Renfe’s TrenLab: AI, Quantum & Tech Transforming Rail Operations

Introduction

Four startups participating in TrenLab, Renfe’s innovation accelerator, presented their pilot projects to the company, showcasing solutions aimed at enhancing customer service and operational efficiency. Renfe will now evaluate the proposals, potentially investing up to EUR 1 million in one or more of these technologies.

Pilot Project Presentations

The ‘Demo Day’ event, led by Sonia Araujo, Renfe’s Director General for Innovation, Sustainability and Digital Transformation, featured presentations from four startups. These startups showcased their projects to senior managers from the Renfe Group following six months of collaborative development. Each participant received €50,000 in funding, mentorship, and technical guidance from Renfe experts. The company will now assess the performance of each pilot, with the potential for contracts of up to EUR 1 million to integrate the solutions into its operations.

Turing Challenge

Turing Challenge presented a generative AI conversational assistant designed for personalised, multichannel, and real-time customer service. The solution allows travellers to interact with three types of agents.

Robot Technology Solutions

Robot Technology Solutions showcased its digital travel companion. Powered by artificial intelligence, the system provides real-time assistance on timetables, disruptions, accessibility, connections, and points of interest, enhancing the passenger experience.

CYRACO GmbH

CYRACO GmbH presented a remote inspection system using AI and augmented reality. The technology aims to improve the collection of technical data during rolling stock maintenance, potentially boosting operational efficiency by up to 300%. The system supports inspection tasks through intelligent data capture, smart diagnostics, and enhanced management of components and technical reports, while strengthening safety, traceability, and reliability.

QCentroid

QCentroid, winner of the ‘Operational Efficiency through Quantum Computing’ challenge, demonstrated its pilot for identifying use cases that apply quantum computing to optimise logistics, scheduling, resource allocation, and cybersecurity. The project seeks to open new opportunities for advanced process optimisation across Renfe’s core operations.

TrenLab’s Impact

Since its launch, TrenLab has hosted over 1,000 startups across six editions, with 26 successfully accelerated. Several collaborations have resulted in commercial contracts worth over EUR 6 million.

Conclusion

Renfe reaffirms its commitment to technological innovation through this sixth call of TrenLab, aiming to improve mobility, increase operational efficiency and sustainability, and strengthen cooperation with the entrepreneurial ecosystem. More information is available at www.trenlab.es.

Company Summary

Renfe: Renfe is a railway operator.

Turing Challenge: A company that presented a generative AI conversational assistant.

Robot Technology Solutions: A company that showcased a digital travel companion.

CYRACO GmbH: A company that presented a remote inspection system.

QCentroid: The winner of the ‘Operational Efficiency through Quantum Computing’ challenge.