Smart Rail Connectivity Campus
SRCC is a non-profit German research campus in Annaberg-Buchholz that operates a 25km digital railway test field with 5G, FRMCS, and sensor infrastructure, serving railway operators, manufacturers, and universities through government-funded collaborative research projects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- Headquarters—
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Smart Rail Connectivity Campus does
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus (SRCC) is a non-profit registered association (e.V.) founded in 2019 and headquartered in Annaberg-Buchholz, Saxony, Germany, that operates a unique 25km digital railway test field between Annaberg-Buchholz and Schwarzenberg. The campus is co-initiated by the city of Annaberg-Buchholz and Technische Universität Chemnitz and provides an open research, development, testing, and authorization platform for intelligent rail transport (Smart Rail) technologies.
SRCC's core infrastructure includes one of Europe's most modern 5G networks (public and private) along the test route, a mobile FRMCS test network operated by DB InfraGo AG, fiber optic sensing capabilities for virtualized balise localization (VdFOS project), the HyLight4Rail hyperspectral LIDAR sensor, the SmartWindow visual passenger information system, and a first-of-its-kind 50Hz charging station for battery-electric trains at Annaberg-Buchholz Süd. The campus is a node within the Deutsches Zentrum Mobilität der Zukunft (DZM) network of 5 German mobility research locations and has overseen 24 WIR! innovation projects funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
SRCC operates on a public-grant funding model rather than a commercial pricing structure, with revenue drawn from BMBF's WIR! program, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMV), and the Free State of Saxony. The organization serves railway infrastructure operators, train manufacturers (Siemens Mobility, Thales, Alstom), technology suppliers (Vodafone, Frauscher, Boldyn, Smart Mobile Labs), research institutions (TU Chemnitz, DLR, Fraunhofer ENAS), public transport operators, regional SMEs, and educational institutions. Engagement is delivered through the SRCC e.V. membership association, research project collaborations, the biennial Digital Rail Convention, the annual Smart Rail Enquete, and exhibition presence at InnoTrans and IT-TRANS.
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Smart Rail Connectivity Campus
- Legal name
- Smart Rail Connectivity Campus e.V.
- Website
- https://smart-rail-campus.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SRCC is a non-profit German research campus in Annaberg-Buchholz that operates a 25km digital railway test field with 5G, FRMCS, and sensor infrastructure, serving railway operators, manufacturers, and universities through government-funded collaborative research projects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Railway Research and Testing Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Rail Transportation (4882), Commuter Rail Systems (485112), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rail Signaling & Train Control Infrastructure (Interlockings, ETCS/CBTC Wayside) (TLAJADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Urban Rail Network Operations Control (OCC/Control Centers) (THAIABAE), DSRC / IEEE 802.11p V2X Infrastructure (TLAJAHAD)
Keywords
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus (SRCC) is a research and innovation campus operating a 25 km digital railway test field between Annaberg-Buchholz and Schwarzenberg in Saxony, Germany. It provides a real-world environment for developing, testing, and validating next-generation rail technologies including 5G mobile communications, FRMCS, fiber optic sensing, battery-electric charging, autonomous driving, and passenger information systems.
Product overview
The Smart Rail Connectivity Campus (SRCC) is a research and innovation center for intelligent rail transport, located in Annaberg-Buchholz, Germany. It is not a traditional product company but rather a collaborative research campus that provides infrastructure and testing capabilities. The SRCC offers access to test tracks, 5G testing infrastructure, and serves as a platform for industry, research, and public sector collaboration in rail technology development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Digital Rail Convention: Biennial multi-day specialist conference for digitalization and mobility in rail transport, held in Annaberg-Buchholz
- Smart Rail Enquete
- Digitales Testfeld Bahn Erzgebirge
Companies that use Smart Rail Connectivity Campus
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Stadt Annaberg-BuchholzcoreThe city of Annaberg-Buchholz is the co-initiator of the Smart Rail Connectivity Campus and provides the campus building at the Unterer Bahnhof (lower railway station). The partnership includes the provision of office, workshop, and creative spaces as well as laboratory areas in the renovated northern head building of the Unteren Bahnhofs.
- Technische Universität ChemnitzcoreTU Chemnitz is the co-initiator and primary scientific partner of SRCC. The university leads research activities across multiple domains including communication technology, sensor technology, and human-technology interaction. SRCC is part of TU Chemnitz's Deutsches Zentrum Mobilität der Zukunft (DZM) initiative.
- DB RegioNetz Verkehrs GmbH / Infrastruktur GmbH ErzgebirgsbahncoreOperates the railway infrastructure of the test track between Annaberg-Buchholz and Schwarzenberg. Provides access to the 25km test line for research and testing activities.
- DB InfraGO AG - Digitale Schiene DeutschlandcoreOperates the FRMCS test network and digital control and safety technology testing facilities at Scheibenberg. Partner in digital rail Germany initiative.
- Deutsches Zentrum Mobilität der Zukunft (DZM)coreSRCC is a location within the DZM research initiative, a nationwide cooperation network of 5 mobility research locations (Annaberg-Buchholz, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Minden, Munich). DZM receives approximately 322.55 million euros in federal funding (2021-2024).
- Rail.ScoreRail.S is a rail industry network/association that collaborates with SRCC, including joint exhibition presence at InnoTrans. Rail.S connects rail industry companies in the region.
- VodafonecoreEquipped the 5G infrastructure along the test track on behalf of TU Chemnitz. Partner in 5G research applications for rail including remote train operation and real-time video transmission testing.
