Date: 27-29 October

Location: Fortezza (IT), Dresden (DE)

From 27 to 29 October 2025, the Europe’s Rail (EU-Rail) LEADER 2030 project will host the Innovation Train Journey & Rolling Conference, connecting Firenze (IT) and Dresden (DE) through a series of high-level discussions, field visits, and stakeholder engagement activities.

Key highlights include:

• Panel discussions on board High-Speed Train AV8502 (Firenze–Bolzano), focused on LEADER 2030 research outcomes with stakeholders from industry, research and institutions

• Site visit to the Brenner Base Tunnel in Fortezza (IT)

• Follow-up discussions on board the trains Bolzano (IT) -Muenchen-Dresden (DE)

• Onboard discussions from Bolzano to Munich and Dresden

• Visit to Infineon Technologies semiconductor factory (Dresden, DE)

• Final conference in Schloss Pillnitz (Dresden): “Exploring technology loops and raw material supply schemes in energy-intensive industries”, co-organised with the IDEALIST project, funded by the Horizon Europe programme of the EU. The Conference will serve as a key milestone for sharing the findings and strategic visions of both projects, with particular emphasis on strengthening European value chains and supporting SMEs.

The initiative concludes the research activities of LEADER 2030, addressing the availability of raw materials and components needed to bring to market the rail innovations developed under the EU-Rail programme. It also explores strategies to strengthen Europe’s industrial capacity amid critical raw material constraints, geopolitical challenges and climate impacts.

The journey links Tuscany and Saxony, two industrially and physically connected regions within the TEN-T Scandinavian–Mediterranean Corridor, offering a unique opportunity to advance value chain integration across sectors.