POLSKIE KOLEJE PANSTWOWE SPOLKA AKCYJNA

Their core work

PKP (Polish State Railways) is Poland's national railway holding company, one of the largest rail operators in Central Europe, managing passenger and freight transport infrastructure across Poland. In H2020, they contributed real-world railway operational expertise — particularly around station modernization, energy metering for rail systems, and the integration of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms into existing rail ecosystems. They serve as a living laboratory and end-user validator for innovations in multimodal transport, smart stations, and freight logistics optimization across European corridors.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

PKP's early H2020 involvement (2017-2018) centered on hard infrastructure — station energy systems and smart metering, reflecting a focus on physical asset modernization. By 2020, their participation shifted decisively toward digital services and logistics: MaaS platforms, SaaS solutions, traveller experience, and ambitious freight concepts like the Physical Internet and transcontinental corridor optimization. This trajectory mirrors the broader European rail sector's pivot from hardware upgrades to software-driven, user-centric transport services.

PKP is moving from physical infrastructure modernization toward digital transport platforms and data-driven multimodal logistics, making them increasingly relevant for smart mobility and MaaS-related consortia.

How they like to work

PKP participates exclusively as a consortium partner, never as coordinator — consistent with the role of a large end-user organization that provides real operational environments and validation rather than leading research design. With 82 unique partners across 21 countries from just 4 projects, they join large, diverse consortia (averaging ~20 partners per project). This makes them accessible as a partner: they bring a major railway network as a testbed without demanding project leadership.

Despite only 4 projects, PKP has built a broad network of 82 partners across 21 countries, indicating participation in large pan-European transport consortia. Their geographic reach spans well beyond Central Europe, with ePIcenter connecting to Arctic, Silk Road, and Belt & Road corridors.

What sets them apart

PKP is one of Europe's largest national railway operators, giving consortium partners access to a massive real-world transport network for piloting and validation — something few partners can offer at this scale. Their position in Central Europe makes them a strategic node for east-west freight corridors and cross-border mobility initiatives. For any project needing a major railway end-user to test innovations at operational scale, PKP is a proven and accessible partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• IN2STEMPO
  PKP's largest funded project (EUR 392,375), tackling the future of railway stations with smart energy metering — directly tied to PKP's core station infrastructure.
• ePIcenter
  Ambitious scope connecting Physical Internet logistics with global trade corridors (Arctic, Silk Road, Belt & Road), hyperloop, and autonomous vehicles — unusually forward-looking for a traditional rail operator.