Planning rail capacity through automated infrastructure design: up to £300k available
Up to £300,000 is available for innovative approaches to delivering future rail infrastructure requirements.
Network Rail’s Whole Systems Modelling programme is investing up to £300,000 to support the development and demonstration of new capability in automated design.
Working with Innovate UK, Network Rail is looking for organisations with an innovative approach to delivering future rail infrastructure requirements.  This collaborative R&D competition’s core aim is to encourage the development of solutions in automated design tools with the goal of the tools being market-ready in the next two-five years.
Automated design enables engineers to explore a wide design space and identify the best design options quickly and a cost-effective manner.  This competition encourages the development of products and services that enable rapid automatic design of rail infrastructure.
Successful applicants will develop solutions relevant to rail, for example the automated design of track layout, overhead line electrification, traction power supply systems, signalling systems, or other aspects of the railway where benefits may be seen.  Innovations for this competition must:
- propose solutions that form part of an integrated modelling space
- have high technological maturity
- deliver a proof of concept in the form of a demonstration
The competition details can be accessed here, and the application deadline is 19th December.
There will also be a briefing event in London on 1 November where interested organisations can learn more about the competition and meet with potential collaborators.  Register now for the event.