Europe's Rail: €6.1 million for sustainable, passenger-oriented rail transport

Europe's Rail JU has published the 2026-01 call for proposals. With a total contribution of EUR 6.1 million, the call supports research and innovation activities aimed at promoting sustainable and passenger-oriented rail transport.

Europe's Rail JU is the European rail research and innovation partnership under the Horizon Europe programme, the EU's framework programme for research and innovation 2021-2027. The vision of Europe's Rail JU is to create a European rail network. integrated high capacity, flexible, multimodal e reliable, removing barriers to interoperability and providing solutions for full integration, for European citizens and goods.

With this call, Europe's Rail focuses on forward-looking transport concepts, such as:

the development of lightweight and cost-effective rolling stock and an authorised multimodal mobility system with 'mobile infrastructures';
Hyperloop development through support for safety and certification guidelines, including functional validation of safety components.

Specifically, the two calls for applications are:

HORIZON-JU-ER-2026-FA7-01: Safety and certification guidelines and demonstration of safety components for hyperloop (RIA)

Total budget of EUR 3 million to finance one project.

HORIZON-JU-ER-2026-FA6FA7-01: Innovation for regional rail services and new guided transport systems (RIA)

Total budget of EUR 3.1 million to finance one project.

The deadline for the call for proposals is May 7, 2026.

For more information: info@iniziativa.cc

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Success Cases

Megarideas

Contract: Campania startUp 2020
Project cost: €289.377,00
Non-refundable contribution: €202.563,90
Date: July 2022

SGAM SpA

Expansion of production capacity through technological adaptation and extraordinary maintenance interventions of the production plant located in the Municipality of Pratella (CE).

Contract: Development Contract
Project cost: €28.116.140,00
Non-refundable contribution: €7.431.980,00
Date: September 2016

Medaarch

Iniziativa, as financial advisor, assisted Meedarch in the spin-off of the Mediterranea business unit and negotiated the entry of a new investor into the NewCo.

Acquisition transaction: Demerger of the business unit and entry of a new investor
Sector: Architecture and design
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2024

EMINA Srl

Construction of a new Diagnostic and Oncology Center and for the implementation of three Industrial Research and Organizational Innovation programs

Contract: Industrial Development Contract
Project cost: €61.085.745
Non-refundable contribution: €19.304.847
Concessionary Financing: €21.000.000
Date: August 2021

SAMBA

Development of an Aeronautical seat using innovative technologies and materials for additive manufacturing and proposal of an innovative, sustainable and integrated Business Model in the Industry 4.0 perspective

Contract: Sustainable Growth Fund – “Intelligent Factory” Help Desk PON I&C 2014-2020, pursuant to Ministerial Decree 5 March 2018 Chapter III
Project cost: €213.333,75
Non-refundable contribution: €149.333,63
Concessionary Financing: €42.666,75
Date: March 2020

EINSTAIN

Engine INSTallation And INtegration

Program: HORIZON - Clean Sky2
Project cost: €1.472.500,00
Contribution: €1.060.900,00
Date: January 2016

South Tyrol Health Authority

Technical assistance to the Grantor in the evaluation of a Project Financing proposal relating to an intervention for the "Supply of energy carriers (hot water, steam, electricity) for the San Maurizio hospital in Bolzano"

Sector: Healthcare company PPP
Date: 2021

Calearo Antennas

Iniziativa assisted the Venetian company, a leader in the production of components for the automotive sector, in defining the strategy and in the process of accessing the financing allocated by the GID Fund established by Invitalia.

Acquisition operation: Debt arrangement
Sector: Automobiles & Auto Parts
Deal: 7.500.000,00
Date: 2022

FAST TRACKS

Fast radio technologies for uninterrupted train to trackside communications

Program: Horizon - SME Instrument
Project cost: €2.370.625,00
Contribution: €1.659.437,50
Date: July 2017

RECREATE

Recovery of aeronautical waste from the perspective of industry 4.0 and sustainability

Contract: Innovation Agreement
Project cost: €5.287.587,09
Contribution to spending: €2.908.522,09
Date: July 2022

SAMBA

Development of an aeronautical seat with the use of innovative technologies and materials for additive manufacturing and proposal of an innovative, sustainable and integrated Business Model in the industry 4.0 perspective

Contract: Smart Factory, Agrifood and Life Sciences
Project cost: €2.121.216,25
Contribution to spending: €870.099,88
Concessionary Financing: €424.243,25
Date: April 2023

Protom Group SpA

Protom has acquired the Espero business branch, geographically expanding the market served, Iniziativa He provided a 360° view of the acquisition operation.

Acquisition transaction: Purchase of the business unit
Sector: Training
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2024

Sabina Public Water

PPP operation (pursuant to Legislative Decree 50/2016) concerning the "Implementation and management of a Smart metering system for the automation of the reading and management processes of Sabina Public Water meters and the implementation of a management of data driven water resource management processes”

Sector: Digitalisation
Date: 2023

Engineering SpA

Consultancy and support for economic-financial and procedural aspects in all phases of the procedure relating to a PPP initiative (pursuant to paragraph 15 art. 183 Legislative Decree 50/2016) relating to an intervention of "Implementation of the Physical and IT infrastructures for the management of the drug cycle, treatment aids and physical and information flows for the Ragusa ASP"

Sector: Hospital
Date: 2019

“NGR-25”

NEXT GREEN REVOLUTION

Contract: Innovation Agreement
Project cost: €9.140.577,74
Contribution to spending: €4.495.275,01
Date: November 2022

Sandro Ferrone

Iniziativa, acting as financial advisor, assisted Ferrone in the issuance of a €2,5 million minibond under the Basket Bond Lazio program, to support brand development, retail expansion, and digital investments.

