European Commission’s Future Metro Systems Grant Programme

Scope

• The action to be funded under this topic shall deliver R&I which first step is to determine requirements and needs for future different type of metro users, while also taking into consideration the resilience to external challenges/future threats (climate threats, sanitary, terrorism, etc.) aiming at making metro systems future proof.
• The following R&I areas have been identified as key enablers of the expected outcome. The Project stemming from this topic shall address all the following work streams and is expected to provide all the following:
  • Workstream 1: Increased adaptability of metros to fluctuations in demand: The project shall deliver a feasibility study, potentially using simulation tools as Proof of Concept to demonstrate to what extent it is possible to increase the adaptability of metros to fluctuations in demand; and how to benefit from new opportunities provided by the trend towards full automation of metro operation (Grade of Operation with no staff on board train), by a better knowledge of customers profiles and travel conditions (expected and actual) thanks to digitalization, by new technologies and by improved coordination with other modes and new mobility services.
  • Workstream 2: Future of train control: The project shall deliver a feasibility study, including an analysis of the different trends in train control and existing/future technological solutions as well as a definition of future needs and functional requirements for the different categories of metro systems. The objective is not to focus on one solution with respect to another, but to explore equidistantly the topic from the different point of view like economic, operational, technologic and considering the potential impact on existing systems.
  • Workstream 3: Advantages and trends brought by AI and data science in metro operation for different types of metros (old/new, large/small, etc.): While their area of relevance is rather associated with large networks, the project shall deliver concepts on the most promising AI and data science implementation applications in metro operation, with a cost-effective approach, in different categories of metro systems (greenfield/brownfield, city or regional, connection with long distance modes). Relevant aspects like application to operational processes and cybersecurity threat identification and management should also be considered.

Funding Information

• The check will normally be done for the coordinator if the requested grant amount is equal to or greater than EUR 500 000, except for:
  • public bodies (entities established as a public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations; and
  • cases where the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (lowvalue grant).

Expected Outcomes

• Metro lines are traditionally operated through a combination of planned levels of demand and of availability of rolling stock and drivers along different periods of typical days. The adaptation of operations to face changes of the traffic patterns and levels are largely influenced by the constraints of staff management and by the knowledge of customers expectations.
• Additionally, AI and data science are frequently praised as a solution to address transport issues by handling large set of data, combining information from many sources being indicators and sensors.
• The Project stemming from this topic should aim to identify and initially exploit key areas of innovation of the future metro system. The initiative shall identify new requirements, develop new concepts, and implement early stages of development of the solutions based on new emerging technologies (automation and digitalization, AI, telecom, etc.).
• These new technologies, concepts and new ways of operation shall contribute to a better mass rapid transport system with:
  • Optimized Capacity – Flexi Demand, making the most of the existing infra and rolling stock following customer commuting habits, flows and better managing disruptions.
  • Efficient Train Control Systems that enable cost reductions and better operational response.
  • Sustainable transport system, applying different technologies and concepts to better manage the total cost of ownership and deliver better energy footprint.
• The final objective is to increase efficiency, sustainability, attractiveness, and resilience against current state of the art. Making the system future metro systems answering the needs of an evolving society with the metro as the backbone of urban mobility.

Eligible Activities

• Projects must focus exclusively on civil applications and must not:
  • aim at human cloning for reproductive purposes;
  • intend to modify the genetic heritage of human beings which could make such changes heritable (except for research relating to cancer treatment of the gonads, which may be financed);
  • intend to create human embryos solely for the purpose of research, or for the purpose of stem cell procurement, including by means of somatic cell nuclear transfer.
• The following activities are generally eligible for grants under Horizon Europe:
  • Research and innovation actions (RIA) — Activities that aim primarily to establish new knowledge or to explore the feasibility of a new or improved technology, product, process, service or solution. This may include basic and applied research, technology development and integration, testing, demonstration and validation of a small-scale prototype in a laboratory or simulated environment.
  • Innovation actions (IA) — Activities that aim directly to produce plans and arrangements or designs for new, altered or improved products, processes or services. These activities may include prototyping, testing, demonstrating, piloting, large-scale product validation and market replication.
  • Coordination and support actions (CSA) — This excludes research and innovation (R&I) activities, except those carried out under the ‘Widening participation and spreading excellence’ component of the programme (part of ‘Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area’).
  • Programme co-fund actions (CoFund) — A programme of activities established or implemented by legal entities managing or funding R&I programmes, other than EU funding bodies.
  • Innovation and market deployment actions (IMDA) — Activities that embed an innovation action and other activities necessary to deploy an innovation on the market. This includes the scaling-up of companies and Horizon Europe blended finance.
  • Training and mobility actions (TMA) — Activities that aim to improve the skills, knowledge and career prospects of researchers, based on mobility between countries and, if relevant, between sectors or disciplines.
  • Pre-commercial procurement actions (PCP) — Activities that aim to help a transnational buyers’ group to strengthen the public procurement of research, development, validation and, possibly, the first deployment of new solutions that can significantly improve quality and efficiency in areas of public interest, while opening market opportunities for industry and researchers active in Europe.
  • Public procurement of innovative solutions actions (PPI) — Activities that aim to strengthen the ability of a transnational buyers’ group to deploy innovative solutions early by overcoming the fragmentation of demand for such solutions and sharing the risks and costs of acting as early adopters, while opening market opportunities for industry.

Eligibility Criteria

• Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from non associated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met.
• A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality .
• To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
  • the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions:
    • Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
  • the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States:
    • Aruba (NL), Bonaire (NL), Curação (NL), French Polynesia (FR), French Southern and Antarctic Territories (FR), Greenland (DK), New Caledonia (FR), Saba (NL), Saint Barthélemy (FR), Sint Eustatius (NL), Sint Maarten (NL), St. Pierre and Miquelon (FR), Wallis and Futuna Islands (FR).
  • countries associated to Horizon Europe
    • Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine.
• Specific cases:
  • Affiliated entities — Affiliated entities are eligible for funding if they are established in one of the countries listed above, or in a country identified in the specific call conditions.
  • Associated partners — Entities not eligible for funding (and therefore not able to participate as beneficiaries) may participate as associated partners, unless specified otherwise in the specific call conditions.
  • Coordination and Support Actions – To be eligible to participate as beneficiaries (or affiliated entities) in ‘Coordination and support’ actions, legal entities must be established in a Member State or Associated Country, unless the specific call conditions provide otherwise. Legal entities established in a non-associated third country may, however, participate in ‘Coordination and support’ actions as associated partners, unless this is explicitly excluded by the specific call conditions.
  • EU bodies — Legal entities created under EU law may also be eligible to receive funding, unless their basic act states otherwise.
  • International organisations — International European research organisations are eligible to receive funding. Unless their participation is considered essential for implementing the action by the granting authority, other international organisations are not eligible to receive funding. International organisations with headquarters in a Member State or Associated Country are eligible to receive funding for ‘Training and mobility’ actions and when provided for in the specific call conditions.

For more information, visit European Commission.