INTELLIGENT & INTEGRATED ASSET MANAGEMENT

The HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA3-01 grant opportunity focuses on Intelligent and Integrated Asset Management within the rail sector, aiming to advance the sustainability and efficiency of railway systems across Europe. This initiative is part of the Horizon Europe program and aligns with Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking. The project encourages the development of innovative solutions through the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital twins, and robotics, targeting Technology Readiness Levels 6 to 8 by 2028.

Eligible applicants include rail infrastructure managers, railway operators, rail suppliers, research institutions, universities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and startups, with an emphasis on forming diverse consortia that encompass these various areas of expertise. The total indicative budget for this opportunity is €32.8 million, providing 60% funding support for eligible costs, while applicants must supply substantial in-kind contributions and other co-funding to meet a requirement of 40% from non-EU sources.

The call is set to open on October 30, 2025, with a deadline for submissions on February 11, 2026. It supports large-scale demonstrations aimed at addressing efficiency and reliability in rail asset management. Notably, only one project will be funded, leading to a competitive selection process with expected success rates below 10%.

The project proposals should address key capabilities in asset management, including information sharing across systems, unmanned monitoring, advanced decision-making, holistic design and certification, and unmanned interventions. The goal is to facilitate proactive decision-making, minimize service disruptions, and optimize lifecycle management in railway operations.

In summary, this grant represents a significant opportunity to contribute to the modernization of the European rail industry, enhancing its competitiveness and sustainability through a collaborative approach among a variety of stakeholders. It aims to transform traditional asset management practices into smart, integrated systems that address contemporary challenges in the sector.

The EU-Rail Joint Undertaking (JU) has announced a call for proposals, HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA3-01, focusing on Intelligent and Integrated Asset Management within the Horizon Europe program. This call seeks to fund a Flagship Project aimed at delivering innovative solutions by 2028, enhancing rail asset management through integration with Traffic Management Systems (TMS), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and digital twins. The goal is to improve services, reduce unavailability, and increase safety while optimizing the lifecycle and operation of the rail system. The total indicative budget for this topic is EUR 32.8 million. The project duration is expected to be 30 months.

The call aims to address the financial and environmental costs associated with rail infrastructure by focusing on five high-level capabilities:

1. Information Sharing Across the Supply Chain and TMS: Securely capture and share information across the rail system lifecycle, including operation, and facilitate data exchange between TMS and the Intelligent Asset Management System (IAMS).

2. Unmanned and Non-Invasive Monitoring and Inspections: Enhance automated inspection and monitoring capabilities, moving towards non-invasive and self-diagnostic systems to minimize service disruptions.

3. Advanced and Holistic Asset Decisions: Enable advanced, automated, centralized, and holistic decision-making, considering various assets, actors, standards, and regulations, especially combining track and rolling stock data. Utilize Digital Twins and enhanced visualization techniques to support decision-making.

4. Advanced and Holistic Design and Certification of Assets (including virtual certification): Focus on developing newly deployed components for the rail system with a Life Cycle Cost (LCC) and system performance approach. Address additive manufacturing techniques and the use of self-healing techniques and materials.

5. Remotely Controlled and Unmanned Interventions: Develop capabilities for remote, automated, and unmanned intervention actions in rail systems, leveraging technologies like robotics and wearable devices with AI algorithms to support rail personnel, improve safety, and increase efficiency.

The Flagship Project should adhere to the following principles:

Integration of the complete value chain.

Exploitation of synergies between stakeholders at different levels.

Prioritization of activities to achieve 2030 European objectives in rail mobility, exploiting EU-RAIL results.

Demonstrators for innovative solutions should cover several operational differences, including:

Climate: Solutions should account for various European climate types, including extreme events.

Line type: Address high-speed, conventional, regional, suburban, and freight lines.

Traffic type: Cover passenger, freight, and mixed lines.

Asset type: Jointly address infrastructure and rolling stock, including track, civil structures, earthworks, signaling, vehicles, track side, stations, and power infrastructures.

Planning level: Cover Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP), Asset Management Plan (AMP), and Implementation of the Asset Management Plan level (IAMP).

The project should research, develop, and deliver solutions that can be demonstrated by system approaches, targeting Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 7/8 as European common integrated solutions. Demonstrations should be supported by use cases in areas such as:

Asset Management & TMS: Integrate IAMS and TMS to enable data sharing and optimize decisions using common metrics (TRL7 by 2028).

