, efficiency, and sustainability in increasingly complex transportation systems.
On 29 June, IRF joined the ASECAP Sustainability Forum – hosted in the margins of ISFO. IRF President, Anouar Benazzouz, and a panel of esteemed speakers including Kristian Schmidt (European Commission), Hans-Jürgen Salmhofer (Austrian Ministry for Climate Action), Fernando De Maria (Autostrade per l’Italia), Gerhard Christiner (Austrian Power Grid) and Andrew Fremier (IBTTA) discussed: “Energy Transition: What are realistic scenarios for road decarbonisation?".
In his intervention, Mr Benazzouz highlighted “Our vision is that delivering on the UN Sustainable Development Goals depends on efficient multi-modal transport systems and services where roads play a central role. Effective road transport and road networks, and the associated services, are essential to ensure the sustainable mobility of people and goods and to ensure we leave no one behind”. He also recalled IRF’s commitment to Sustainability with the COP27 joint statement published with several other organisations from the sector in which they underline the need to act with pragmatism, ensure a just transition, and embrace innovation.
Present at the ISFO event with a delegation of 16 US DoTs, AASHTO (the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) met bilaterally with IRF to discuss transportation challenges, emerging trends from around the world and to enhance collaboration between the two organisations. As an esteemed partner of IRF since decades, AASHTO received an IRF 75th Anniversary Award.
To conclude the week, IRF witnessed a significant milestone for one of its members, Oris, which signed a ground-breaking partnership agreement with UNIDO to optimise large road infrastructure projects and the delivery of sustainable and inclusive rural roads. The MoU signifies a promising collaboration between UNIDO and Oris, and the IRF's involvement highlights its instrumental role in facilitating meaningful partnerships and in fostering cooperation within the industry.
IRF Marks Its 75th Anniversary Celebration in Vienna
To commemorate its 75th anniversary, the International Road Federation (IRF) is supporting and organising a series of events around the world. The 4th International Symposium on Freeway and Tollway Operations held in Vienna on 26 – 30 June was high in the calendar of celebrations.
The IRF convened members on 28 June to the IRF General Assembly and Board of Directors Meeting hosted in the margins of the event as an in person and online event. The GA elected new members to the IRF Board of Directors – Valerio Molinari and Michela Nanni from Ecogest, Domenico Crocco and Maura Sabato from ANAS, and Elodie Woillez from ORIS. The GA welcomed to the Board the Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh as the new President of the IRF India Chapter. The IRF Board appointed two new IRF Advisors in the person of Neil Pedersen – former Executive Director of TRB - and Cesar Queiroz – former World Bank Highway Advisor.
The Federation welcomed new members, shared updates on recent activities and discussed preparations for the upcoming IRF World Congress to be hosted in Istanbul in October 2024.
The highlight of the Vienna week was a special dinner jointly hosted with ASECAP, to honour and thank - with an IRF 75th Anniversary Award - members and partners who have supported IRF throughout this incredible seven-decade journey.
“It would be impossible to list the names of all the people who have contributed to the growth and success of the IRF. To those who have served the IRF at any time during these past 75 years – whether members, partners, sponsors, donors, volunteers – the International Road Federation extends all its gratitude and dedicates this celebration to them” said IRF President, Anouar Benazzouz, greeting everyone to the dinner.
An anniversary is an important moment of lessons from the past, while also representing an open window on the opportunities that the future offers. The destination remains the same: delivering better mobility systems for all, together.
Amongst the many IRF members present in Vienna, the Federation counted with two founding members of the Federation, Union Routière de France and Strasseschweiz / Routesuisse.
“As a founding member, we are deeply honoured of receiving this award. The URF stands committed with the IRF in the cause of mobility. Together, we strive to ensure equitable access, sustainable infrastructure, seamless connectivity, for a better and more inclusive future” commented Christophe Boutin, Board Member of the Union Routière de France.
“For us as a founding member, this award is a great honour and appreciation. We are convinced that today, as in the past, mobility is the key to prosperity and health, and we remain committed - nationally and internationally together with the IRF - to ensuring that this continues to be the case” commented Claudia Kohslschuetter, Head of International Relations and Communications at Strasseschweiz / Routesuisse.
To know more about IRF 75-year Journey and Anniversary Celebrations, visit our dedicated webpage.