Acquisition transaction: Minibond issue
Sector: Women's Fashion / Fashion & Retail
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2025

PARTY

Fostering local energy investments in the Province of Matera

Program: Horizon
Project cost: €498.157,00
Contribution: €498.157,00
Date: October 2017

BO Industries Srl

New production unit for the production, processing and marketing of butter

Contract: Industrial Development Contract
Project cost: €14.927.461,83
Non-refundable contribution: €6.275.400,00
Date: 2023

Santa Maria Terni Hospital

Technical assistance for the economic-financial and management evaluation relating to a project financing proposal pursuant to art. 183, paragraph 15, of Legislative Decree 50/2016 for the "Construction and management of the new Terni hospital"

Sector: Healthcare company PPP
Date: 2021

Immobiliare S. Angelo SpA

Expansion of production capacity through the structural modernization of 10 hotel and accommodation facilities in the medium-high and high segment, the optimization of existing spaces and the expansion of the offer.

Contract: Development Contract
Project cost: €21.530.135,11
Non-refundable contribution: €7.647.698,00
Concessionary Financing: €6.445.084,00
Date: March 2024

Cantu Next

“Construction of the new multifunctional arena of Cantù” through the procedure provided for in paragraph 304 art. 1 of the 2014 stability law – Technical assistance to the proposer with particular reference to the drafting activities of the Economic and Financial Plan.

Sector: Sports facilities
Date: 2020

MISENO

Multipurpose Ital-GovSatCom application Services for Emerging user Needs and Objectives

Contract: Innovation Agreements for the Space Economy
Project cost: €8.987.370,13
Non-repayable contribution: €4.192.681,20
Date: June 2020

Technical assistance

Technical assistance to the Managing Authority, to the Single Managers for Implementation/Action Line Managers and to the Certification Authority for the implementation of the intervention plan financed with the resources of the Regional Development and Cohesion Fund Campania for the programming periods 2000-2006, 2007-2013, 2014-2020, 2021-2027

Sector: Territorial authorities - Technical assistance for FSC programming, monitoring and reporting
Date: 2014 - 2026
FSC resource allocation assigned to the Campania Region: €9.323.000.000

ISTHMUS

Smart Infrastructures for Transport and Mobility

Contract: Major R&D Projects
Project cost: €5.578.468,75
Contribution to spending: €1.834.279,63
Concessionary Financing: €1.115.693,75
Date: June 2021

BRIDGESMEs

Boosting Resilience In five industrial ecosystems through adoption and Deployment of advanced technoloGiEs among SMEs

Program: Horizon
Project cost: €2.487.491,25
Contribution: €2.487.491,25
Date: 2023

iGUESS-MED

Innovative Greenhouse Support System in the Mediterranean Region: efficient fertigation and pest management through IoT based climate control

Program: BEFORE
Project cost: €1.733.000,00
Contribution: €1.597.700,00
Date: April 2020

Provincial Palace ProjektBau

“Project Financing for the construction and management of a property to be used as public offices and related appurtenances for the Autonomous Province of Bolzano” – Proposal pursuant to paragraph 15 art. 183 Legislative Decree 50/2016 for a Project Financing initiative - Technical assistance to the proponent, Projektbau Srl, with particular reference to the activities of: i. PEF preparation and sworn certification support, ii. Support in drafting the feasibility study; iii. Public Sector Comparator and Value for Money editorial team; iv. Drafting Cost-Benefit Analysis; v. Supporting the legal team for the development of the draft agreement; you. Support in drafting the document "Specification of the characteristics of the service and management"

Sector: Sports facilities
Date: 2016

Management control

Development of the Investment Plan and the economic-financial plan for the opening of Mignon brand sales points of the company business in the main Italian cities and railway stations

Sector: Bars and other establishments
Turnover: €3.918.453
Date: 2018

HERMAS

Evolution of Robotized cell for Machining and Additive manufacturing with wireless Sensor for data acquisition management and analysis

Contract: Smart Factory, Agrifood and Life Sciences
Project cost: €3.527.812,50
Contribution to spending: €1.215.398,13
Concessionary Financing: €705.562,50
Date: December 2023

ROMAN GROUP

Design and support for the implementation of the economic-financial control and management control system, the design of a KPI dashboard for monitoring company performance and the optimization of organizational processes

Sector: Call Center
Date: 2023

€1.9 billion Production investments supported | €435 billion Investments in Research & Innovation subsidized | 200 active customers with hundreds of completed transactions | 100 Project Financing/PPP Operations Supported | €1.9 billion Production investments supported | €435 billion Investments in Research & Innovation subsidized | 200 active customers with hundreds of completed transactions | 100 Project Financing/PPP Operations Supported |