Asset Management & Rolling Stock: Monitor rolling stock using onboard and wayside technologies to plan interventions and redirect rolling stock to workshops, utilizing automated inspection technologies (TRL7 by 2028).

Long Term Asset Management: Develop Life Cycle Cost (LCC) models for infrastructure, including cross-border infrastructure analysis and space-time cross-analysis and visualization (TRL7 by 2028).

Asset Management & Infrastructure: Integrate on-field and onboard systems with central platforms for Big Data management to enable prescriptive interventions and minimize service disruptions (TR7 by 2028).

Asset Management & Digital Twins: Utilize Digital Twins for design, maintenance, upgrade, and renewal interventions, optimizing processes and maintenance planning. Enforce the use of BIM and AI tools for simulations and predictions (TRL7 by 2028).

Design & Manufacturing: Showcase eco-friendly production of resilient assets supported by new fabrication techniques such as additive manufacturing (focused on infrastructure assets) (TRL6/7 by 2028).

Robotics & Interventions: Showcase high-tech automated execution solutions for construction and interventions supported by robotics and wearables, building a safer and more automated railway environment (TRL6/7 by 2028).

The choice of use cases should be based on sound business cases supported by a wide range of stakeholders, addressing major pain points and ensuring significant improvements in cost reduction, LCC, and system reliability.

The Flagship Project should develop enablers under the following capabilities:

Information sharing across the supply chain and TMS:

Enabler 1: Scalable information platform to integrate and exchange information across the supply chain and TMS, requiring management and sharing agreements (TRL7 in 2028). This includes secure standardized interfaces, methods, and processes for data exchange.

Unmanned and non-invasive monitoring and inspections:

Enabler 2: Improved asset diagnostic and inspection systems, as well as advanced, context-aware, unmanned automated monitoring and inspections solutions (TRL7 in 2028). This includes AI and ML solutions for automated monitoring, data fusion algorithms, context awareness techniques for unmanned interventions, and synchronization algorithms for inspection data stamping.

Advanced and holistic asset decisions:

Enabler 4: New methodologies and technologies to leverage advanced and holistic asset decisions during the span of their life cycle (TRL7/8 in 2028). This includes probabilistic models for component failure, harmonization of railway asset LCC determination, operational and IoT data with technologies to enable cooperative diagnostics, and AI-based hybrid Decision Support based on predictive and prescriptive data analytics.

Enabler 5: Digital Twins integrated with BIM, GIS tools, and Virtual and Augmented Reality to enable agile visualization for different stakeholders of asset health status (TRL 7 in 2028).

Advanced and holistic design and certification of assets:

Enabler 6: Advanced and holistic design and certification of assets (TRL 6/8 in 2025). This includes new ethical-by-design materials, innovative materials and processes for additive manufacturing, advanced automated certification techniques, and energy scavenging approaches for self-supporting monitoring solutions.

Remotely controlled, unmanned and metadata-assisted interventions:

Enabler 7: Development of remotely controlled, unmanned and metadata-assisted interventions in construction, maintenance, and renewal operations (TRL7 in 2028). This includes non-invasive or collaborative unmanned robotic actuators and wearables, advanced unmanned robotic vehicles with AI and ML algorithms, and additive manufacturing techniques and validation standards for manufacturing and repairing assets (TRL 6/7 in 2028).

Data models related to the interoperability or safety of the rail system should be aligned with the ERA Ontology.

The action should contribute to specific quantitative KPIs defined in the Destination description and the Europe’s Rail Master Plan impacts. Collaboration with other Functional Areas (FAs) is required, particularly with Destination 1, 2, and 5. The project is expected to use EU-RAIL System Pillar Cybersecurity specifications and provide feedback to Destination 1 Workstream 2.

Applicants should ensure their proposals reflect expertise from rail infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, rail suppliers, research institutes, academia, and other sectors, including SMEs and Start-ups.

The action is identified as a “flagship project” expected to perform large scale demonstrations and contribute to the advancement of the Innovation and System Pillars. Beneficiaries must inform EU-Rail if the results can reasonably be expected to contribute to European or international standards.

The funding rate is 60% of the eligible costs, with eligible costs taking the form of a lump sum. Applicant Private Members of the EU-Rail part of consortia should provide in-kind contributions to additional activities, with the total in-kind contributions being no less than 1.263 times the funding request.

