Rasph

Nevomo and the EIC Accelerator: Maglev Trains, Freight Pilots

September 29, 2026894 words5 min

Nevomo began in 2017 as Hyper Poland, a university spin-off from a student team that entered SpaceX's hyperloop pod competition. In 2020 it renamed itself Nevomo. Its product is MagRail: magnetic levitation equipment fitted to existing railway lines, so that conventional and maglev trains could share the track. Its EIC project promised to lift speeds from 160 km/h to 330 km/h on conventional lines and from 330 km/h to 550 km/h on high-speed lines.

The European Innovation Council granted €2,499,999 towards a €9.8 million project from December 2022 to October 2025. In September 2023 a two-tonne MagRail test vehicle reached 135 km/h on a 700-metre track in Nowa Sarzyna, according to EIT InnoEnergy, which said Nevomo would start commercialising a freight version in 2024. Since then Nevomo's announcements have been about the MagRail Booster, which moves freight wagons automatically with linear motors: a pilot at ArcelorMittal's Bremen steelworks, and memoranda with India's Texmaco and DP World.

€2.50MEIC grant, 25% of a €9.8M project
550 km/hTop speed promised
135 km/hReached in the 2023 test
FreightPilots and memoranda, not passenger trains

Company file

Legal entity
Nevomo Poland sp. z o.o. (formerly Hyper Poland), KRS 0000674695, Warsaw
Registered
April 2017
Product
MagRail and MagRail Booster
Earlier funding
PLN 16.5M from Poland's research agency; PLN 3.7M from crowdfunding; EIT InnoEnergy
Pilots
BREMAG, Bremen; Kandla port, India (agreed)
EIC project
MagRail, 1 Dec 2022 to 31 Oct 2025, closed
EIC funding
Grant first

Where Nevomo Stands Now

In December 2024 Nevomo, Hansebahn Bremen, Captrain Deutschland and ArcelorMittal Bremen started BREMAG, a three-year, €6 million project funded by the German transport ministry to automate the movement of steel-coil wagons inside the Bremen plant. In 2025 Nevomo signed a memorandum with Texmaco Rail & Engineering and agreed with DP World and the Deendayal Port Authority to build a 750-metre MagRail Booster pilot track at Kandla port in India. No passenger maglev project has been announced.

The Technology: Levitation on an Ordinary Track

MagRail adds magnetic components between the rails so that a vehicle can levitate and be driven by a linear motor while conventional trains still use the same line. In the 2023 test the vehicle began levitating at just over 70 km/h. A 2024 Oliver Wyman report on MagRail, published by Nevomo, claimed MagRail could deliver high-speed service for €20 billion against €60 billion for conventional high-speed rail; it is a study, not a deployment.

What the EIC Project Promised, and What CORDIS Shows

The only published report, to February 2024, describes a track design covering straight sections, curves and turnouts, conventional vehicles retrofitted for the MagRail Booster, and the manufacture of magnetic components. No report covers the final 20 months. The promise of 330 km/h to 550 km/h on existing lines has not been tested; the only public speed is 135 km/h.

  1. Track and switch designDeliveredPer 2024 report.
  2. Freight Booster retrofitPilotingBremen, India agreed.
  3. 330 to 550 km/hNot shown135 km/h tested.
  4. Final resultsNot publishedNo final report.

The Money

Nevomo Poland's filed accounts, published by BizRaport, show operating revenue of PLN 473,401 in 2024 and a net loss of PLN 878,438, after losses of PLN 4.75 million in 2022 and PLN 1.17 million in 2023. Its total assets were PLN 51 million at the end of 2024, and its equity turned from minus PLN 7.6 million to plus PLN 9.6 million that year. The company paid 75% of the €9.8 million project itself.

What Cannot Be Checked

Questions for the EIC

What the project achieved in its final 20 months, what speeds were reached after 2023, how the €7.3 million own contribution was financed, and whether any MagRail Booster is in paid commercial use are not public.

Why Europe Should Care

The EIC funded a vision of 550 km/h trains on Europe's existing railways. What exists four years later is a 700-metre test track, a German-funded freight pilot in a steelworks and agreements in India.

What the project promised

Levitating trains on conventional tracks at 330 km/h, and 550 km/h on high-speed lines.

What the record shows

A 135 km/h test in 2023, freight automation pilots, and a company with little revenue.

The Verdict

From 550 km/h to freight yards

Nevomo's work has narrowed to the MagRail Booster, which moves freight wagons without locomotives and which the project also developed. The high speeds that headlined its EIC pitch remain untested.

Nevomo and the EIC have not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on public records and published statements, linked throughout.

Start with the EIC Accelerator

Professional proposal writing and expert review for Step 1 and Step 2.

Eureka Network

Eureka Network offers multiple international collaborative R&D programs including Network Projects, Clusters, Eurostars, Globalstars, and Innowwide, with funding ranging from €50K to €6.75M per project depending on the specific program. The network focuses on market-driven innovation and deep-tech development across diverse technology sectors including ICT/Digital, Industrial/Manufacturing, Bio/Medical Technologies, Energy/Environment, Quantum, AI, and Circular Economy. Applicants include SMEs, large enterprises, research organizations, universities, and startups, with Eurostars specifically targeting R&D-performing SMEs.

