From left: From left: Andre Rodenbeck, CEO of Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility; Karsten Lemmer, DLR Executive Board Member for Innovation, Transfer and Research Infrastructure; Marc Ludwig, CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility; Meike Jipp, DLR Divisional Board Member for Energy and Transport. Photo source: Siemens Mobility
At InnoTrans 2026, Siemens Mobility and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) signed a framework agreement for joint research and development. The aim of this long-term cooperation is to make rail transport more efficient, resilient, and sustainable through digitalization and automation.
The focus is on technologies for automated train operation (ATO) as well as advanced control, command, and signaling systems for capacity optimization. Serving as a strategic "bridge between cutting-edge research and industrial innovation," the partnership combines DLR's expertise with Siemens Mobility's global implementation capabilities. This collaboration will secure long-term innovation and competitiveness in the international rail sector.
The partnership ranges from innovative operating concepts to predictive maintenance, aiming to systematically transform DLR's research findings into market-ready applications. The new agreement establishes a long-term framework to achieve these goals.