The Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking (S2R JU) is delighted to announce that the last grant agreement related to 2015/2016 calls has been signed. All projects are now operational and working together towards delivering innovative solutions.
In June 2016, following two open calls for proposals, the S2R JU has awarded 27 grants. The level of response to the call for proposals has been high; thanks to the commitment of all parties involved, the grant agreement process was conducted in the most effective manner to allow projects to kick-off rapidly. It is important to see these projects as an integrated component of the unique S2R Programme (the MAAP). “Together with its Members and stakeholders, the JU will ensure that projects will work jointly, in a spirit of strong collaboration, to leverage results and resources availableâ€, confirms Carlo Borghini, Executive Director or the S2R JU1.
The 27 S2R JU Other Members2 submitted project proposals to cover all 13 call topics open to them. The value of activities to be performed by the S2R JU Other Members during the next three years, amount to 142 ME that will be co-funded by the S2R JU up to 63 ME.
These projects, which started on 1 September are well on their ramp up phase
The applicants to the Open call for proposals for non-JU Members covered 14 out of 15 topics open to them. The value of the activities to be performed by the awarded consortia amount to 25ME and will be financed by the S2R JU up to 100% of the eligible costs3 .
These projectshave started between 1 October and 1 November 2016.
With its first calls for proposal the S2R JU launched 167 ME of complementary R&I activities and plan to grant 88 ME for their completion. A total of 454 participants applied to the different topics available under both the open calls and the calls designated for Members, of which 25% are SMEs. In the open calls funded projects only, more than 30% of the participants are SMEs.
On Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking (S2R JU)
Shift2Rail is the first European railway Public Private Partnership tasked with developing strategically-focused research and innovation (R&I) and market-driven solutions, integrating these to create the railway system of the future. With a total value of 920M€ for the period 2014-2020, Shift2Rail is promoting the competitiveness of the European rail industry and ensuring the attractiveness of rail as a safe and sustainable low carbon transport mode. S2R JU is expected to meet the changing transport/mobility needs of EU citizens and the economy.
The Shift2Rail initiative successfully started over a year ago with the kick-off of four “lighthouse” projects with 52M€ of research paving the way for the main programme.
In addition, since the beginning of 2016, the S2R JU members have been able to implement additional activities in support of the S2R JU work programme, which will add leverage and driving force to the Shift2Rail initiative.
The S2R JU is looking forward to the successful implementation of the new S2R projects and to demonstrating with its Members and the sector at large the potential for innovation to deliver a bright future for railway.
More information
http://www.shift2rail.or
http://ec.europa/transport
Contact:
Carlo Borghini (32 2 541 83 61)
carlo.borghini@shift2rail.europa.eu
Catherine Cieczko (32 2 541 83 82)
catherine.cieczko@shift2rail.europa.eu