- Boldyn NetworksmajorSuccessfully tested 5G real-time video transmission on the challenging test route between Annaberg-Buchholz and Schwarzenberg. Partner in connectivity research.
- Siemens Mobility GmbHmajorMajor rail industry partner participating in conferences, demonstrations, and panel discussions at SRCC events. Collaborates on digital rail technologies.
- Thales GroupmajorPartner demonstrating autonomous rail technologies (Lucy driverless train) and rail safety technologies at SRCC events and test activities.
- Alstom Deutschland GmbHmajorPresented first battery-electric train (BEMU) at SRCC events. Partner in alternative propulsion research for non-electrified rail routes.
- Frauscher SensortechnikmajorPartner providing sensor technology for the digital test field, including fiber optic sensing applications in the VdFOS project.
- CANCOM Austria (formerly K-Businesscom AG)majorAnnual co-organizer of the Smart Rail Enquete business trip event, bringing together rail infrastructure, industry, and research professionals.
- Smart Mobile Labs AGmajorPartner demonstrating 5G-based remote train operation and real-time communication technologies for rail applications.
- Deutsche Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR)majorParticipates in SRCC conferences and demonstrates remote train operation control stand from DLR Braunschweig, showcasing 5G laboratory work for rail applications.
- DB Energie GmbHmajorPartner in the development and operation of the 50Hz charging station for battery-electric trains at Annaberg-Buchholz Süd.
- RailInnoHUB SN-CZmajorCross-border initiative connecting Saxon and Czech SMEs and rail industry actors for innovation and networking, funded through Interreg program.
- Wirtschaftsförderung Erzgebirge GmbHminorRegional economic development agency supporting SRCC's innovation network and SME engagement activities.
- Fraunhofer-Institut für Elektronische Nanosysteme Chemnitz (ENAS)majorResearch partner in HyLight4Rail hyperspectral LIDAR project, contributing microtechnology expertise.
- Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau (WHZ)minorPartner in MINT education activities including student lab visits and educational programs for children.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- RSSB (Rail Safety and Standards Board, UK): UK rail industry body funding research, standards, and safety; comparable in the role of bridging research, regulation, and industry for digital rail adoption.
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) — Institute of Transportation Systems: Germany's national aerospace and transport research center with extensive rail automation, remote driving, and 5G laboratory work; comparable as a publicly funded rail-research body, though broader in scope than SRCC's campus model.
- Shift2Rail / Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking: EU public-private partnership funding rail research and innovation; comparable as a coordinating entity channeling public funds into rail digitalization projects where SRCC is a candidate testbed.
Direct peers
- Fraunhofer IOSB-AST: Fraunhofer institute focused on autonomous systems and rail automation testing in Germany; comparable as a research-to-test-bed institution serving rail industry digitalization programs.
- RWTH Aachen — Institute of Rail Vehicles and Transport Systems: Leading German university institute for rail vehicle engineering, testing, and certification; comparable in combining research, real-world testing, and industry partnerships around intelligent rail technologies.
- TU Braunschweig — Institute for Transportation Systems: Operates research and test activities for rail and road transportation including ETCS and autonomous driving; peer through DLR partnership overlap and shared focus on rail digitalization research.
- ÖVG — Österreichische Verkehrswissenschaftliche Gesellschaft: Austrian transport science society that co-organizes the Smart Rail Enquete with SRCC; comparable as a research and convening organization focused on digital rail and a natural cross-border peer.
- Railenium (France): French rail research and test institute (IRT) backed by SNCF, Alstom, and others; directly comparable as a European rail innovation testbed with industry consortium funding and real-world infrastructure.
Others
- CER — Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies: European rail industry association representing operators and infrastructure managers; comparable as an ecosystem connector, though more policy- than test-focused.
- Alstom / Siemens Mobility R&D divisions: Major OEMs that operate proprietary test facilities and partner with SRCC; relevant as adjacent peers whose in-house labs both compete with and complement SRCC's open testbed model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus social profiles
Digital presenceSmart Rail Connectivity Campus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Smart Rail Connectivity Campus
What does Smart Rail Connectivity Campus do?
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus (SRCC) is a research and innovation campus operating a 25 km digital railway test field between Annaberg-Buchholz and Schwarzenberg in Saxony, Germany. It provides a real-world environment for developing, testing, and validating next-generation rail technologies including 5G mobile communications, FRMCS, fiber optic sensing, battery-electric charging, autonomous driving, and passenger information systems.
Is Smart Rail Connectivity Campus a public or private company?
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Smart Rail Connectivity Campus founded?
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Who are Smart Rail Connectivity Campus's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are RSSB (Rail Safety and Standards Board, UK), Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) — Institute of Transportation Systems and Shift2Rail / Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking. Direct peers are Fraunhofer IOSB-AST, RWTH Aachen — Institute of Rail Vehicles and Transport Systems, TU Braunschweig — Institute for Transportation Systems, ÖVG — Österreichische Verkehrswissenschaftliche Gesellschaft and Railenium (France). Others are CER — Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies and Alstom / Siemens Mobility R&D divisions.
Does Smart Rail Connectivity Campus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Smart Rail Connectivity Campus.
What industry is Smart Rail Connectivity Campus in?
Smart Rail Connectivity Campus's product category is Railway Research and Testing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAJADAB, Rail Signaling & Train Control Infrastructure (Interlockings, ETCS/CBTC Wayside), with a secondary code of THAIABAE, Urban Rail Network Operations Control (OCC/Control Centers). Its NAICS code is 4882 and its SIC code is 8734.