Deadline: 11-February-2026
The European Commission has opened a major funding opportunity under Horizon Europe’s EU-Rail Joint Undertaking to advance intelligent and integrated asset management for a more efficient, sustainable, and competitive European rail system.
Focus Areas/Objectives/Priorities/Themes: Meeting evolving customer requirements, reduced costs, more sustainable and resilient transport, improved EU rail supply industry competitiveness, improved performance and capacity. Increase the volumes of rail transportation on existing lines, improve the cost-effectiveness of rail transportation on existing lines, reduce the CO₂ emissions from the maintenance of existing lines, reduce the construction time and costs of new assets, increase durability and reliability of assets, optimise life-cycle costs of assets, strengthen European rail industry competitiveness with more qualified products, and improve flexibility and punctuality of the railway system.
This funding opportunity forms part of Destination 3: Intelligent and Integrated Asset Management, focusing on the transformation of rail infrastructure management through innovation, digitalisation, and systemic integration. It aims to address the high financial and environmental costs linked to designing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and decommissioning rail assets while improving the sector’s capacity and attractiveness for passengers and freight services.
The programme envisions the future of rail asset management where asset status information is intelligently integrated with traffic management systems to reduce service disruptions, enhance safety, and optimise lifecycle performance. Artificial intelligence and digital twins will play a crucial role in delivering predictive and data-driven asset management solutions.
The selected project will act as a flagship initiative under Europe’s Rail programme, requiring a unified approach across industry, research, and infrastructure management. Proposals must demonstrate expertise across railway operations, infrastructure management, technology development, and research institutions. Collaboration with SMEs and start-ups is particularly encouraged to boost innovation and the practical application of new technologies.
With an indicative budget of EUR 32.8 million and a funding rate covering up to 60% of eligible costs, this flagship project is expected to run for 30 months. The outcomes will contribute to improving European rail performance, competitiveness, and sustainability while aligning with EU standards and interoperability frameworks.
For more information, visit EC.
