The UK Railway Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) is celebrating its first annual conference today (Tuesday 13 November) and will announce the latest member to become part of its exclusive network.
The conference will see over 200 academic and industry representatives come together to discuss and showcase partnerships to increase innovation, help bring products to market, and allow the rail industry to grow and thrive in uncertain times.
Andy McDonald MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport will be giving the key note speech highlighting the challenges from Government and the need for innovation in the railway sector if the UK is to compete on a world-stage. The Rail Sector Deal is particularly important and UKRRIN will have a key role to play in the future vision for the rail industry.
In addition, the conference will include a number of key panellists and presenters including Railway Industry Association Chief Executive Darren Caplan, RSSB Programme Director, Sector Policy Shamit Gaiger and Siemens Central Technology Officer Alan Norbury who will all participate in a dynamic discussion on the future of rail in the UK.
On the day, it will also be announced that Porterbrook Leasing Company will be joining UKRRIN as the newest industry partner, strengthening UKRRIN’s position as the leading collaborative body for industry and academia.
Launched in February 2018, UKRRIN is a partnership between the rail industry and nine leading UK Universities delivering four world-class Centres of Excellence. These cover: rolling stock, infrastructure, digital systems and testing. Since its launch, UKRRIN has seen several partnerships between leading academic institutions and rail suppliers kick start collaborative projects which seek to benefit the railway network.
Jo Binstead, Head of Innovation at Siemens Rolling Stock and Chair of UKRRIN said: “In its first year, UKRRIN has had a significant impact on the profile and recognition of our UK rail R&D and innovation capabilities. I am proud of all that we have achieved so far and our first annual conference is a great opportunity to take stock of our successes to date. A number of exciting projects and collaborations have been kick-started by UKRRIN bringing the industry and academia closer together. In addition, UKRRIN has brought a greater awareness of the value and significance of our UK rail R&D capability and its positive impact on delivering the objectives of the UK Industrial Strategy.”
The Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Andy McDonald MP, said: “The first UK Railway Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) conference is a key event in the development of this important partnership between industry and academia. I recognise the superb expertise across the supply side of the rail industry in the UK which we export around the world. Labour believes there should be more investment in research and development to ensure the UK builds on this success.”
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About UKRRIN:
Launched in February of this year the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) is a partnership between the rail industry and eight leading UK Universities delivering four world-class Centres of Excellence. These cover: rolling stock, infrastructure, digital systems and testing. The network builds on the work of RRUK and RRUKA but provides the UK rail sector with a step-change in research development and innovation, with a focus on bringing new technologies developed through collaborative academic research to market applications on a global scale. www.ukrrin.org.uk is it appropriate to add Twitter URL in a boiler plate?
How to join UKRRIN:
Organisations are asked to complete and expression of interest application which will be reviewed by the UKRRIN Steering Group. If you are interested in joining the network contact UKRRIN@rssb.co.uk
Contact:
For more information contact:
Michelle Morgan, University of Birmingham, m.morgan@bham.ac.uk, 0121 414 2995
Nailah Fraser-Haynes, RRSB, Nailah.Fraser-Haynes@rssb.co.uk, 020 3142 5433
Twitter: @UKRRIN