The call for proposals HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA3-01 represents a significant opportunity for organizations to contribute to the future of rail asset management in Europe. By focusing on intelligent and integrated solutions, the EU aims to enhance the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of its rail networks. The call encourages collaboration between various stakeholders, including infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, suppliers, research institutions, and SMEs, to develop and demonstrate innovative technologies and methodologies. The emphasis on digital twins, AI, robotics, and data-driven decision-making highlights the importance of leveraging advanced technologies to optimize rail asset management. The expected outcome is a more resilient, cost-effective, and customer-centric rail system that meets the evolving needs of passengers and freight transport while contributing to the broader European objectives of sustainability and competitiveness.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity include rail infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, rail suppliers (system integrators, manufacturers, and/or technology providers), research institutes, academia, SMEs, and Start-ups. The call specifies that private members of EU-Rail responding to this topic should provide in-kind contributions.

Funding Type: The funding type for this opportunity is a grant, specifically a HORIZON JU Innovation Action (HORIZON-JU-IA) and HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-JU-RIA) and HORIZON JU Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-JU-CSA). The eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

Consortium Requirement: This opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The call emphasizes that applicants shall ensure their proposals and consortium reflect the aggregated expertise to perform the activities and achieve the objectives.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is specified as including non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. Further details can be found in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The target sector for this program is the rail industry, specifically focusing on intelligent and integrated asset management. This includes areas such as information sharing, unmanned monitoring, advanced asset decisions, design and certification, and remotely controlled interventions.

Mentioned Countries: While specific countries are not explicitly mentioned, the opportunity is within the framework of the Horizon Europe program, implying eligibility for EU member states and associated countries. The call also mentions non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have specific provisions.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project for this opportunity ranges from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 to 8, depending on the specific enabler and use case. The destination aims to research, develop, and deliver solutions that can be demonstrated by system approaches, targeting up to TRL 7/8 as European common integrated solutions.

Funding Amount: The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 32.8 million. There are also other topics with different budget amounts. The indicative budget for each topic is as follows:
HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-EXPLR-01 - HORIZON-JU-RIA: EUR 600,000
HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-EXPLR-02 - HORIZON-JU-RIA: EUR 600,000
HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-EXPLR-03 - HORIZON-JU-RIA: EUR 1,000,000
HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-EXPLR-04 - HORIZON-JU-CSA: EUR 700,000
HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA1-TT-01 - HORIZON-JU-IA: EUR 22,400,000
HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA2-01 - HORIZON-JU-IA: EUR 33,100,000
HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA3-01 - HORIZON-JU-IA: EUR 32,800,000
HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA4-01 - HORIZON-JU-IA: EUR 26,600,000
HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA5-01 - HORIZON-JU-IA: EUR 20,400,000
HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA6-01 - HORIZON-JU-IA: EUR 10,000,000

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant to support research, innovation, and demonstration activities.

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic is provided, suggesting the number of projects that will be funded under each action.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is required. The funding rate is 60% of the eligible costs. Applicant Private Members of the EU-Rail part of consortia should provide in-kind contributions to additional activities to be declared via the template model available on the F&T portal. The amount of total in-kind contributions should be no less than 1.263 times the funding request, in aggregate, of these applicant Private Members.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, HORIZON-JU-ER-2025-FA3-01, focuses on Intelligent and Integrated Asset Management within the rail sector. It aims to enhance the European rail system by integrating advanced technologies and innovative solutions for asset management, ultimately leading to reduced costs, improved sustainability, and increased efficiency. The call seeks proposals from consortia comprising rail infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, rail suppliers, research institutes, academia, SMEs, and startups. The projects should aim to develop and demonstrate solutions at TRL 7/8 by 2028, focusing on areas such as information sharing, unmanned monitoring, advanced asset decisions, design and certification, and remotely controlled interventions. With a total indicative budget of EUR 32.8 million, the call supports a single flagship project that can significantly contribute to the objectives of Europe’s Rail Master Plan. The funding rate is 60% of eligible costs, with private members of EU-Rail expected to provide in-kind contributions. The application process is a single-stage submission, with a deadline of February 11, 2026. This call is about modernizing rail asset management through digital technologies, automation, and sustainable practices, ensuring that the European rail industry remains competitive and meets the evolving needs of customers.