ITS NATIONALS: STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

The build-up to Intertraffic Amsterdam 2026 starts here! From the 10^th to the 13^th of March the RAI’s Hall 2 will play host to the biggest-ever presence of the ITS Nationals (the network of national intelligent transport systems associations) with representatives from over 30 different global organisations, marking the organisation’s 20-year anniversary.

Intertraffic spoke with two key figures: Marc Verhage, Vice-Chairman of ITS Nationals and Executive Chairman of Connekt/ITS Netherlands, and Max Sugarman, CEO of ITS UK, to learn why the event is so important for the Nationals’ success and which metrics they use to measure an event’s benefits.

For Marc Verhage, Intertraffic represents the perfect opportunity to foster global collaborations within the membership of the ITS Nationals, and outside of it too. With a record number of ITS Nationals members participating, 27 from Europe in addition to those from Canada, Australia, Mexico, and Asia, the benefits are clear: business opportunities, new member recruitment, and networking. The Dutch pavilion in Hall 2 is promoted as a central hub for Nationals members and their Dutch partners.

So why is Intertraffic Amsterdam such an important event for Connekt/ITS Netherlands?

“I think we’ve participated at Intertraffic for as long as we have existed,” says Verhage. “And that’s 25 years this year. Intertraffic is so important because of a few reasons: it's the biggest event in the world in terms of ideas, mobility and all kinds of topics around that subject on an international basis. The whole world is coming to Amsterdam instead of us having to travel around the world. We have a very long existing partnership with Intertraffic - we help them, they help us. We advise each other about a lot of things, and that's why we love to do business with Intertraffic. It's our most important event every two years.”

"We have a very long existing partnership with Intertraffic - we help them, they help us. We advise each other about a lot of things, and that's why we love to do business with Intertraffic. It's our most important event."

A SHOWCASE OF DUTCH EXCELLENCE

It was at the last iteration of Intertraffic that the ITS Nationals network first had a collective presence at the event and in 2026 that presence has more than doubled in size.

“This time Connekt has a large pavilion and located next to that is the ITS Nationals pavilion,” Marc explains. “Connekt is arranging everything around the ITS Nationals pavilion – we’re responsible for the design and the layout. It’s a really good cooperation between us all and Intertraffic. In 2024 I think we had 10 Nationals at the event and now we have at least 27. Intertraffic is bigger than any other industry gathering and that makes it a very attractive prospect- it’s truly a worldwide event.”

"It's a really good cooperation between us all and Intertraffic. In 2024 I think we had 10 Nationals at the event and now we have at least 27."

So what does Connekt/ITS Netherlands “get” from participating in the show in terms of tangibility, or is it just the presence that is important? Exhibitors get to meet thousands of interesting people, but is it also the ideal opportunity to recruit members, accrue business cards, contacts, and network opportunities?

“It's all of the above,” he replies instantly. “Particularly networking, but perhaps the most important thing is that around 15 members are joining us in our pavilion,and of course they gain business from it. One of the main tasks of all the ITS nationals is to be there for their membership. We gain new members out of it. We get a lot of delegations from abroad, so Connekt as an organization, and our members, are well known worldwide.”

MAKING THE CONNEKTION

With so many Dutch companies on the national pavilion and up to 30 members on the Nationals pavilion, does Verhage believe that a by-product of Intertraffic Amsterdam 2026 might be a marked increase in intra-and international collaboration? 

“One of the goals of the ITS Nationals Network is to do projects together. The ITS Nordics are a really good example for all of the Nationals as to how you can cooperate together. I would say that the Nordics are cooperating together more than the rest of Europe. We are now working on some EU projects and we are also trying to include other ITS Nationals in those projects. That’s also one of our goals,” he concludes. “To make Europe stronger against the rest of the world. Of course, that's one of the reasons European cooperation is getting more money out of the EU, so that's another really important task that we undertake.”

"One of the goals of the ITS Nationals Network is to do projects together. The ITS Nordics are a really good example for all of the Nationals as to how you can cooperate together."

A UNITED UNITED KINGDOM

For Max Sugarman, ITS UK’s Chief Executive, being part of the ITS Nationals pavilion is crucial in terms of visibility and, like his Dutch counterpart, networking, but also to highlight the UK’s standing as one of the leaders of the European ITS sector.

In terms of both tangible and intangible benefits, what does Sugarman and his UK cohorts see as the main reason for having such a notable presence at Intertraffic Amsterdam?

“My first Intertraffic was the last one in 2024 and I think from an ITS UK point of view, I could see that it was the kind of global traffic technology and intelligent transport event that we needed to be at,” he replies.

“And we had a small, but well done and prominent ITS Nationals stand and from my point of view, even though there were lots of UK companies and organizations attending, I thought the UK presence could even greater. So personally, it was calling out to me that a UK pavilion was something that should be done and would have huge value.

"My first Intertraffic was the last one in 2024 and from and ITS UK point of view, I could see that it was the kind of global traffic technology and intelligent transport event we needed to be at" 

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING SEEN

Sugarman hasn’t forgotten the second part of the question.

“You asked about the tangible and intangible? Well, the tangible is clearly the visibility for the companies, of being there and getting their brand out there, but I think the intangibles for us are just as important, and that really is about those moments where you meet someone who you might not have met before, you have a chat that could lead to business somewhere down the line, or could lead to another connection."

“For me, that's really a critical thing, and I think that's where the Nationals probably add a bit of value, because we serve as a kind of signal to different countries, showing them how they can get involved. We have organizations that say they want to enter the UK market, and a National from another country might suggest, ‘Why don’t we speak to Max?’ We do the same in return with others. That networking is absolutely critical. I believe the Nationals have recognized that Intertraffic aligns perfectly with what they are trying to achieve.”
 

"I think that's where the Nationals probably add a bit of value, because we serve as a kind of signal to different countries, showing them how they can get involved."

VITAL AND VALUABLE

“100%. You can go around that hall and see all the latest solutions, products and services from different countries and I think that that is hugely valuable. This takes place in every industry. You have a global event where you can find out about what's going on in your sector. And I think it's incredibly important as well for the UK to showcase what it's doing.”
 

"I thoroughly recommend people going and doing this kind of international thing and Intertraffic is undoubtedly one of the key places to do it."  

“They cover everything from enforcement to data and AI services to analysing pedestrians to understand how they move better,” he continues. “There's a huge amount of expertise on the stand. I see that as vital and a valuable thing for us to do. And the other thing that's just worth saying is having a UK pavilion provides a central area where everyone can meet.

“I thoroughly recommend people going and doing this kind of international thing and Intertraffic is undoubtedly one of the key places to do it.”

ITS NATIONALS AT INTERTRAFFIC AMSTERDAM 2026