SMWA: ERDF technology funding: 9.5 million euros for one of the largest joint projects currently underway

Together with partners from industry and science, Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe (LVB) GmbH is systematically continuing the development of autonomous mobility systems for local public transport. With the “Saxon Initiative Automated Shuttle in Public Transport – SIAS-ÖV”, a research and development project is now being launched to pave the way for driverless shuttle buses from industrial manufacturers in public transport. The European Commission and the Free State of Saxony are providing funding of around 9.5 million euros as part of Saxony’s ERDF technology funding 2021-2027. Saxony’s Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Panter handed over the funding decisions in Leipzig today.

The project is being coordinated by Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe as consortium leader and brings together leading players from research, industry and the transport sector. The overarching goal is the holistic development of an integrated mobility system for highly automated SAE Level 4 shuttle buses that can be operated without drivers in the future. The focus of the current project is the integration of a European vehicle solution suitable for series production into the Leipzig “autonomous public transport” ecosystem. This represents a significant step towards a scalable overall system consisting of autonomous vehicles, digital infrastructure, control center technology and data platforms.

From left to right: Thomas Dienberg (Mayor and Alderman for Urban Development and Construction of the City of Leipzig), Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Panter, Ulf Middelberg (Spokesman of the Management Board of Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe) and Mirko Taubenreuther (SVP Cluster Manager | SDV Enabler, IAV GmbH).

“In Saxony, innovative partners are working on the mobility of the future. With the development of autonomous driving in public transport, the project not only contributes to strengthening the competitiveness of the Saxon companies involved, but also helps society to adapt to demographic challenges,” said Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Panter at the award ceremony in Leipzig. “In addition, the economic potential for the exploitation of the project results is very high. Together with the project partners, we bear the project risk, but at the same time we expect that if the project is successfully implemented, sustainable jobs can be created or secured in the funded companies in the future,” emphasized the Minister.

Automated shuttles are considered a key technology for the future of public transport. They can make a significant contribution to solving central challenges in the industry, such as the increasing shortage of drivers, rising operating costs and changing mobility needs. Integrated as a supplement to existing public transport systems, they are able to significantly improve citizens’ participation in public mobility in terms of services of general interest. The vehicles are to be used flexibly in Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe’s portfolio in future, for example for on-demand services as a feeder to streetcar and bus lines. Especially in suburban and rural regions, autonomous shuttles can help to create new mobility services and significantly improve accessibility.

“The objective of the SIAS public transport project fits seamlessly into the City of Leipzig’s mobility strategy, with which we are further strengthening sustainable mobility. Industrial vehicle solutions are an essential prerequisite for driverless and automated mobility systems to go into operation in public spaces throughout Leipzig in the future,” said Thomas Dienberg, Mayor and Councillor for Urban Development and Construction of the City of Leipzig.

Image rights: SMWA

Saxony on the way to becoming a model region for automated public transport

With the shuttle initiative, the Free State of Saxony is also positioning itself as one of the nationwide model regions for autonomous public transport. The aim is to create a technological basis for future pilot projects and subsequent transfer to regular operations. SIAS-ÖV represents the first step, the development of the functional model of an automated-networked mobility solution. The project results should be available by mid-2028 and then serve as the basis for further pilot applications and the subsequent scaling of automated shuttle services in the Free State of Saxony.

“With the support of the Free State of Saxony, we are launching the next development stage of automated public transport. Strategically, we want to combine our popular Flexa on-demand service with autonomous vehicles. The aim is affordable mobility and further improved accessibility as a public service. We are also contributing our practical experience and the results of our ABSOLUT research project at a national level. Together with other pioneers such as RMV from Frankfurt and colleagues from other cities, we can succeed in implementing the project quickly. Millions of autonomous public transport systems are already in operation around the world. SIAS-ÖV is helping us to bring this to Saxony because this project brings an industrial level 4 shuttle to our public transport system for the first time,” emphasized Ulf Middelberg, CEO of Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe.

Funding from Europe and the Free State of Saxony

The project is being implemented as part of the ERDF/JTF technology funding 2021-2027 of the Free State of Saxony and is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and funds from the Free State of Saxony. The project is thus making an important contribution to promoting innovation and the economy in Saxony and to the further development of sustainable mobility systems.

Strong partners from industry and science

The shuttle initiative brings together a broad consortium with extensive expertise in the fields of automated driving, transport infrastructure and digital mobility platforms.

In addition to Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe, the consortium includes:

• BitCtrl Systems GmbH (Leipzig) – software and system integration for public transport IT
• DEKRA Automobil GmbH (Dresden) – testing, approval and safety of automated vehicles
• glts cotech GmbH (Leipzig) – Monitoring and efficiency systems
• Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI (Dresden) – Research into networked mobility
• IAV GmbH (Chemnitz / Stollberg) – Development of automated vehicle platforms
• Technical University of Dresden – research into vehicle automation and sensor technology
• Yunex Traffic (Leipzig) – intelligent traffic infrastructure and traffic management

The company eVersum is also involved as an associated partner.

This translation was generated automatically. 

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Further links

👉 To the original announcement

👉 EFRE technology funding 2021-2027