Non-exhaust emissions in road and railway transport

Overview

Funding for research and innovation projects addressing non-exhaust emissions (NEE) from road and railway transport, including measurement methods, health and environmental impacts, and mitigation strategies. Targets consortia developing tools, models, and technologies to reduce particulate emissions and their ecological consequences.

Who Can Apply

Consortia of legal entities (e.g., research institutions, universities, industry, public bodies) from eligible countries, including EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries, and select non-associated countries with specific funding provisions.

Funding Details

• Maximum grant amount: €5,000,000 per project.
• Funding rate: Not specified (standard Horizon Europe rules apply).
• Total budget: Not specified.

What Is Funded

• Development of methods and tools for measuring, simulating, and validating NEE from road and rail transport.
• Source identification, chemical characterization, and emission measurement techniques for brake wear, tyre wear, wheel-rail interaction, and resuspension.
• Assessment of health impacts (including gender-disaggregated data) and environmental effects on soil, water, and biodiversity.
• Mitigation strategies, including innovative materials, vehicle designs, and infrastructure solutions (e.g., road surfaces, drainage systems) to achieve TRL 6 or higher.
• Life cycle assessments, standardization, and regulatory recommendations.
• Cross-sector collaboration to address gaps in rail particulate emissions research.

Technology / Maturity Requirements

• Proposed solutions must reach TRL 6 or higher by project completion.
• Projects should build on existing EU-funded initiatives (e.g., Leon-T, ULTRAHAS, nPETS, LIFE NEEVE).

Key Dates

• Open date: 2025-12-17
• Deadline: 2026-04-13T22:00:00Z

Application Process (High-Level)

• Two-stage process:

1. First stage (blind evaluation): Applicants must omit organization names, logos, and personnel details from the abstract and Part B of the proposal. 2. Second stage: Full proposal submission for shortlisted applicants.

• Submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Post-Award Obligations

• Standard Horizon Europe reporting requirements apply.
• The granting authority may object to transfers of ownership or exclusive licensing of results for up to 4 years post-project.
• Projects using satellite data must utilize Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.

Geographic Scope & Language

• Eligible countries: EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries, and select non-associated countries with specific funding provisions (see Annex B of the Work Programme).
• Language: English.

Notes

• First-stage proposals undergo blind evaluation (no identifying information allowed).
• Projects must align with EU priorities on climate, energy, and mobility.
• Emphasis on real-world applicability, cost-benefit analysis, and industrial competitiveness.