ERCI Innovation Awards
On Wednesday, 23 September 2026, the European Railway Clusters Initiative (ERCI) will present awards for the most outstanding European innovations in the railway industry during InnoTrans 2026 at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. The award ceremony will take place at the Rail.S stand (Hall 7.2b, Stand 200) and will recognise the companies that submitted entries to the annual ERCI Railway Innovation Competition.
The competition recognises the best innovation from large enterprises with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 7 or above. In addition, the best innovation among the nominations from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is selected.
The jury also presents a “Coup de Cœur” Award to one of the remaining nominations that has demonstrated exceptional quality and innovative strength and is therefore considered worthy of special recognition.
Needless to say, there could be no competition without nominations. Therefore, all 29 nominations from eight countries, including submissions from 16 SMEs and 13 large enterprises, together with the respective railway clusters supporting them, deserve special recognition for their participation.
The submissions were assessed by a European jury comprising railway experts from a range of European countries.
ERCI Achievement Awards
In addition, ERCI will once again present the ERCI Achievement Award this year, following previous editions in 2022 and 2024. The aim of the award is to nominate and recognise an individual or organisation that has made a significant contribution through its activities in the fields of railways and intermodality, in a manner that is particularly relevant to the members and the mission of ERCI.
Each edition of the Achievement Award is dedicated to a specific area of excellence or challenge of particular importance to the sector. The theme of this year’s award is:
“Outstanding Contribution to the Strategic Autonomy of the European Rail Industry.”
Picture: (c) ERCI
