The JULIA project is developing innovative solutions that leverage European space data from Galileo and Copernicus to improve the reliability, efficiency and sustainability of public transport systems. ERTICO is responsible for coordinating the JULIA Open Call, designed to expand the testing of these innovations with additional Public Transport Operators (PTOs).
The Open Call aims to select five PTOs to run small-scale pilots of solutions developed within the JULIA project. Each selected operator will receive €15,000 in funding to test the applications in real operational environments over a 4 to 8-week period starting after July 2026.
To introduce the opportunity to the sector, ERTICO hosted an informational webinar on Friday, 13 March, led by Apollo Tirneci, Innovation & Deployment Manager. The session provided PTOs with an overview of the Open Call, the application process and the five JULIA applications available for testing. These include solutions focused on enhanced vehicle positioning and demand-responsive transport operations, as well as tools that provide environmental insights based on Copernicus Earth observation data, supporting operators in monitoring air quality and anticipating climate-related impacts on transport systems.
Download the presentations here
For ERTICO, enabling replication and scalability is a central objective of the initiative. By inviting additional operators to test the solutions in various operational contexts, the Open Call aims to ensure that the project’s findings can be replicated and scaled beyond the initial pilot sites, contributing to the broader adoption of space-enabled innovations in public transport.
Public Transport Operators interested in participating can submit their applications until 30 April 2026 by sending the completed application form to opencall@julia-project.eu
To further support potential applicants, a dedicated workshop organised by POLIS Network will take place on 23 March, providing an opportunity to explore the applications in more detail and address technical questions.