Request for Proposals: Space for Intermodal Transport

Deadline: 12-Sep-2025

The Space for Intermodal Transport Call offers funding to European teams interested in developing sustainable space-based services and applications for intermodal transport, covering both freight and passenger transportation.

Objectives

• The objective of this call for proposals is to stimulate the emergence of innovative space applications and services with high market potential, addressing the challenges related to Intermodal Transport of Passengers and Freight. These services will ideally support cities and regions pursuing Intermodal Transport solutions, or players in the industry such as mobility providers and couriers. This is not an exhaustive list of users. The initial areas of interest include, but not limited to, the following:
  • Environmental Sustainability:
    • Intermodal transport provides an effective solution for reducing the environmental impact of transportation. By decreasing the environmental footprint associated with moving passengers and goods, and by seamlessly integrating multiple modes of transport in a coordinated manner, it enhances efficiency and amplifies environmental benefits:
      • Intermodal transport systems inherently reduce road congestion, which is a major contributor to environmental degradation. Reducing the number of cars and trucks on the road means less traffic congestion leading to lower emissions and improved air quality in urban areas.
      • Choosing the most efficient mode of transport for each leg of the journey allows to minimize emissions. For example, transporting goods by train for long distances reduces the need for multiple truck trips, leading to a smaller overall carbon footprint. The integration of rail and ship transport into port operations offers a greener approach, not only reducing the truck traffic congestion around ports but also lowering emissions in the surrounding urban areas.
  • Efficiency and Flexibility:
    • Intermodal transport flexibility is essential for ensuring efficient and seamless journeys for passengers and goods. By integrating advanced digital solutions, it is possible to reduce delays, optimise resource utilisation and contribute to smoother and more cost-effective operations.
    • The UK Urban Transport Group quotes: “Greater digital connectivity and the growth of ‘on-demand’ transport have led to greater expectations for public transport, that its networks should adapt to customers and their convenience, rather than customers adapting their behaviour to rigid timetables and routes. In the next 10 years it is likely that people will expect more flexibility in their transport options and more seamless integration’’.
  • Safety:
    • Safety of passengers and vehicles requires reliable communication also in remote areas where the terrestrial coverage is scarce or even not existing. Moreover, maintaining the goods in the same unit without offloading them throughout the journey minimizes the risks of theft or damage.
      • Transporting goods without handling them when changing transport modes not only reduces damage and loss but can also reduce the timing and the costs.
      • In remote or low-connectivity areas, prompt communication of critical situations is paramount for ensuring the safety of passengers. Innovative solutions to address these challenges are needed to establish reliable communication in remote or low-connectivity regions, ensuring prompt response for rescheduling needs.
      • Moving in adverse weather conditions may require the route and the mode of transport to be updated. The ability to give an advanced weather warning is extremely important for safety and security

Type of Activities

• This Call for Proposal covers two types of activities:
  • Feasibility Studies which provide the preparatory framework to identify, analyse and define new potentially sustainable services. The applications and/or services covered by the proposed Feasibility Studies must:
    • Be customer – and user-driven: proposals should demonstrate a clear understanding of user needs and present a strong potential for sustainability.
    •  Leverage integrated space assets: propose a service demonstrating the benefits of the utilisation of integrated space assets.
    • Include a plan to test business hypotheses: a plan should be included that details how the user desirability, technical feasibility, and commercial viability of the service will be tested.
    • Target marketed readiness: Aim to evolve the targeted applications and services to marketability and operational roll-out, potentially through a Demonstration Project after successful completion of the Feasibility Study

Eligibility Criteria

• The Agency will admit for evaluation only (Outline and Full) proposals from a bidding team composed of a company and/or organisations (be it Prime or Subcontractor) residing in any of those states that subscribe to the Programme under which you wish you submit your proposal:
  • for the ARTES 4.0 BASS Generic Programme Line: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
  • for the ARTES 4.0 Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity Strategic Programme Line: Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada.
  • for the ARTES 4.0 Space Systems for Safety and Security (4S) Strategic Programme Line: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada.

For more information, visit ESA.