17 August 2020
The Railway Industry Association (RIA) and ITN Productions Industry News are co-creating “Unlocking Innovation: M.A.D.E with Rail,” anchored by an ITN Productions Industry News presenter, to showcase and promote new ideas in the rail supply industry.
A recent survey conducted by RIA highlighted the need for the raise the profile of the rail sector and raise confidence levels around industry innovation. With sizeable investment in new infrastructure planned over the next decade - £48 billion over the current 5 year funding period, of which £245 million will be directed to Research and Development, the £92 million UKRRIN partnership between academia and industry, and the opportunities from HS2 and other major projects – the rail industry has the opportunity to deliver even more in terms of new products and services.
“Unlocking Innovation: MADE with Rail” will focus on RIA’s Innovation Programme which identifies four key areas of innovation - Materials, Automation, Data and Energy (M.A.D.E.). Working in collaboration with Network Rail and UKRRIN, the programme will showcase the rail industry’s commitment to research and development as well as its continuing investment in rail sustainability and the sector's potential to be at the forefront of decarbonisation and digitalisation. The programme will also show the companies and people behind it all leading our rail network into the future.
Launching as part of a content series throughout 2020, including RIA’s Annual Conference in November 2020 and as a showcase at the RIA Innovation Conference in March 2021, the content will form part of an extensive communications campaign featuring RIA members and professional partners.
Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association, said: “It is great to be working with RIA content partner and member ITN Productions Industry News to launch Unlocking Innovation: MADE with Rail. The coming year poses many opportunities for the rail sector and will give us an opportunity to showcase the cutting-edge products and services we provide that are supporting passenger and freight users each day. Running across 2020, the programme will provide a fantastic opportunity to highlight the great companies working in the sector.”
Elizabeth Fisher-Robins, Head of ITN Productions Industry News, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering once again with the Railway Industry Association (RIA) to produce a content series highlighting the innovation across the sector and the work being done across supply chains to ensure competitive advantage across the industry.”
David Rowe, Head of Strategy at Network Rail, said: “As a strategic partner for RIA’s Unlocking Innovation Programme, this is a great opportunity for the rail supply sector to show its range and extent of innovation to benefit customers. As the programme develops over the coming months, we look forward to seeing it drive greater interest in R&D opportunities including those in Network Rail’s Research and Development Portfolio.”
Jo Binstead, Chair of UKRRIN, said: “There are a huge number of opportunities for innovation in the rail market, including working with our Centres of Excellence across the country. We look forward to working with RIA, as part of its Unlocking Innovation Programme, to highlight the fantastic work going on across the sector.”