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

Innovation for Regional Rail Services and New Guided Transport Systems

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

One grant is funded from this topic's EUR 3.1 million lump-sum budget through a single-stage call on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; the granting authority states it can fund a maximum of one project. The indicative project duration is 42 months, and the action must feed a regional rail architecture and integrated demonstration concept into a sibling 2025 topic.

This topic wants a Research and Innovation Action split into two work streams: a lightweight, lower-cost regional railway vehicle for low-density capillary lines, targeting 50% lower CAPEX/OPEX and up to 60% weight reduction in some parts, and an automated pod-based Multi-Modal Mobility-System spanning rail, road and ropeway carriers, building on the earlier FP6-FutuRe and Pods4Rail projects. It expects virtual and physical demonstrators for the vehicle's car body, running gear and powertrain, plus specification and validation work for the pod system's carrier, transport unit and handling system.

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.-
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.€3.1M

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EJ
Closed

A Sustainable and Green Rail System

🇪🇺EU-RAIL JU · European Union

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

MobilityEnergy Tech
€26.6M
EJ
Closed

Digital & Automatic up to Automated Train Operations

🇪🇺EU-RAIL JU · 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
EJ
Closed

Extending the Rail Network of PhDs

🇪🇺EU-RAIL JU · 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
EJ
Closed

Intelligent & Integrated Asset Management

🇪🇺EU-RAIL JU · 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
EJ
Closed

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

🇪🇺EU-RAIL JU · 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
EJ
Closed

Regional Rail Services / Innovative Rail Services to Revitalise Capillary Lines

🇪🇺EU-RAIL JU · 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
Scheduled

Horizon Clean Waterborne Transport Systems

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds two €7M projects to prevent fuel spills and pollution from waterborne transport while protecting marine, river and port ecosystems.

MobilityClimate Tech
€7MApr'27
European Commission logo
Open

Horizon Mobility: AI for Transport Disruption Resilience

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds two €5M projects that give transport operators AI tools to predict service disruptions and cut passenger delay across real multimodal corridors.

AIMobility
€5MOct'26
European Commission logo
Open

Fostering competences for the green transition

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Pays research consortiums roughly €3-4 million to map the skills young people and workers need for the green transition in one high-impact sector and how to teach them.

AgritechFood Tech+4
€3M – €4MSep'26
European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) logo
Open

RIVCircular Open Call — Interregional Circular Economy Innovation Proposals

🇪🇸EISMEA · European Union

Offers RIVCircular Call Interregional Circular Economy Innovation Proposals for practical innovation and measurable results.

Climate TechEnergy Tech+3
€200K – €2MSep'26
European Commission logo
Scheduled

Transport Research Arena 2030

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds one €1.6M coordination action to deliver the 2030 Transport Research Arena and transport research awards.

Mobility
€1.6MOct'27
European Commission logo
Scheduled

Horizon NEB: Revitalising Neighbourhoods Along Railways and Motorways

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds two €5.5M projects that make neighbourhoods beside active railways and motorways greener, safer, more inclusive and liveable.

Built EnvironmentMobility+1
€5.5MDec'27