FUNDACION DE LOS FERROCARRILES ESPANOLES

Their core work

The Spanish Railway Foundation (FFE) is a research institution dedicated to railway heritage, knowledge, and innovation in Spain. In the H2020 context, they contribute domain expertise on rail infrastructure, safety at level crossings, and the integration of energy storage and power electronics into railway distribution networks. Their work bridges transport operations and energy efficiency, focusing on how rail systems can become smarter and more energy-balanced. They bring deep institutional knowledge of the Spanish and European rail sector to research consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

FFE's H2020 participation spans a short window (2017–2018 start dates), making evolution analysis limited. Their earliest project (SAFER-LC, 2017) focused purely on physical rail infrastructure and safety, while their later projects (2018) shifted toward energy integration — lithium batteries, power electronics, and distribution networks in rail contexts. This suggests a broadening from traditional rail infrastructure concerns toward the electrification and energy optimization of railway systems.

FFE is moving from traditional railway infrastructure topics toward energy-transport convergence, making them a relevant partner for projects combining rail electrification with smart grid or storage technologies.

How they like to work

FFE operates exclusively as a consortium participant, never leading projects, which positions them as a reliable domain expert that contributes railway sector knowledge without taking on coordination overhead. With 29 unique partners across just 3 projects, they work in medium-to-large consortia and are comfortable in diverse, multi-country teams. This makes them an accessible and low-friction partner to bring on board for rail-related work packages.

FFE has collaborated with 29 distinct partners across 12 countries in just 3 projects, indicating participation in broad European consortia. Their network spans widely across EU member states rather than clustering around any single geographic region.

What sets them apart

As Spain's national railway foundation, FFE occupies a distinctive position — they are neither a university nor a private company, but an institutional body with deep roots in Spain's rail heritage and policy landscape. This gives them access to historical infrastructure data, regulatory insights, and sector-wide networks that academic or commercial partners typically lack. For any consortium needing a credible Spanish rail sector voice with practical infrastructure knowledge, FFE fills a niche that few other organizations can.

Highlights from their portfolio

• E-LOBSTER
  Largest funding (€274K) and most technically specific — combines energy storage, power electronics, and lithium batteries with railway distribution networks, representing FFE's move into energy-transport convergence.
• SAFER-LC
  Addresses the high-impact safety problem of level crossings through integrated road-rail design, directly relevant to infrastructure operators across Europe.