Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-RAIL JU) logo
Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-RAIL JU)

A Sustainable and Green Rail System

Funds one flagship consortium to demonstrate battery and hydrogen trains, smarter rail power grids and healthier, more circular rolling stock.

Unusually, a winning project doesn't have to wait for the grant agreement to start spending: the starting date can be set as far back as the submission date itself, with costs from that date treated as eligible, provided the applicant justifies why a retroactive start is needed. The 60% EU funding rate is a floor on the whole consortium, not a fixed split between partners -- individual members can…

This topic wants a single large-scale Flagship Project that cuts energy use and CO2 in the rail system, from high-performance battery and hydrogen-hybrid trains to smarter rail power grids and circular, climate-resilient infrastructure. It also expects work on healthier and more attractive rail vehicles, covering air quality, modular interiors and electro-mechanical components such as airless braking and pantograph systems, building on the earlier FP4-Rail4Earth project.

CycleiHow often this grant runs - e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.No fixed schedule
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.-
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.-
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.-
Award typeiThe form of funding - grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.40%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.€26.6M

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Guides for this application

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Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-RAIL JU) logo
Closed

Digital & Automatic up to Automated Train Operations

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEU-RAIL JU Β· European Union

Funds one flagship consortium to demonstrate next-generation automatic train control, from remote driving to fully automated operation, across passenger and freight rail.

Mobility
€33.1M
Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-RAIL JU) logo
Closed

Extending the Rail Network of PhDs

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEU-RAIL JU Β· European Union

Funds university consortia to create 3-5 industry-linked PhD positions researching rail topics such as noise barriers and smart energy grids.

MobilityEnergy Tech
€1M
Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-RAIL JU) logo
Closed

Innovation for Regional Rail Services and New Guided Transport Systems

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEU-RAIL JU Β· European Union

Funds one consortium to design a lightweight regional rail vehicle and an automated pod-based multimodal transport system.

Mobility
€3.1M
Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-RAIL JU) logo
Closed

Intelligent & Integrated Asset Management

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEU-RAIL JU Β· European Union

Funds one flagship consortium to build AI-driven, unmanned inspection, digital-twin and robotic maintenance systems for European rail assets.

MobilityRobotics
€32.8M
Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-RAIL JU) logo
Closed

Network Management Planning and Control & Mobility Management in a Multimodal Environment and Digital Enablers

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEU-RAIL JU Β· European Union

Funds one flagship consortium to build AI-driven rail traffic planning, real-time network management and digital-twin data infrastructure across Europe.

MobilityAI
€22.4M
Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-RAIL JU) logo
Closed

Regional Rail Services / Innovative Rail Services to Revitalise Capillary Lines

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEU-RAIL JU Β· European Union

Funds one flagship consortium to build low-cost signalling, communications and customer-service technology that revives Europe's regional and low-density rail lines.

Mobility
€10M
European Commission logo
Open

Horizon PCP: De-Risking Renewable Fuel Value Chains

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEuropean Commission Β· European Union

Funds a public buyers' group, not R&D suppliers, to run a €40M tender that de-risks renewable jet and shipping fuel production.

Energy TechMobility
€40MDec'26
European Commission logo
Scheduled

3C Telco-Edge-Cloud Demand Pilots

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEuropean Commission Β· European Union

Funds two €19M pilots that put secure 3C telco-edge-cloud networks to work in mobility and another strategic vertical.

IoT & EdgeAI+3
€19MMar'27
European Commission logo
Scheduled

Horizon Long-Range Electric Waterborne Transport

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEuropean Commission Β· European Union

Funds two €10M projects to extend electric vessels beyond 150 nautical miles with rapid charging, safer batteries and durable whole-vessel energy management.

MobilityEnergy Tech
€10MApr'27
European Commission logo
Scheduled

Boosting climate-neutral cities through Pre-Commercial Procurement

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEuropean Commission Β· European Union

Funds a public-procurer consortium to take climate-neutral city solutions from demand to market.

Climate TechBuilt Environment+3
€7M – €12MOct'27
Energimyndigheten (Swedish Energy Agency) logo
Closed

Sustainable and Resilient Transport System

πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡ͺEnergimyndigheten (Swedish Ene Β· Sweden

Funds companies, public bodies, universities and research institutes developing applicable transport solutions through Swedish Energy Agency research and innovation grants.

MobilityEnergy Tech+1
European Commission logo
Between cycles

Horizon Batteries: Next-Gen Cell Manufacturing Scale-Up

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEuropean Commission Β· European Union

Funds three €33.3M pilot lines that turn a working battery-cell chemistry into a vehicle-ready pack for one transport mode.

Energy TechMobility+2
€33.3M