This year’s ITS World Congress was a remarkable triumph under the theme “Deploying Today, Empowering Tomorrow!”

6,000 attendees from over 61 countries gathered in Atlanta to listen to hundreds of speakers, explore the busy exhibit hall, and get exclusive demonstrations of cutting-edge emerging technologies.

Attendees left the Georgia World Congress Center with a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration, bolstered by the sharing of ideas and passion amongst industry peers.

Throughout the packed week of information exchange at ITS World Congress, one idea was resoundingly agreed upon: When it comes to safety and improving our transportation system, let’s be accused of trying.

“This gathering has been more than a meeting of minds. It’s been a convergence of passion, expertise, and vision; A living testament to our collective commitment to advancing the future of mobility,” said ITS World Congress chair Ramin Massoumi during the Closing Ceremonies.

With the partnership of ITS Asia-Pacific and ERTICO-ITS Europe, this World Congress was a successful convening of global peers.

Panels at this Congress were host to hundreds of industry experts every day, sharing insight from global organizations, governments, and academic institutions. We were honored to have leaders from the U.S. Department of Transportation join us for panels, dialogues, and plenary keynotes, providing us with an outlook on the future transportation safety policies and opportunities for collaboration between public and private sectors.

Groups including ITS State Chapters and state Departments of Transportation were able to gather for essential in-person meetings. Engaging workshops included the ITS Summit and the AI Workshop, providing the opportunity to collaborate and share effective use cases.

The Day One Deployment District was an excitingly immersive experience, providing ridealongs throughout the streets of downtown Atlanta. Demonstrations were running tirelessly in the outdoor demonstration area, showcasing technology being deployed in real time, as well as thrilling off-site tech tours!

The Exhibition Hall was wall-to-wall with presentations, demonstrations, and friendly faces looking to share information about innovative solutions from across the world. ITS America had a booth with resources on some of our most exciting recent initiatives, including the newly released ITSA Academy Course: AI in Transportation.

Attendees gathered for delightful receptions and dinners after busy days inside the Congress center. Highlights include a rooftop VIP dinner with carnival games, receptions across the city, and a gala at the Georgia Aquarium. Dining with Beluga whales is likely a first for most!

Here’s some of the major takeaways we gathered from ITS WC 2025:

• Collaboration, cooperation, & camaraderie will drive our shared goals
• Partnerships unlock opportunity
• Take the risk (or find a partner who can)
• Safety now, innovation always
• Try doing different things, not just doing things differently

But this conversation does not end in Atlanta. ITS America commits to the continuation of  these critical discussions to build a future that is safe, smart, and connected.

As Ramin said, “Let’s reconvene next year with stories of impact, progress, and innovation.”

Let’s jump in and be bold on innovation. See you in Gangneung in 2026!