Key technologies for the digitalisation of transport

Through Horizon 2020, the EU provided support to numerous research and innovation projects, developing and testing new transport solutions. This support is still ongoing with the funding programmes under the 2021-2027 long-term budget, with an emphasis on deployment.

Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM)

To enable the adoption of automated vehicles, the European Commission will implement a legal framework for their approval. Building on the successes of achievements under Horizon 2020, particularly in the field of Connected, Cooperative, and Automated Mobility (CCAM), the Commission will continue to support research and innovation to make Europe a world leader in CAM systems and services. 

Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM) is a Horizon Europe Partnership and a successor to earlier initiatives. It has already demonstrated significant progress showcasing advancements in automated mobility technologies. This partnership will receive a €500 million contribution to further drive innovation.

Cooperative intelligent transport systems (C-ITS), which allow the exchange of information among vehicles, and between vehicles and the road infrastructure, are crucial for the deployment of CAM. It is expected to improve road safety, traffic efficiency and comfort. The deployment of C-ITS will benefit from Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme support from 2021-2027.

The AUTOPILOT project, which ran from 2017 to 2020, focused on piloting the use of IoT devices for automated driving in real conditions. AUTOPILOT opens the way for innovative commercial services associated with self-driving vehicles. Receiving an investment of approximately €20 million, the project highlighted the importance of digital technologies in improving the abilities of self-driving vehicles in better understanding their environment, and complementing IoT sensors. For example, the use of IoT can improve safety by detecting obstacles beyond line of sight.

5G connectivity

5G is a crucial enabler for automated vehicles and digitalised trains. To prepare the deployment of 5G corridors across Europe, ambitious cross-border corridor trial projects with CAM use cases are being conducted for different transport modes in various locations. By 2025, the EU aims to have an uninterrupted 5G coverage of major transport paths across Europe. It financially supports the target under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme and the Resilience and Recovery Facility, with a focus on cross-border corridors (CEF) and national sections (RRF and CEF). Combined with private investment and other public funding sources, they will contribute to achieve a full 5G coverage by 2030, for safe and connected travel across Europe.

Focusing on the Bologna-Munich corridor (600km over three countries), the Horizon 2020-funded project 5G-CARMEN aims to leverage the most recent advances in 5G to help the automotive sector deliver safer, greener, and smarter transportation, the goal of enabling self-driving cars. The key innovations are centred around developing an autonomously managed hybrid network, combining direct short-range vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications with long-range vehicle-to-network (V2N) communications, bringing together leading European car manufacturers, mobile network operators, telecom vendors, road operators and research centres.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has countless applications for transport: automated vehicles, optimised charging and battery use for electric vehicles, improved itineraries for passengers and transport of goods. AI supports data driven decisions in planning transport infrastructure and services, and deploying charging stations, ensuring they meet current and future demands. Generative AI can further enhance these applications by generating innovative solutions and improving decision-making processes (for instance, by creating predictive models and simulations for transport scenarios). Boosting new industrial uses of AI is a priority for the European Union.

The AI Act has entered into force on 1 August 2024. It categorises AI systems into different risk levels, with "high risk" systems subject to strict requirements to ensure safety and transparency. In the mobility sector, examples of high risk AI systems include autonomous driving technologies and AI-driven traffic management systems. This includes systems exerting safety functions in several mobility areas, including cars, civil aviation, and marine safety equipment. These systems are critical as they directly impact public safety and must adhere to strict standards to mitigate potential risks.

The AI Act is complemented by specific requirements tailored to these sectors. To create a robust framework for AI deployment in transports, the European AI Strategy emphasises the development of sector-specific guidelines and support mechanisms to ensure safe and efficient AI integration across all forms of mobility. Furthermore, the EU funds AI research and innovation through initiatives like the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL), which includes Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEF) for developing AI solutions in near real-life conditions. TEFs focusing on smart communities benefit from AI advancements in mobility, integrating AI into public transport, urban planning, and infrastructure management.

To support the development of AI, Europe needs to exploit the untapped potential of data. European efforts to remove the barriers to data access and sharing, notably through the deployment of common European mobility data space will contribute to strengthening Europe’s position on AI.

