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HERFRIED

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Highly Efficient, eco-friendly, Resilient & Fully integrated, Real-time Innovative inland waterway transport, Enhancing multimodal competitiveness via Digitalisation

Developing and validating an interoperable framework for integrating smart inland waterway transport into multimodal logistics chains.  

Project information

Status

Ongoing

Duration

1 October 2026 to 30 September 2029, 36 months

Project type

Horizon Europe 

Grant Agreement Number

101318845

ALICE Project Manager

Factsheet

Related ALICE Thematic Group

TG2, TG3 and TG4 

Related Community

ALICE IWT Community

ALICE Express

Keywords

  • Inland waterway transport,
  • Multimodal logistics,
  • Digitalisation,
  • Smart vessels,
  • Interoperability 

Get involved

Knowledge Platform

Project overview

European inland waterway transport has considerable potential to support more sustainable and resilient freight movement. However, digital and physical solutions are frequently developed in isolation, making their integration into wider multimodal logistics chains difficult.

HERFRIED addresses this challenge by developing a first-of-a-kind interoperable framework for the seamless integration of smart inland waterway transport into multimodal supply chains. The framework will combine digital and physical solutions, support real-time coordination and enable innovations to connect with broader logistics systems and transport modes.

The project builds on existing partner platforms, previous research projects and ongoing innovation initiatives. Its solutions will be validated under real operational conditions through seven industry-led pilots covering bulk, break-bulk and multimodal cargo movements across European transport corridors.

By aligning operational requirements, stakeholder needs and evolving regulatory expectations, HERFRIED aims to improve the efficiency, reliability and competitiveness of inland waterway transport and support its increased use within European multimodal logistics chains.  

Objectives and expected outcomes

Objectives

HERFRIED aims to:

01

Develop an interoperable smart inland waterway transport framework that integrates digital and physical innovations.

02

Connect inland waterway operations more effectively with multimodal logistics systems and other transport modes.

03

Identify and prioritise relevant innovations and use cases in collaboration with industry stakeholders.

04

Validate integrated solutions in real operational environments.

05

Establish consistent methods for assessing the social, economic and environmental effects of the pilots.

06

Develop business, policy and governance conditions that support the long-term adoption of smart inland waterway transport.

07

Produce recommendations supporting standardised and interoperable inland waterway operations.

HERFRIED project poster

Expected results

01

An enhanced interoperable framework for integrating inland waterway transport into multimodal logistics chains.

02

HERFRIED Process Space and interoperable data workflowsA supporting standardised inland waterway operations.

03

Cross-border validation of the HERFRIED framework through real-world cargo pilots.

04

A comprehensive KPI framework for evaluating social, economic and environmental impacts.

05

Policy recommendations supporting standardised smart inland waterway operations.

06

Innovative business models for integrated inland waterway transport.

07

Replicable pathways for introducing future digital innovations into the HERFRIED framework.

Contribution to European logistics

HERFRIED will help improve the operational efficiency, reliability and connectivity of inland waterway transport. By making smart inland waterway solutions easier to integrate with wider supply chains, the project supports modal shift, transport digitalisation and more sustainable European freight operations.

The framework is intended to be scalable and applicable across European inland waterway corridors. Its interoperable approach will also support the future onboarding of new technologies and services as market requirements, standards and regulatory expectations evolve.



Demonstrations, pilots and validation

HERFRIED will validate its Smart IWT Framework through seven industry-led pilots operating under real-world conditions. The pilots will cover bulk, break-bulk and multimodal container flows across several European basins and corridors, including:

The geographical areas include:

01

Rhine-Main-Danube

02

Seine-Scheldt

03

Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp

04

Connections with Spain, including the Port of Pasaia

The pilots will test predefined interoperable solutions and use cases co-designed with industry stakeholders. Validation will assess operational relevance, technical and business feasibility, scalability and potential for wider European application.

Stakeholder input will be gathered through desk research, interviews, surveys, workshops and direct engagement with shippers, logistics service providers, inland waterway operators, ports, terminals and public authorities. This process will help ensure that project solutions reflect practical operational requirements and policy needs.

Innovative solutions

HERFRIED smart IWT framework

The project will develop an interoperable framework integrating smart vessels, infrastructure, data, administration and logistics services. The framework will describe value propositions, stakeholder roles, business models, policy recommendations and governance mechanisms for adopting smart inland waterway innovations.

HERFRIED Process Space and interoperable data workflows Common data space

HERFRIED will develop a sector-wide common data space designed to support standardised information exchange and more coordinated inland waterway operations.

Integrated use cases

The project will identify, assess and demonstrate use cases for bulk cargo, break-bulk cargo and multimodal container operations. Use cases will be selected with industry stakeholders and refined according to operational and technical requirements.

KPI and impact-assessment framework

A harmonised KPI framework will support the assessment of the pilots’ social, economic and environmental effects. The framework will enable consistent pre-assessment and post-assessment and will address quantitative indicators alongside qualitative aspects that cannot be captured reliably through pilot data alone.

Business and adoption framework

HERFRIED will develop business models, exploitation pathways and policy recommendations to support the broader adoption of integrated smart inland waterway solutions.

ALICE's role

ALICE participates in HERFRIED to ensure that the framework and its innovations respond to multimodal logistics requirements and can support long-term industry uptake.

ALICE leads the work package on innovative solutions, use cases and the HERFRIED smart inland waterway transport framework. Within this work, ALICE is responsible for developing the overall HERFRIED framework and leading stakeholder needs, barriers, requirements and enablers analysis.

ALICE contributes to:
  • Integrating project solutions and use cases into the HERFRIED smart IWT framework.
  • Identifying and assessing relevant innovations from previous and ongoing European research and innovation projects.
  • Engaging external stakeholders across inland waterway and multimodal logistics value chains.
  • Organising interviews, surveys, co-design workshops and validation activities.
  • Establishing and engaging the HERFRIED Stakeholder Advisory Group and Users Community.
  • Supporting the identification of policy, regulatory, organisational, technical and market barriers.
  • Connecting stakeholder engagement results with project communication and dissemination activities.
  • Supporting recommendations for scalable, interoperable and industry-relevant solutions.
  • Applying the ALICE EXPRESS approach to HERFRIED by engaging shippers, identifying cargo flows with modal-shift potential, supporting neutral and confidential demand aggregation, and connecting freight demand with available IWT capacity.

Related ALICE activities

  • Zero Emissions Logistics 2050 roadmap
  • Physical Internet Roadmap
  • ALICE's discussion paper: A new level of Data Synchronization for efficient logistics data exchange (ALICE-data-sharing-discussion-paper_V0.6_0205024_1.pdf)
  • NAIADES III
  • Digital Transport and Logistics Forum (DTLF)
  • European Mobility Data Space (EMDS)
  • Electronic Freight Transport Information (eFTI)
  • Relevant River Information Services (RIS) and standardisation activities
Related project contributions

Project resources

Project consortium

HERFRIED brings together 17 organisations from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands and Poland. The consortium includes research organisations, technology providers, logistics and transport operators, industry associations, industry and public authorities. This combination is intended to connect technology development with operational needs and policy requirements.

Coordinator

FH OÖ Forschungs & Entwicklungs GmbH, Austria

ALICE members in the consortium

imec, FHOOE, University of Antwerp, Transporeon, De Vlaamse Waterweg and AI Cargo Foundation.

imec
FH Upper Austria
University of Antwerp
Transporeon
De Vlaamse Waterweg
AI Cargo Foundation

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EU Funded

EU funding

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101318845. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.