European Commission - Europa
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, 6 October 2014
Transport: EU seeks out partners for joint rail research
The European Commission has today published a call for expressions of interest to become
an associated member of the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking, the new public-private
partnership that will invest just under €1 billion in research and innovation (2014-2020),
to get more passengers and freight onto Europe's railways.
The aim of the call is to identify the core partners who will work hand in hand with the
Commission and the eight founding members of the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking to deliver
new technologies that will help to increase the quality, reliability and punctuality of rail
services while also slashing their costs and facilitating cross-border travel. It complements
the Commission's proposals to improve the quality of rail services via market opening and
improvements to technical interoperability and approval under the 4th Railway Package
(see IP/13/65).
The founding members of the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking are rail equipment
manufacturers Alstom, Ansaldo STS, Bombardier, Siemens, Thales and CAF, as well as
infrastructure managers Trafikverket and Network Rail, who have already confirmed that
they will each make a contribution of at least €30 million to the Shift2Rail initiative (total
€270 million).
The Joint Undertaking is now seeking to attract additional members from across Europe
(as well as countries associated to the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme1) that would
be ready to commit, altogether, to a contribution of at least €200 million, with a view to
achieving the ambitious objectives set out in the draft Shift2Rail strategic Master Plan,
which was approved by the Governing Board of the Joint Undertaking on 24 September
2014 and will be submitted to the Council for endorsement. This forward-looking
document identifies key priority research and innovation activities with a view to achieving
the Single European Railway Area. At the same time, it aims to radically enhance the
attractiveness and competitiveness of the European railway system and help the European
rail industry to retain and consolidate its leadership on the global market. It is organised
around five key "Innovation Programmes": cost-efficient and reliable trains and high
capacity infrastructure, advanced traffic management and control systems as well as IT
Solutions for Attractive Railway Services and Technologies for Sustainable and Attractive
European Freight.
The quality of proposals and their relevance to the objectives set out in the draft Shift2Rail
strategic Master Plan will be the fundamental criteria for selection of associated members.
In addition, the Commission hopes to achieve, within the membership of the Joint
Undertaking, a good geographical balance, as well as balanced participation of SMEs, of
1
The list of countries currently associated to the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme and related information
can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/grants_manual/hi/3cpart/h2020-hi-listac_en.pdf
IP/14/1098
the research community and of actors from the entire rail value chain, including from
outside the traditional rail sector.
Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, EU Commissioner for mobility and transport, said:
"Shift2Rail is a unique opportunity to develop strategic technologies and solutions that will
radically improve the quality of EU rail transport for passengers and freight customers.
Such innovations are vital in complementing the Commission's work on the 4th Railway
Package. At the same time, Shift2Rail will help to strengthen the competitiveness of
European businesses and retain Europe's leadership in the global rail market."
Interested candidates have until 12 November to submit their applications. The
Commission foresees that the final selection of associated members should be known in
early 2015.
Background
The Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking ('S2R JU') was officially established on 7 July 2014
following the adoption by the Council of Regulation (EU) N°642-2014 establishing the
Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking on 16 June 2014 (see IP/14/796).
Set-up activities are well underway with a view to making the S2R JU operational by early
2015. In particular, a first formal meeting of the S2R JU Governing Board was held on 30
July and the next one will take place on 15 October. The recruitment of staff has begun
and the vacancy notice for the Executive Director was published with a view to the
successful candidate taking up functions towards the second quarter of 2015. In the
meantime, the Commission has nominated a Commission official to act as interim
Executive Director in accordance with Article 19 of the S2R Regulation.
More information:
Shift2Rail website
Overview on rail research and Shift to Rail
About the 4th Railway Package
Contacts :
Helen Kearns (+32 2 298 76 38)
Dale Kidd (+32 2 295 74 61)
For the public: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 or by e-mail
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