Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025
The AUTOSUP project – Preparing the ground for AUTonomous Multimodal SUPply Chains – is a Research and Innovation Action funded under the Horizon Europe programme. It aims to develop multimodal automatic freight transport concepts and solutions that enhance the operation of logistics hubs as nodes in a Physical Internet-based network.
Working through two Living Hubs – the Ports of Antwerp-Bruges and Trieste – and six use cases, AUTOSUP brings together 16 multidisciplinary partners from across Europe. The consortium is defining the requirements, tools, and transition paths that will enable the progressive adoption of automation across modes, supported by open data-driven decision systems and collaborative governance frameworks.
As part of this work, Deliverable D1.2 “Seamless Multimodal Automatic Freight Transport Requirements” establishes the foundation for future deployment of automated and autonomous solutions. The report identifies the key technical, regulatory, legal, and human factors that must be addressed to ensure automation can be integrated smoothly into multimodal logistics chains.
Today, logistics systems remain fragmented across modes, digital platforms, and governance structures, creating inefficiencies that limit automation’s potential. D1.2 addresses this challenge by defining how interoperable systems, shared standards, and coordinated operations can transform isolated automation pilots into a connected, multimodal ecosystem.
Rather than treating automation as a purely technological issue, the deliverable adopts a systemic perspective. It recognises that deploying autonomous technologies successfully requires alignment between people, processes, data, and regulations. This integrated view reflects AUTOSUP’s central ambition: to enable automation that enhances efficiency and safety while contributing to a more resilient and sustainable European logistics system.
The requirements defined in D1.2 are grounded in a structured engagement process led with support from ALICE. Two Living Hub workshops were organised in Antwerp and Trieste, bringing together experts and practitioners from road, rail, inland waterways, ports, terminals, technology providers, and supply-chain collaboration platforms. These discussions were complemented by targeted interviews with logistics associations and external experts.
The combination of workshops and interviews allowed the consortium to validate and refine requirements based on real operational experience. Using thematic canvases, participants explored issues such as interoperability, cybersecurity, human-machine interaction, economic feasibility, and collaboration practices – ensuring that the outcomes reflect current industry needs and priorities.
The consolidated analysis highlights six cross-cutting requirement domains that together define the framework for automation integration across modes:
These domains confirm that achieving seamless automation requires both technological interoperability and organisational coordination. Success depends on connecting systems and stakeholders across the entire supply chain, not only within individual transport modes.
As a European Technology Platform, ALICE continues to facilitate collaboration among the project partners and the wider logistics community. The findings of Deliverable D1.2 reinforce that automation in logistics must be approached as a systemic transformation – one that depends on interoperable technologies, clear legal and cybersecurity frameworks, skilled people, and cooperative governance models.
Through this shared effort, AUTOSUP is not only contributing to technological advancement but also building the foundations for a connected, resilient, and sustainable multimodal logistics ecosystem – an essential step toward realising the Physical Internet vision for Europe.