Building on previously funded projects and ongoing activities (e.g. Connecting Europe
Facility, Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects), ensuring compliance with the data
sharing framework pursued by the Digital Transport and Logistics Forum (DTLF), and taking
into account the development of the common European mobility data space, proposals will
pilot, demonstrate and scale up systemic collaborative solutions regarding logistics nodes,
multimodal logistics networks connectivity, business and governance models. The focus will
be on both digital and physical interoperability as well as on the adoption of zero-emission
vehicles/vessels.
Proposals will have to research and demonstrate in a structured and systemic way all of the
following points:
- Demonstrate at least 10 working open standard processes, procedures and services across
several logistics nodes providing seamless access to users. Processes, procedures, and
services are expected to have an open access definition and scalability aspects need to be
addressed.
- Develop and demonstrate further compatibility and interoperability of the full range of
standardised multimodal transport units (from containers to boxes), also across transport
modes.
- To achieve scalable multimodal logistics networks connectivity, demonstrate models and
processes, supported by Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, etc., which can
increase utilisation of assets and resources in actual logistics service providers’ networks
dynamically. These models should also consider how to increase the adoption of
automated and zero-emission vehicles/vessels and the use of rail and inland waterways
through multimodal solutions.
- Demonstrate tools, technologies and processes to achieve different types of flows
compatibility (e.g. through shared standard boxes) and synchro-modal solutions over the
logistics service providers’ networks, involving shippers and retailers to that purpose.
- Demonstrate the benefit (e.g. GHG reductions vs increased operational costs) of
decentralised inventory positions in the pooled logistics network allowing low speed
multimodal transport for (re-)positioning stock levels and answering short term lead
times with closer to consumer inventory positions (e.g. full visibility of inventory
positions in retail networks extended to suppliers and logistics service providers).
- Test and demonstrate sound business and governance models and rules (including
organisational change requirements) for resource-sharing across logistics networks, to
ensure operational efficiency of freight movements irrespective of mode, nodal
operations and freight characteristics.
- Test and demonstrate the functionalities and relevance of the data sharing framework,
serving for optimisation of the logistic system, including through the establishment of an
appropriate semantic model and its components, such as for instance Digital Twins with
specific algorithms allowing for predictive planning of logistic related events. Synergies
for rail will need to be sought with the EU-Rail Programme projects implementing the
Transversal Topic on Digital enablers and Flagship Area 5 (351) .
- Develop and demonstrate scalability of the proposed solutions providing open access
mechanisms and low thresholds to the system of logistics networks. Consider realising
visualisation and simulation models and tools to show the practical use of collaborative
models for the various types of stakeholders and the potential benefits based on actual
cases. Develop specific actions to encourage, facilitate and ensure the access of SMEs
and smaller players.
- Measure and demonstrate the benefits in terms of use of resources, affordability of
proposed solutions, throughput capacity and environmental impact of the scaled up
horizontal collaboration among logistics networks (system of logistics networks).
351 See EU-Rail Multi Annual Work programme at https://shift2rail.org/wpcontent/uploads/2022/03/EURAIL_MAWP_final.pdf
