Europe’s Rail and SESAR 3 Joint  Undertakings have published a joint call for the development of an “Integrated  air and rail network backbone for a sustainable and energy-efficient multimodal  transport system”. The call targets solutions that will improve door‐to‐door mobility for Europe’s  citizens, and is expected to generate synergies between the air and rail  innovation communities. With a total investment of EUR 7 million, the call is  being co-funded within the framework of the EU’s Horizon Europe research and  innovation programme.

 Aviation and rail are integral parts of Europe’s transport ecosystem, so ensuring greater connectivity and seamlessness between the two modes of transport makes sense. Doing so will allow for more predictable, affordable, and sustainable mobility for passengers everywhere.

 Against this backdrop, the call (HORIZON‐ER‐JU‐2023‐FA1‐SESAR) will address topics including the definition of single, common and collaboratively‐agreed intermodal operations plan (airport/railway), real‐time information exchange services, and a transport network crisis management process. The call is targeting proposals for projects which will support airport-rail connectivity in various settings, such as city-pairs from different EU Member States, and if and where applicable, scenarios involving other transport modes like trams, metros, buses, among others.

 The benefits expected from the outcomes of the selected projects will be manifold. Not only will the funded research and innovation activities help to improve future traffic management solutions predictability and punctuality for journeys involving air and rail, they will also relieve congestion in and around airports and rail stations and improve passenger flows. All of which will also bring environmental benefits in terms of emissions, noise and air quality.

 The scope of the call matches the ambitions outlined in EU’s Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, which aims to make connected and automated multimodal mobility a reality by 2030.

 It also reflects the commitment of both joint undertakings to establishing synergies and complementarity between their respective research and innovation programmes. This collaborative approach is key to pooling dispersed resources and aligning efforts on some of Europe’s top priorities.

 “Closer  integration of Europe’s air and rail networks will be a key element in building  a mobility system for future generations that is truly sustainable, smart, and  resilient.  Innovation is key to achieving this objective,” said Adina-Ioana Vălean, European Commissioner for Transport. “I  am delighted to see that Europe’s Rail and SESAR 3 Joint Undertakings are  working together, through this joint call, to ensure complementarity and  synergies between their research programmes, and to invest in the technologies  and collaborative tools that will help make seamless multi-modal travel a  reality.”

 An online information day took place on 4 October 2023 to present the call in more detail and provide guidance on how to apply. You can access here the recordings and other useful information.

 The deadline for submitting proposals is 07 February 2024.

 More information about the call and topic conditions: 
 https://rail-research.europa.eu/participate/call-for-proposals/

 Questions about the calls?
 Send your questions to: info-call@rail-research.europa.eu

 Looking for partners?
 Check out the EU's project partners search tool and Europe’s Rail matchmaking platform

 About Europe’s Rail Joint  Undertaking
 The Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-RAIL) is the European partnership for rail research and innovation under the Horizon Europe programme (2020-2027) and the successor to the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking. The partnership aims to accelerate research and development in innovative technologies and operational solutions. It supports EU policies and objectives for the rail sector, its competitiveness, and the European rail supply industry. EU-Rail accelerates the use of integrated, interoperable and standardised technological innovations necessary to support the Single European Railway Area.
 https://rail-research.europa.eu/

 About SESAR Joint Undertaking
 The SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking is an institutionalised European private-public partnership set up to accelerate through research and innovation the delivery of the Digital European Sky. The partnership is developing cutting-edge technological solutions to manage conventional aircraft, drones, air taxis and vehicles flying at higher altitudes. The SESAR 3 JU partnership brings together the EU, Eurocontrol, and more than 50 organisations covering the entire aviation value chain, from airports, airspace users of all categories, air navigation service providers, drone operators and service providers, the manufacturing industry and scientific community. The partnership also works closely with the regulatory and standardisation bodies, notably EASA and Eurocae, as well as key stakeholders, such as professional staff organisations, the space and military communities and global partners.
 www.sesarju.eu