Increasing competitiveness and resilience of multimodal freight transport and logistics for competitive supply chains

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The topic funds interoperable data tools and two large pilots that make multimodal freight transport easier to use, more competitive and more resilient to disruption.

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Scope

Freight transport demand in Europe is expected to double in the coming decades. Despite policy goals to double rail freight's share and raise inland waterway and short sea shipping transport by 50% by 2050, road transport remains more competitive; the poor integration of rail, inland waterway and multimodal data into logistics and supply chain solutions is one of the main barriers. Operators also need better tools to manage disruption and keep supply chains running. Building on earlier research, including Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking, proposals should address all of the following:

• Develop interoperable tools, built on the data governance models of the European Data Act, the Common European Data Spaces and the electronic Freight Transport Information Regulation, that integrate into existing platforms and connect shippers, carriers, freight forwarders, warehouse operators, distribution centres, retailers and e-commerce platforms with multimodal information such as services, visibility and estimated arrival times. Building a new digital platform is outside the scope.
• Help operators react rapidly to disruption, including failure, accidents, sabotage and force majeure.
• Map available and needed datasets, and assess how generative AI and the Internet of Things could be used, including smart containers.
• Explore synchromodality strategies for logistics hubs and multimodal networks.
• Develop solutions for forwarders and multimodal operators to meet shippers' information needs, including hubs and first and last mile links.
• Define use cases for intra-European multimodal flows of 500 to 1,000 km and collaborative business models to shift demand to multimodal transport.
• Validate and demonstrate the solutions in two large pilots along main European freight corridors, with geographical balance and several industrial sectors, involving transport operators, logistics companies and infrastructure managers.
• Quantify value created, including sustainability and energy savings, and recommend contingency plans for disruptions, regulatory changes and ways to remove barriers to multimodal transport.

Expected outcomes

Advanced tools that improve the competitiveness, sustainability, resilience, security and capacity of European multimodal freight networks; real-time visibility, tracking and predictive analytics that support better planning and greater adoption by shippers; and stronger integration of rail, inland waterway and short sea data with better synchromodal solutions.

Other requirements

Projects must plan active collaboration with other projects funded under the topic. Information exchange with Flagship Area 5 of Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking is advised. Solutions that use positioning, navigation or timing services must use Galileo, and where appropriate its OSNMA and HAS services. Activities are expected to reach technology readiness level 7-8 by the end of the project.

Kdaj je rok za oddajo?

8. oktobra 2026

8 October 2026. This is a single-stage call.