Apply Now: Competitiveness and Resilience of Multimodal Freight Transport

The program supports the development and demonstration of advanced tools and solutions to enhance the competitiveness of European multimodal freight transport networks while ensuring sustainability, resilience, security, and increased freight transport capacity. Key themes include real-time visibility, tracking and predictive analytics for multimodal services and network performance, improved planning and disruption management, strengthened integration of multimodal transport data, enhanced synchromodal solutions, and the creation of more agile, flexible, responsive, and resilient logistics systems.

Freight transport demand in Europe is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades, creating a need for more efficient and resilient transport systems. Despite policy ambitions to increase the use of rail freight, inland waterways, and short sea shipping, road transport continues to dominate due to its competitiveness. The action seeks to address barriers that limit the adoption of multimodal freight transport, particularly the lack of integration between transport data and logistics solutions.

Projects are expected to build on existing data governance models established through European legislation and initiatives. Proposed activities should focus on developing interoperable tools and solutions that can be integrated into existing platforms and systems used by shippers, carriers, freight forwarders, warehouse operators, distribution centres, retailers, and e-commerce platforms. These solutions should improve access to multimodal transport information and support rapid responses to disruptions, including accidents, failures, sabotage, and force majeure events.

Applicants are encouraged to identify and map available datasets that can strengthen multimodal integration across supply chains. The use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things should be explored to improve logistics operations, including smart container procurement and management for real-time cargo monitoring and estimated arrival tracking. Opportunities for applying synchromodality strategies within logistics hubs and multimodal transport networks should also be examined.

The initiative also calls for the development of interoperable solutions that address the business and technical requirements of freight forwarders, multimodal operators, and shippers. These solutions should improve information sharing, support transport management processes, and strengthen connections involving logistics hubs as well as first- and last-mile transport operations.

Projects should define practical use cases for multimodal transport covering intra-European freight flows between 500 and 1,000 kilometres from origin to final delivery. Collaborative business models that encourage a shift from road transport to multimodal transport solutions should also be developed and assessed.

The proposed solutions must be validated and demonstrated through two large-scale pilot projects along segments of major European freight transport corridors. These demonstrations should achieve geographical balance and involve multiple industrial sectors, including industries such as fast-moving consumer goods. Collaboration with transport operators, logistics companies, and infrastructure managers is required to ensure effective implementation and evaluation.

Applicants are expected to assess and quantify the benefits generated by the proposed solutions, including improvements in sustainability and reductions in energy consumption. The projects should also analyse contingency planning approaches to address disruptions in multimodal supply chains and provide recommendations to strengthen resilience.

In addition, projects should examine existing regulatory frameworks and propose recommendations to remove barriers and accelerate the adoption of multimodal transport solutions. Active collaboration among selected projects is required to support dissemination, evaluation, and coordination activities. Information exchange with relevant European rail research initiatives is encouraged to avoid duplication of research efforts.

The total budget available for this topic is €20 million, with an indicative contribution of approximately €6.5 million per project. Participation is open to any legal entity, including organisations from non-associated third countries and international organisations, provided the applicable Horizon Europe eligibility conditions are met. Applicants must register in the Participant Register and obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC) before grant agreement signature.

For more information, visit EC.