Future Mobility Award 2025 in Karlsruhe Goes to Nevomo

Innovative and Pragmatic Solution for the Future

Whether it’s capacity limits, technical complexity, high costs, lengthy implementations or increasing competition – challenges in fully digitalizing existing infrastructure prevent railways from meeting growing demand. Nevomo has developed an innovative solution with “MagRail”: it modernizes existing railway systems using magnetic drive components installed between the tracks, generating a magnetic field – thereby enabling automation, electrification, and full digitalization.

Innovation for the Railway Sector

Founded in 2017 from the University of Warsaw, Nevomo convinced the jury with its innovative approach – and has been awarded the “Future Mobility Award 2025” (FMA). “With our MagRail technology, we are building a bridge between existing railway infrastructure and the mobility of tomorrow,” said Stefan Kirch, CCO and co-founder of Nevomo. “We enable trains to become faster, more flexible, and more sustainable – without the need for new lines to be built. This creates a system that not only significantly increases rail performance but also allows for new forms of intermodal connectivity, contributing to a secure, climate-friendly and attractive mobility future for both people and businesses in Europe.”

Solution Convinced the Jury

MagRail is more than just a new propulsion concept – its efficient magnetic drive allows smooth integration for full automation. It fits into existing infrastructure and offers functionalities the railway sector previously lacked – moving from static infrastructure to a platform that can be dynamically expanded and upgraded. “We are honoring with the ‘Future Mobility Award’ a company that not only envisions tomorrow’s mobility but is already implementing it today,” said Philipp Franke, Ministerial Director in the Ministry of Transport of Baden-Württemberg in his laudation. “This year’s winner, Nevomo, impressed the jury with a solution that is both innovative and pragmatic. It fulfills one of the greatest promises of modern mobility: sustainability through intelligence, not resource consumption.”

Innovation Becomes Visible

Whether modular, scalable, energy-efficient or compatible with what already exists – tests have been successful, and a pilot project is now being implemented in Bremen. MagRail offers the opportunity to turn old, forgotten railway lines into vibrant, future-ready infrastructure again – “not through new developments or destruction, but smart reuse of existing structures,” said the jury, composed of top mobility experts from KIT and FZI. Particular attention is being paid to applications in ports, industrial areas and both national and regional rail transport. Abandoned rail lines could be reactivated in a sustainable way using this technology.

The “Future Mobility Award” – organized by the Automotive Engineering Network (aen), trade journal “NahverkehrsPraxis”, Messe Karlsruhe and the Economic Development Office of the City of Karlsruhe, under the patronage of Baden-Württemberg's Transport Minister Winfried Hermann – honors innovations for the sixth time. “init” again sponsored the event, while “KAMO” supported it as a partner – both were also represented on the jury, together with the Founders' Alliance.

Five international startups with innovative mobility solutions from around the world – “GoPlugable” from Ireland, “Munulus Technologies” from Turkey, “CityTourPlayer by NexSwiss” from Switzerland and “Volteum” from Hungary – faced off in the final against winner Nevomo in front of the jury, each competing for the €5,000 award. The award was presented as part of the eighth “Regional Conference on the Mobility Transition” in Karlsruhe by Philipp Franke, Ministerial Director in the Ministry of Transport of Baden-Württemberg, and Torben Stieglitz, Director of Economic Development for the City of Karlsruhe.

A Strong Signal from Karlsruhe

Startups are revolutionizing the mobility sector by making transportation more sustainable, intelligent, and accessible. The FMA puts these changemakers in the spotlight and provides a platform to showcase their innovations to a broad audience. From Karlsruhe – home of mobility pioneers Benz and Drais – a strong message is sent: the “Future Mobility Award” supports startups as crucial drivers of innovation and encourages them to push beyond the boundaries of traditional transport systems. Torben Stieglitz, Director of Economic Development for the City of Karlsruhe, emphasized in his welcome speech the importance of this international competition for Karlsruhe as a mobility hub.

The award provides a real boost to winners, as Dr. Thilo O. Richter from “aicorn”, FMA winner in 2023, explained: “The award gave us momentum and had an immediate effect: in the following weeks, several transport operators reached out, interested in our solution. Our ‘ECG for trams’ makes the condition of vehicles visible in real time – and that intrigued many. For our team, it was strong confirmation that we’re on the right track.”

Because innovations and ideas from young companies – powerful engines of growth and competitiveness – can be crucial to developing future-ready solutions. The organizers are committed to giving them the opportunity to present their projects to juries, mentors, business angels, investors and the public, contributing to both their own growth and that of the mobility sector.

More at www.future-mobility-award.de