Railway embedded control systemsprimary
3 projects
All three H2020 projects (ROLL2RAIL, SAFE4RAIL, certMILS) involve onboard train control and computing architectures.
Organization
UNICONTROLS A.S.
Czech SME delivering embedded control systems and safety-critical software for European railway rolling stock.
Technology SMEtransportCZSMENo active H2020 projects
H2020 projects
3
As coordinator
0
Total EC funding
€627K
Unique partners
59
What they do
Their core work
UNICONTROLS is a Czech SME specializing in embedded control systems and safety-critical software for the railway industry. Their H2020 portfolio shows consistent involvement in rolling stock digitalization — from onboard train control units to distributed computing architectures and security certification of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. They bring industrial-grade expertise in real-time control systems where reliability and safety compliance are non-negotiable.
Core expertise
What they specialise in
Safety-critical software architectureprimary
2 projects
SAFE4RAIL focused on safe distributed application integration, and certMILS on compositional security certification for safety-relevant systems.
Security certification for COTS systemssecondary
1 project
certMILS addressed security certification methods for medium- to high-assurance commercial systems in safety-critical environments.
Rolling stock modernizationsecondary
1 project
ROLL2RAIL targeted dependable rolling stock for more sustainable and intelligent rail transport across Europe.
Evolution & trajectory
How they've shifted over time
Early focus
Rolling stock control systems
Recent focus
Safety and security certification
UNICONTROLS' H2020 trajectory shows a clear progression from general rolling stock systems toward safety and security assurance. Their earliest project (ROLL2RAIL, 2015) addressed broad rolling stock improvements, while subsequent work narrowed to safe distributed architectures (SAFE4RAIL, 2016) and formal security certification (certMILS, 2017). This signals a deepening specialization in the trust and assurance layer of railway digitalization.
Moving from building railway control systems toward proving their safety and security — positioning themselves as experts in the certification and assurance side of rail digitalization.
Collaboration profile
How they like to work
Role: specialist_contributorReach: European11 countries collaborated
UNICONTROLS operates exclusively as a consortium participant, contributing specialized SME expertise rather than leading projects. With 59 unique partners across 11 countries from just 3 projects, they work in large Shift2Rail-type consortia (averaging ~20 partners per project). This pattern suggests they are a trusted niche supplier that larger rail players bring in for specific embedded systems capabilities.
Extensive network of 59 partners across 11 countries built through large-scale European railway research consortia. Their connections likely span major rail operators, rolling stock manufacturers, and railway research institutes across Western and Central Europe.
Why partner with them
What sets them apart
UNICONTROLS sits at the intersection of embedded control systems and railway safety certification — a niche where few SMEs operate. While large system integrators dominate rolling stock, UNICONTROLS brings focused expertise in the onboard computing and safety-assurance layer. For consortium builders, they offer a credible Czech SME partner with direct industry experience in safety-critical railway software, satisfying both technical and SME participation requirements.
Notable projects
Highlights from their portfolio
- SAFE4RAILLargest individual EC contribution (€254,888) and directly addresses the critical challenge of safe software integration in modern rolling stock.
- certMILSRepresents a strategic pivot toward security certification — a growing regulatory requirement as railways become more connected and digitalized.
Cross-sector capabilities
Cybersecurity for industrial systemsSafety certification and assuranceEmbedded real-time computingCritical infrastructure protection
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