Call for Resilient Multimodal Passenger Transport with AI and Digital Technologies

Deadline: 08-Oct-2026

The European Commission is inviting proposals under Horizon Europe to strengthen the resilience of multimodal passenger transport systems through advanced digital technologies, real-time data analytics, digital twins, and generative and discriminative artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative aims to help transport networks anticipate disruptions, minimize passenger delays, maintain essential services, and recover more efficiently from unexpected events.

With a total budget of €10 million and an expected contribution of approximately €5 million per project, the programme supports innovative solutions that improve transport reliability and operational resilience across urban, suburban, and long-distance transport networks.

What is this Funding Opportunity?

The European Commission is supporting projects that enhance the resilience of multimodal passenger transport systems through the application of advanced digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The initiative recognizes the growing challenges facing transport networks, including infrastructure failures, extreme weather events, cyber threats, operational disruptions, and increasing mobility demands.

Projects are expected to develop innovative solutions that enable transport operators and infrastructure managers to anticipate, manage, and recover from disruptions more effectively while ensuring reliable passenger services.

Funding Details

• Funding Authority: European Commission
• Programme: Horizon Europe
• Total Available Budget: €10,000,000
• Expected EU Contribution: Approximately €5,000,000 per project
• Project Focus: Resilient Multimodal Passenger Transport
• Technology Focus: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Twins, Big Data, Real-Time Analytics, Predictive Maintenance

Key Objectives

Projects should contribute to the following objectives:

• Strengthen resilience of passenger transport systems
• Reduce operational disruptions and passenger delays
• Improve emergency preparedness and response capabilities
• Enhance predictive maintenance and asset management
• Improve decision-making using AI-powered tools
• Support efficient recovery from transport disruptions
• Increase public confidence in transport services
• Accelerate digital transformation across transport networks

Focus Areas

Real-Time Disruption Detection and Response

Projects should develop systems capable of:

• Monitoring transport operations in real time
• Detecting disruptions quickly
• Supporting dynamic operational adjustments
• Improving incident response times
• Minimizing service interruptions

Artificial Intelligence Applications

The programme encourages the use of:

• Generative AI for scenario generation and forecasting
• Discriminative AI for event detection and classification
• Machine learning for predictive analytics
• AI-powered decision-support systems
• Intelligent operational planning tools

Predictive Maintenance

Projects are expected to develop predictive maintenance solutions that:

• Identify infrastructure failures before they occur
• Monitor equipment health continuously
• Reduce unplanned downtime
• Improve service reliability
• Extend the lifespan of transport assets

Digital Twins and Advanced Modelling

Applicants are encouraged to utilize:

• Digital twins of transport systems
• Simulation and modelling platforms
• Scenario-testing environments
• Resilience assessment tools
• Operational forecasting systems

Big Data and Data Integration

Projects should make use of:

• Real-time transport data
• Passenger flow information
• Infrastructure monitoring data
• Weather and environmental data
• Multimodal mobility datasets
• Advanced data integration techniques

Expected Project Activities

Projects may include:

• Development of AI-powered disruption management systems
• Creation of predictive maintenance frameworks
• Development of emergency response and contingency planning tools
• Design of decision-support systems for transport operators
• Creation of disruption scenario libraries
• Deployment of training and capacity-building programmes
• Development of operational guidelines and best practices
• Implementation of resilience monitoring systems

Training and Capacity Building

Projects should provide:

• Training programmes for transport operators
• Capacity-building activities for infrastructure managers
• Emergency preparedness exercises
• Contingency planning tools
• Simulation-based learning activities
• Guidance for disruption management

Pilot Demonstration Requirements

Proposed solutions must be validated through real-life demonstrations.

