RIA's Unlocking Innovation scheme

 

  • Helping the UK supply chain to overcome the obstacles to innovation in rail.
  • Improving capability to innovate with new technology, processes and business models and, in so doing, offer benefit to Britain’s railways and grow exports.
  • Creating and nurturing a dialogue between suppliers and clients, providing a forum for clients to communicate and discuss their challenges to a diverse range of suppliers.
  • ‘Innovation Angels’ providing free advice to qualifying suppliers.
  • The next workshop will be held on 12 June in Sheffield. Prior registration will be essential as places at the workshop are limited and available on a 'first come - first served' basis, subject to the need to ensure a good mix of organisations. 
     

With sponsorship from the the Technical Strategy Leadership Group and RSSB, made possible with funding from the Department for Transport, the Railway Industry Association (RIA) has introduced an ‘Unlocking Innovation’ Scheme to help address the obstacles to innovation in the rail sector. The inaugural workshop was held at the Roundhouse in Derby on 28th June 2012. Around 90 delegates attended representing over 70 companies.

With high level speakers from Network Rail, London Underground, First Group and UK Tram (on behalf of the light rail community), this first workshop explored client challenges before digging deeper in breakouts facilitated by the Technology Strategy Board and the Transport Knowledge Transfer Network (T-KTN) testing some creative techniques.  A further breakout explored systemic barriers to innovation and will seed further work. A case study from a company who had brought technology from the leisure sector provided a supplier’s perspective, before the workshop explored the expertise that is being made available under the scheme. ‘Innovation Angels’ from Arthur D Little, PA Consulting, Inventya and the University of Huddersfield are being made available to qualifying suppliers free of charge.

Workshops are held in different locations, with recent examples in Sheffield, Nottingham and Coventry. They usually have a theme, such as 'the Digital Railway' and include opportunities to learn from other sectors, such as automotive and aerospace.

The next workshop will be on 10 October in London. Please register using the links below to receive more details.

Organisations supporting the event include the Enabling Innovation Team, First Group, Network Rail, London Underground, UKTram, RSSB, the Technology Strategy Board and the Transport Knowledge Transfer Network.

Organisations are eligible to participate in the workshops if they have a technological presence in the UK and capabilities that have potential to benefit the rail sector (domestically or internationally); this includes client organisations and universities although the bulk of attendees are expected to be suppliers. RIA is targeting these workshops at suppliers who are passionate about innovation in the rail industry. Delegates are likely to be engaged in development of technology and/or services and senior enough to bring change within their company if required – as ‘Innovation Champions’. Above all RIA is trying to bring together organisations who want to see the creation of an innovation capability in the industry that serves the needs of a 21st century railway system.