IRF Kicks Off 75th Anniversary Celebrations in Geneva
This is a special year for the International Road Federation as it marks the 75th anniversary of its creation.
Connecting people, ideas, and organisations has been at the core of IRF’s work over the past seven decades. The striking feature of this incredible journey is the outstanding picture of service that has exemplified IRF activities over the years. Innovating since the day it was created back in 1948, the Federation has been instrumental in providing leadership for global road sector development and has brought road professionals and people around the world together, and in a common mission, in a way that no other organisation could.
IRF has shared this enriching seven-decade journey with UNECE and the Inland Transport Committee. It is in fact the work of the latter that brought the Federation to move its headquarters to Geneva. The High-Level Segment of the 85th Inland Transport Committee (UNECE ITC) hosted in Geneva on 21st February hence offered the perfect setting to kick off celebrations for this important milestone. The first of a series of international and regional events through which the IRF will mark this anniversary.
Addressing the plenary, IRF President Anouar Benazzouz stressed that “An anniversary is an important moment of lessons from the past, while also representing an open window on the opportunities that the future offers. The destination remains for us unchanged: delivering better mobility systems for all, together.” Benazzouz also thanked UNECE for “the trust, openness, and leadership that have distinguished both its work and of our successful collaboration over the past seven decades.” A message that was echoed during a bilateral meeting by UNECE Secretary General, Olga Algayerova who expressed gratitude to the IRF for its unwavering support and contribution to the sector and to UNECE’s work.
ITC 2023 was also the opportunity to celebrate and reinforce the collaboration with another long-standing partner of IRF who equally celebrates in 2023 its 75th anniversary, the International Road Transport Union (IRU). In an MoU signed on 20 February, both organisations agreed to focus on people, prosperity, and the environment while addressing new challenges and opportunities, including digitalisation and decarbonisation. They will also continue their collaboration in areas such as labour shortages, training, and road safety.
“Partnerships will be crucial to deliver on current and future challenges” said Benazzouz while sharing with the plenary some of the key messages of the “Road Sector Joint Statement for COP27” released by IRF together with other leading organisations in the sector. The Joint Statement is a collective call to all parties to act with pragmatism, ensure a just transition and embrace innovation.
Visit this page for more information on IRF’s 75th celebration activities.
IRF & IRU Sign MoU at the Occasion of Their 75th Anniversary
Geneva, 20 February 2023. The International Road Federation (IRF) and the International Road Transport Union (IRU) have signed today a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reinforce their long-standing collaboration.
The two organisations have a 75-year-long history that stretches back to working together on rebuilding war-torn Europe following World War II to driving road transport forward into the 21st century.
In a MoU signed today, IRF and IRU agreed to focus on people, prosperity, and the environment while addressing new challenges and opportunities, including digitalisation and decarbonisation. They will also continue their collaboration in areas such as labour shortages, training, and road safety.
In commenting the signature of the agreement at the IRU’s headquarters in Geneva, IRF President Anouar Benazzouz said: “We are delighted to kick off celebrations for our 75th anniversary with a long-standing and trusted partner like the IRU. The challenges that our sector and society at large experience require coordinated action and joint efforts. The destination remains unchanged: delivering better mobility systems for all, together.
“We have worked with IRF for many decades, addressing a wide range of issues. With new challenges ahead, such as decarbonisation and digitalisation, both organisations agree that we can further focus our efforts and create synergies with this agreement” said IRU Secretary General, Umberto de Pretto.
For more information, please contact the International Road Federation at info@irfnet.ch.
About IRF
The International Road Federation (IRF) is a global, independent, not-for-profit organisation with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Active since 1948, IRF is a membership-based organisation, representing leading corporate and institutional players drawn from the road and mobility sectors worldwide. Its mission is to promote the development of roads and road networks that enable access and sustainable mobility for all. Its approach is centred on key strategic components of knowledge transfer & information sharing, connecting people, businesses, and organisations, and working on policy & advocacy.
About IRU
The International Road Transport Union (IRU), the world road transport organisation, is the voice of more than 3.5 million companies operating mobility and logistics services in over 100 countries. IRU leads solutions to help the world move better. IRU’s work supports trade, economic growth, jobs, safety, the environment and communities.