Background

Through Contracts for Innovation, Far-UK was able to bridge the gap, testing the viability of their solution to potential customers in the railway industry.  Following the Contracts for Innovation Rail Demonstrations First of a Kind 2020 competition, Far-UK was, one of several projects, awarded to showcase their innovation to railway customers in a live environment.  Far-UK’s project, Resi-Glaze, demonstrates how government-backed innovation funding can accelerate the development of high-potential technologies and create new market opportunities.

The challenge – no clear route to market

Far-UK had identified a lightweight glazing technology that could provide significant advantages in transport applications, particularly in the rail sector.  However, three key hurdles stood in the way:

• Technical feasibility
  The solution had never been implemented before, requiring extensive design, tooling and validation.
• Market access
  The company lacked existing relationships in the rail sector and needed a working prototype to engage potential customers.
• Financial constraints
  As a small technology business, the cost of developing prototypes, tooling, and equipment was prohibitively high without funding.

The Contracts for Innovation Award provided the critical pathway to de-risk the project and enable Far-UK to push forward with confidence.

From concept to reality

With the Contracts for Innovation award secured, Far-UK embarked on an ambitious development project.  With positive benefits identified:

• Prototype creation
  A viable solution was designed, manufactured and tested.
• Industry demonstration
  The technology was successfully demonstrated on the Coventry Tram, proving its real-world viability in a test environment.
• Intellectual property (IP) developed
  The company developed new IP in the thermoforming and coating technologies, expanding its knowledge base.
• Sector-specific design & analysis
  Far-UK refined its technology for light rail applications, ensuring alignment with industry requirements.
• Strategic business development support
  Engagement with Innovate UK Business Growth helped Far-UK navigate the potential of commercialisation and market expansion.

Post-project impact – expanding market reach

The success of the project extended far beyond initial validation.  By leveraging their award Far-UK has significantly enhanced its position in multiple industries:

• New & existing customer audiences
  The project has broadened Far UK’s product offering, enhancing relations with existing target customers and strengthening their attractiveness to new key target customer groups, especially bus and coach makers.
• Enhanced sales & marketing
  The project’s results are now part of the company’s standard sales materials, demonstrating its ability to offer cutting-edge lightweighting solutions.
• Diversified market opportunities
  Resi-Glaze has opened doors to industries that, before the Contracts for Innovation award, were beyond Far-UK’s reach, including motorsport and construction.
• Long-term growth potential
  With a product now tailored for the rail sector, Far-UK is in a stronger position to win future contracts and build a credible offering beyond automotive applications.

The power of Contracts for Innovation

Far-UK’s experience highlights how government funded innovation programmes can drive growth to innovative organisations.  Contracts for Innovation offers innovators the opportunity to:

• De-risk complex technological development by providing essential funding for Research & Development.
• Build credibility and gain market traction with demonstrable, real-world applications.
• Develop new intellectual property that strengthens long-term competitive advantage.
• Access new industries that might otherwise be closed off.

Lyndon Sanders, Far-UK Director, comments on the benefits realised following the Contracts for Innovation award:

The project has been an important tool in gaining access to new potential customers.  The application itself is well evidenced and has certainly attracted interest from a number of potential customers in the rail industry, which we would have really struggled to be credible with before the award for this project.  The project also broadened our portfolio of assistance that we can offer customers as it sits strategically alongside some of our other technologies to enable us to offer a much better suite of solutions.

For Far-UK, the Resi-Glaze project has transformed an early-stage innovation into a market-ready solutions, proving that Contracts for Innovation is not just about funding – it is about creating innovation pathways to success.

Watch the video to find out more about Far-UK’s Resi-Glaze.