Promotion of Innovations in Rail Freight Transport (Z-SGV)
Nationwide funding of innovation projects for the modernization and competitiveness of rail freight transport with grants covering up to 100% of eligible costs. Project outlines can be submitted at any time.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The goal of the program is to address the backlog of investments in rail freight transport, to rapidly advance innovative technologies in the fields of digitalization, automation, and rail vehicle technology to application maturity and market introduction, and thereby sustainably strengthen the competitiveness and logistics capabilities of rail freight transport in Germany.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel costs
- Costs for materials and external services
- Investments in tangible and intangible equipment
- Costs for test and demonstration fields
Non-eligible expenses
- Basic scientific research
- Infrastructure expansion (electrification) and ETCS equipment
- Training costs
- Application and preliminary planning costs
- Deductible input tax
Eligible to apply
- Public Institutions
- Companies
- Educational Institutions
- Interest Groups and Other Associations
Funding requirements
- Own contribution at least 50%
- Proof of professional qualification and capacities
- Project must not have started before approval
- Minimum project volume €25,000
Documents required for application
- Project outline
- Funding application
- Financial plan
- Technical project description
- Proof of professional qualifications and capacities
- Cooperation agreement for joint projects
Evaluation criteria
- Innovative content
- Contribution to competitiveness and logistics capability
- Feasibility and implementation scheduling
- Cost-benefit aspects
- Market effects and economic efficiency
Description
The federal program "Future Rail Freight Transport (Z-SGV)" promotes nationwide innovation projects aimed at modernizing and strengthening the competitiveness of rail freight transport. The goal is to address the existing backlog of investments and to rapidly bring new technologies from the fields of digitalization, automation, and rail vehicle technology to application maturity and market launch. Eligible for funding are public institutions, companies of all sizes, educational institutions, and associations that invest jointly or independently in application-oriented projects. The Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) provides grants upon application amounting to 25% up to 100% of the eligible costs. The duration of the projects varies between 30 and 50 months depending on the funding line, with project outlines able to be submitted at any time. Thus, the federal government supports a forward-looking logistics solution that sustainably strengthens rail transport in Germany.
A minimum own contribution of 50% is required for approval; furthermore, projects may only commence after the grant notification and must have a minimum volume of €25,000. Eligible costs include personnel expenses, material and external service costs, investments in tangible and intangible equipment, as well as test and demonstration fields. Excluded are, among others, basic scientific research, expansion infrastructure, ETCS equipment, training and application pre-planning costs, as well as deductible input VAT. Professional qualifications and capacities must be demonstrated by evidence. Evaluation criteria include the level of innovation, contribution to competitiveness and logistics capability, feasibility, cost-benefit aspects, and expected market effects. For application submission, a project outline, complete funding application, financial and technical project description, and, if applicable, cooperation agreements must be provided. The continuous submission deadline ends on December 31, 2029.