11 April 2012
£5m government and rail industry investment to accelerate
business innovation and growth
The government is leading on an investment of £5million to accelerate business
innovation and growth in the UK’s rail industry, supporting the development of
technologies to address challenges and to meet customer requirements in both UK and
international rail markets.
The funding comes from the Technology Strategy Board (www.innovateuk.org), the
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS – www.bis.gov.uk), with 50% of the
funding coming through RSSB (www.rssb.co.uk), the rail industry body for research and
development.
The £5million will be invested through grant awards to nineteen major new business-led
research and development projects. The awards, which follow the outcome of the
‘Accelerating Innovation in Rail’ competition for R&D funding, mark the start of a longterm strategic partnership between RSSB and the Technology Strategy Board.
Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board, added:
‘These exciting business-led collaborative projects will develop innovative technologies
to address the key challenges facing the UK rail industry today – cost, carbon, capacity
and customer satisfaction – and we are delighted to be working with the rail industry
through RSSB to support such vital business innovation.’
Len Porter, Chief Executive of RSSB, said:
‘The railway industry is a product of invention and innovation, but today the industry is
facing the twin challenges of growth while reducing costs. This partnership recognises
the role that innovation from all sizes of business can play in meeting those challenges.
We are delighted to be working with the Technology Strategy Board to take so many
exciting projects forward.’
RSSB Block 2 Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC1V 1NY
Telephone: +44 (0)20 3142 5300 Facsimile: +44 (0)20 3142 5301 www.rssb.co.uk
Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited Registered Office: Block 2 Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC1V 1NY Registered in England No. 04655675
The projects will be led by Artemis Intelligent Power Ltd, Balfour Beatty Rail Ltd, Balfour
Beatty Rail Technologies Limited (3 projects), British Telecommunications plc,
Broadband Access Strategies LLP, Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd, Heat Trace Ltd,
Hitex (UK) Ltd, Innovative Technology and Science Ltd, Interfleet Technology Ltd, Laser
Cladding Technology Ltd, London Underground, Magnomatics Ltd, Materials
Engineering Research Laboratory (MERL) Ltd, Omnicom Engineering Ltd, Trapeze
Group Ltd and TRL (Transport Research Laboratory).
The 19 projects will involve a total of 46 companies, universities and other
organisations, including 21 small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
The funding programme will increase the level of innovation in established rail
businesses while also introducing new businesses to the rail sector. The projects
include work that will lead, for example, to the development of:
Systems to improve the energy efficiency of both diesel and electric-powered trains
Better passenger services such as multi-modal journey planning and enhanced
voice and broadband provision on passenger trains
Improving safety and reducing delays and cost in winter with energy efficient
heating system for points and an on-train adhesion monitoring system
Reducing the lifetime costs of rail infrastructure and rolling-stock with technologies
such as laser cladding, asset monitoring systems and the use of composite
materials
Because of the number of applications and their high quality, additional funding has
been made available, with both RSSB and BIS providing contributions to increase the
total amount of funding from £4million to £5million. Including contributions from the
companies involved, the total value of the R&D projects is in excess of £10million.
The grant funding forms part of the Technology Strategy Board’s programme of
investment in business-led innovation in transport and is in partnership with the rail
RSSB Block 2 Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC1V 1NY
Telephone: +44 (0)20 3142 5300 Facsimile: +44 (0)20 3142 5301 www.rssb.co.uk
Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited Registered Office: Block 2 Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC1V 1NY Registered in England No. 04655675
industry, represented by the Technical Strategy Leadership Group, an RSSB-facilitated
cross-industry expert body.
-EndsNotes to Editors
1. The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led government body which works to create
economic growth by ensuring that the UK is a global leader in innovation. Sponsored by the
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings
together business, research and the public sector, supporting and accelerating the development
of innovative products and services to meet market needs, tackle major societal challenges and
help build the future economy. For more information please visit: Technology Strategy Board
website
2. The vision of the Technology Strategy Board is for the UK to be a global leader in innovation and
a magnet for innovative businesses, where technology is applied rapidly, effectively and
sustainably to create wealth and enhance quality of life. Our approach to accelerating the pace
of innovation in the UK is captured in our strategy document, Concept to Commercialisation,
published in May 2011. This builds on our first strategy, developed in 2008, and sets out new
directions, taking into account the challenges and exciting opportunities that lie ahead. To see
the new strategy please visit: Concept to Commercialisation.
3. The Technology Strategy Board’s _connect platform provides an effective and powerful way to
collaborate online, network and share knowledge with other innovators. It provides a place to
work together securely and share information & knowledge. Users can utilise the online tools to
work collaboratively, discuss ideas and find events. The networks offer up-to-the minute news on
funding, events, articles and publications, plus information about all 15 Knowledge Transfer
Networks. Through the networks, users can find potential business partners, entrepreneurs,
collaborators, other innovators, researchers and academics.
4. RSSB manages the DfT funded cross industry research and development programme, which
covers ‘systems’ issues across the railway, engineering interfaces within the railway, and
interfaces with other parts of the community and society. RSSB supports the development of a
future vision for the railways through its Technical Strategy Leadership Group. For further
information please visit: www.rssb.co.uk.
5. The Technical Strategy Leadership Group (TSLG), is an RSSB-facilitated cross-industry expert
body made up of senior executive staff from industry and funders, charged with developing and
championing implementation of the Rail Technology Strategy, supporting communication,
managing strategic research, identifying opportunities, barriers and actions. TSLG has a remit to
address future opportunities over a 30-year horizon. For more information please visit:
www.futurerailway.org.
6. For a full list of the projects please visit: Rail project list. The offer of funding to the projects is
conditional and remains subject to the successful completion of Technology Strategy Board
compliance and financial review processes.
7. Media enquiries only should be addressed to the press offices at the Technology Strategy Board
or RSSB:
For the Technology Strategy Board:
Nick Sheppard, Media Relations Consultant - Mobile: 07824 599644, Email:
nick.sheppard@tsb.gov.uk or
RSSB Block 2 Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC1V 1NY
Telephone: +44 (0)20 3142 5300 Facsimile: +44 (0)20 3142 5301 www.rssb.co.uk
Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited Registered Office: Block 2 Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC1V 1NY Registered in England No. 04655675
Claire Cunningham, Media Relations Manager - Tel: 01793 442901, Mobile: 07554 115745
Email: claire.cunningham@tsb.gov.uk.
For RSSB:
Matt Clements, Industry Communications Manager – Tel: 020 3142 5332, Email:
matthew.clements@rssb.co.uk or others in the press office can be contacted via mailto:
pressoffice@rssb.co.uk, tel: 020 3142 5331
8. Companies and other organisations seeking information about Technology Strategy Board
funding competitions should visit the Competitions page of the Technology Strategy Board
website – Competitions page, email competitions@innovateuk.org or phone the Competitions
Helpline at 0300 321 4357.
9. To see all press releases from the Technology Strategy Board please visit: Press Releases. To
see all press releases from RSSB, please visit Press Releases.
10. To subscribe to the Technology Strategy Board’s RSS newsfeed please visit: RSS newsfeed.
RSSB Block 2 Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC1V 1NY
Telephone: +44 (0)20 3142 5300 Facsimile: +44 (0)20 3142 5301 www.rssb.co.uk
Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited Registered Office: Block 2 Angel Square 1 Torrens Street London EC1V 1NY Registered in England No. 04655675