Key requirements include:

• Validation in multimodal transport corridors
• Inclusion of at least three transport modes
• Demonstration across a minimum of three pilot sites
• Pilot sites located in different EU Member States
• Coverage of urban, suburban, and long-distance transport environments
• Testing under diverse operational and geographic conditions

Examples of transport modes may include:

• Rail
• Bus
• Metro
• Tram
• Ferry
• Shared mobility services

Safety, Security, and Ethical Requirements

Projects must address:

• Safety assessments for AI-supported decision-making
• Cybersecurity and data protection considerations
• Secure data management practices
• Bias mitigation in AI systems
• Transparency and explainability of AI models
• Responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence
• Human oversight in critical operational decisions

Stakeholder Engagement

Projects are expected to actively involve:

• Transport operators
• Infrastructure managers
• Public transport authorities
• Government agencies
• Technology providers
• Passenger representatives
• Research organizations

Stakeholders should participate throughout the project lifecycle, including solution design, testing, validation, and evaluation.

Who Can Apply?

Participation is open to:

• Universities
• Research institutions
• Public authorities
• Transport operators
• Infrastructure managers
• Technology companies
• Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
• Large enterprises
• International organizations
• Eligible entities from non-associated third countries

Applicants must comply with Horizon Europe eligibility requirements and topic-specific conditions.

Registration Requirements

Applicants must:

• Register in the Horizon Europe Participant Register
• Obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC)
• Complete validation by the Central Validation Service
• Provide documentation confirming legal status and origin during grant preparation

Why This Funding Matters

This initiative addresses growing challenges affecting transport systems worldwide.

Expected benefits include:

• More reliable passenger transport services
• Reduced disruption-related delays
• Improved infrastructure performance
• Better emergency response capabilities
• Increased resilience to climate-related events
• Stronger cybersecurity preparedness
• Greater operational efficiency
• Enhanced passenger experience

The programme also supports Europe’s broader goals related to sustainable mobility, digital innovation, and transport system resilience.

How to Apply

Step 1: Verify Eligibility

• Review Horizon Europe eligibility requirements.
• Confirm that your organization qualifies to participate.

Step 2: Build a Consortium

• Identify partners with expertise in transport, AI, digital technologies, data analytics, and infrastructure management.
• Establish roles and responsibilities for all consortium members.

Step 3: Develop the Project Concept

• Define the resilience challenge being addressed.
• Design innovative AI-enabled solutions.
• Develop a clear implementation and validation strategy.

Step 4: Plan Pilot Demonstrations

• Select at least three pilot sites.
• Ensure participation of at least three transport modes.
• Develop real-world testing scenarios.

Step 5: Register and Prepare Documentation

• Obtain a PIC number.
• Complete all registration and validation requirements.

Step 6: Submit the Proposal

• Prepare the technical proposal.
• Develop a detailed budget and work plan.
• Submit the application before the official deadline.

Common Proposal Mistakes to Avoid

• Limited stakeholder engagement
• Weak pilot demonstration strategy
• Insufficient AI innovation
• Lack of multimodal integration
• Poor scalability planning
• Inadequate safety and security considerations
• Weak impact measurement framework
• Incomplete consortium expertise

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is funding this opportunity?

The funding is provided by the European Commission through the Horizon Europe programme.

What is the total budget available?

The total budget allocated to this topic is €10 million.

How much funding can a project receive?

The expected contribution is approximately €5 million per selected project.

What technologies are encouraged?

Projects should utilize technologies such as generative AI, discriminative AI, digital twins, predictive maintenance systems, big data analytics, and real-time operational monitoring tools.

Are pilot demonstrations mandatory?

Yes. Solutions must be tested and validated through real-life multimodal transport corridor demonstrations.

How many transport modes are required?

Each pilot use case must involve at least three transport modes.

Can organizations outside the EU participate?

Yes. Participation is open to eligible legal entities, including organizations from non-associated third countries, subject to Horizon Europe rules.

Conclusion

The European Commission’s AI-Powered Resilient Multimodal Passenger Transport funding opportunity supports the development of innovative technologies that improve the reliability, resilience, and efficiency of passenger transport systems. By combining artificial intelligence, digital twins, predictive maintenance, and real-time analytics, the initiative aims to help transport networks better anticipate disruptions, respond effectively to emergencies, and deliver more reliable services for passengers across Europe.

For more information, visit EC.