OTIV
OTIV is a Belgian developer of artificial intelligence (AI)-based assistance, remote-control, and autonomous driving systems for rail vehicles, headquartered in Ghent, applying machine learning directly to the driving task.y
OTIV was founded in Ghent in 2020 by Sam De Smet and Niels Van Damme, and maintains an office in Cologne. The company is backed by investors including Finindus, SHIFT Invest, Pitchdrive, and imec.istart.
Its technology sits as one part of the broader digital systems and software layer in rail, and its driving-assistance systems are among the AI and machine learning applications now being tested in operational settings.
Products
OTIV’s products are arranged in four steps, from assisted driving to full autonomy. OTIV.ONE is a camera system for shunting operations; OTIV.TWO is an advanced driver assistance system for complex environments; OTIV.THREE covers remote supervision and tele-operation; OTIV.FOUR is the company’s term for what it describes as full self-driving technology for rail vehicles, a capability not yet documented in independent commercial operation.
The systems target three market segments: industrial rail (steel works and chemical sites), urban transit (tram networks), and mainline freight and passenger operations.
Deployments and partners
According to the company, OTIV has worked with DB Cargo, SNCF, CAF, ProRail, and ArcelorMittal, an industrial group that is also, via the Finindus investment fund, among the company’s backers. Green Cargo has been named as a partner in coverage of OTIV’s December 2025 funding round.
A pilot with De Lijn and CAF began in summer 2023 on the Belgian Coastal Tram (Kusttram), testing OTIV.TWO’s sensor-based driver assistance; a separate OTIV.TWO pilot with RET and Mobility42 on Rotterdam’s “De Slimme Tram” validates collision-avoidance software.
Current activity
In October 2025, OTIV won Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 award as Belgium’s fastest-growing technology company, with revenue growth of 4,365.52% over four years, having previously won Deloitte’s Rising Star award in 2023.
In December 2025, OTIV announced a EUR 9 million growth investment co-led by Miles Ahead, earmarked for commercial deployment and development of fully autonomous trains.