AI can also promote sustainable mobility solutions. Predictive maintenance powered by AI could prevent vehicle breakdowns, extending the lifespan of transport assets. Among the other applications, AI systems can optimise energy consumption in electric vehicles and public transport, supporting the EU's sustainability goals.

Semiconductors

As shown by the major impact of the semiconductor shortage on industries like car manufacturing, having sufficient capacities in the field of electronics is key for the resilience of supply chains and Europe’s sovereignty and competitiveness.

The Commission adopted the European Chips Act package in February 2022. It aims to strengthen Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem and to address shortages. It will create an attractive investment environment, reinforce Europe’s technological leadership along the semiconductor value chain and mobilise investments of more than €43 billion by 2030.

The Chips Joint Undertaking will support research and innovation by pooling public and private investments, building on the achievements of its predecessor ECSEL (see examples below). These investments also target user industries like the transport and automotive sector, notably through an initiative on an open automotive hardware platform.

Open European software-defined vehicle platform

Software is playing an increasingly important role in managing the operations of vehicles and enabling new features. The shift to software-defined vehicles is creating challenges for the leadership and competitiveness of the European automotive industry, which faces new powerful global competitors and issues in software development.

The Commission has initiated a pre-competitive EU-driven collaboration on non-differentiating elements of the vehicle software stack. This initiative is supported by a governance workstream involving major EU automotive companies and by investments under the Chips Joint Undertaking. It will allow participants to achieve greater efficiencies and faster time-to-market, while ensuring a level playing field. It will closely align with the initiative on an open automotive hardware platform. For more information, please consult the dedicated concept paper.

Cybersecurity

The greater reliance on digital infrastructures and services of mobility increases the importance of cybersecurity. The EU's Directive on Security of Network and Information Systems (NIS Directive) aims to achieve a high level of common network and information system security across the EU's critical infrastructure. The revised Directive on measures for high common level of cybersecurity across the Union (NIS 2), and a new Directive on the resilience of critical entities, address both cyber and physical resilience of critical entities and networks, including transport infrastructure. The Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) supports the deployment of a cybersecurity infrastructure, strengthens the EU’s cybersecurity industry, and boosts cybersecurity uptake and the implementation of EU legislation.

Cloud and edge computing

The European Commission is supporting the research, development, and large-scale deployment of next-generation cloud infrastructures and services across the EU, a key enabler for the digitalisation of mobility and to unlock the potential of mobility data.

The Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) will deploy a European federation of cloud and edge computing infrastructures that will benefit the transport sector, supporting trusted mobility services as well as data exchange in the automotive production ecosystem. Horizon Europe will fund a €150-million initiative on Cloud-to-Edge-to-IoT, with the EU funding up to €2 billion in cloud-edge through different programmes, and Member States complementing these investments. Several ongoing projects involve use cases focusing on mobility, for example, pedestrian automatic emergency breaking and smart logistics at terminal stations.

In order to coordinate investment efforts, foster strategic partnerships and mobilise key European industrial actors, a European Alliance for Industrial Data, Edge and Cloud was launched in July 2021, bringing together a wide range of private and public stakeholders. It paves the way towards an Important Project of Common European Interest on Next-Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services. 

Accelerating the adoption of digital technologies

For mobility and transport companies, especially smaller ones, succeeding in their digital transformation can be a real challenge. Supported under DIGITAL, the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) function as one-stop shops, supporting companies in their digitalisation. They aim to provide access to technical expertise and experimentation, the possibility to 'test before investing' and innovation services, such as financial advice, training, and skills development. They also tackle environmental issues like energy consumption and reducing carbon emissions.

Digital skills

As transport and mobility undergo significant changes, not least due to technological transformation and access to data, there is a need for both reskilling and upskilling of the workforce. The EU has adopted targets, launched actions and proposed recommendations to Member States to equip workers with required digital skills and train more ICT specialists. For example, the European Digital Skills and Jobs Platform, under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme aims to become a unique reference point for digital skills, enabling all Europeans to make the most of the digital transformation of our society and economy.