EIC Transition

EIC Transition provides up to €2.5 million in funding to bridge the 'valley of death' between laboratory research and market deployment, focusing on technology maturation and validation. The program supports single legal entities or small consortia of 2-5 partners including SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs, and research organizations. Technology areas include Health/Medical Technologies, Green/Environmental Innovation, Digital/Microelectronics, Quantum Technologies, and AI/Robotics.

EIC STEP Scale-Up

EIC STEP Scale-Up offers substantial equity investments of €10-30 million for established deep-tech companies ready for hyper-growth and large-scale expansion. The program targets SMEs or small mid-caps with up to 499 employees who have secured pre-commitment from qualified investors. Focus areas include Digital & Deep Tech (Semiconductors, AI, Quantum), Clean Technologies for Net-Zero goals, and Biotechnologies.

EIC Pre-Accelerator

EIC Pre-Accelerator is a pilot program providing €300,000-€500,000 in funding for early-stage deep-tech development and preparation for the EIC Accelerator program. The initiative is exclusively available to single SMEs or small mid-caps from 'Widening countries' to support regional innovation development. The program covers deep-tech innovations across physical, biological, and digital domains.

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges is a new pilot program offering €300,000 (Stage 1) and up to €2.5 million (Stage 2) for breakthrough deep-tech solutions through ARPA-style staged funding with demand-side integration. The program targets single entities or small consortia (2-3 partners) including SMEs, start-ups, and research organizations. Focus areas include Physical AI for autonomous robotics and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for animal-free biomedical testing, requiring TRL 4 entry with end-user commitment.

EIC Pathfinder

EIC Pathfinder offers up to €3 million for Open calls and up to €4 million for Challenge-based calls to support early-stage research and development with proof-of-principle validation. The program requires research consortia with a minimum of 3 partners from 3 different countries, including universities, research organizations, and SMEs. Technology focus areas include Health/Medical, Quantum Technologies, AI, Environmental/Energy, and Advanced Materials.

EIC Accelerator

EIC Accelerator provides flexible funding options including blended finance (€2.5M grant + €0.5M-€10M equity), grant-only (up to €2.5M), or equity-only arrangements for scale-up and market deployment of breakthrough innovations. The program targets SMEs, start-ups, and small mid-caps with up to 499 employees, with MedTech/Healthcare representing 35% of funded projects. Other technology areas include Biopharma, Energy, AI, Quantum, Aerospace, Advanced Materials, and Semiconductors.

Innovation Partnership

Innovation Partnership facilitates collaborative innovation between public and private sectors with typical funding of €1-5 million per project. The program supports cross-sectoral strategic technologies through public-private partnerships and consortia. Projects focus on addressing societal challenges through collaborative innovation approaches.

Innovation Fund

The EU Innovation Fund provides substantial funding of €7.5 million to €300 million for large-scale demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. The program targets clean energy, carbon capture, renewable energy, and energy storage technologies to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Applicants include large companies, consortia, and public entities capable of implementing large-scale demonstration projects.

Innovate UK

Innovate UK offers various programs with funding ranging from £25K to £10M depending on the specific initiative, supporting business-led innovation, collaborative R&D, and knowledge transfer. The organization funds projects across all sectors with particular focus on emerging technologies and supports UK-based businesses, research organizations, and universities. Programs are designed to drive economic growth through innovation and technology commercialization.

Industrial Partnership

Industrial Partnership provides €2-10 million in funding for industrial research and innovation partnerships focusing on manufacturing, industrial technologies, and digital transformation. The program supports industrial consortia and research organizations in developing collaborative solutions for industrial challenges. Projects aim to strengthen European industrial competitiveness through strategic partnerships.

Eurostars

Eurostars is a joint EU-Eureka program offering €50K-€500K for international R&D collaboration specifically led by SMEs. The program takes a bottom-up approach, accepting projects from all technology fields without predefined thematic restrictions. R&D-performing SMEs must lead the consortium and demonstrate significant R&D activities.

LIFE Programme

The LIFE Programme provides €1-10 million in funding for environmental protection, climate action, and nature conservation projects across the European Union. The program supports environmental technologies, climate adaptation strategies, and biodiversity conservation initiatives. Applicants include public authorities, private companies, NGOs, and research institutions working on environmental and climate challenges.

Neotec

Neotec is a Spanish program offering €250K-€1M in funding for technology-based business creation and development, supporting the growth of innovative Spanish SMEs and start-ups. The program covers all technology sectors and aims to strengthen Spain's technology ecosystem. Funding is specifically targeted at Spanish technology-based SMEs and start-ups to enhance their competitiveness and market presence.

Thematic Priorities

EU Thematic Priorities encompass various programs aligned with EU strategic priorities including green transition, digital transformation, health, and security initiatives. Funding amounts vary based on the specific program and call requirements, with projects designed to address key European challenges. Applicant eligibility varies by specific program and call, with different requirements for different thematic areas.
EIC AcceleratorBeneficiary Deep Dive#Nevomo#Hyper Poland#MagRail#maglev#rail freight#Poland
Loading