Intelligent power solutions to decarbonise rail: two new competitions to be launched
The Transport Minister has challenged the industry to remove all diesel-only trains from the tracks by 2040. 
The Rail Technical Strategy set out this ambition and RSSB is working with the wider industry to develop and deploy energy efficient, zero-carbon technologies.
To facilitate research and innovation in support of the rail industry’s decarbonisation challenge, two new competitions will be launched at a brokerage event on Tuesday 30 October in Coventry.  The two competitions, aligned to the overall strategy of enabling the industry to be world leaders in developing and delivering low-carbon transport solutions, are:
- a £1m RSSB-funded research competition for feasibility studies and demonstrator projects
- a Knowledge Transfer Partnership call, funding jointly by Innovate UK and RSSB, focused on developing novel ideas for intelligent low-carbon traction energy solutions for both passenger trains and freight and the respective infrastructure implications
At the event delegates will receive information on all current funding opportunities in the ‘rail decarbonisation’ space, discuss specific challenges and knowledge gaps that the RSSB cross-industry research programme should focus on and which will inform the scope of a complementary call for research, and have the opportunity to network with rail industry experts and build successful consortia with potential partners.
The various funding opportunities currently available in this space (including the EPSRC Decarbonising Transport Network+, the SBRI First of a kind round 2 competition managed by Innovate UK on behalf of DfT, and the KTP call) offer great opportunities to innovate and gain value from cross-sector technology transfer with a view to helping rail enhance its green credentials.
KTN Knowledge Transfer Adviser Dr Trevor Gregory will be presenting the on the opportunities and benefits of a KTP and give an overview of the RSSB co-funding brief.
Through this brokerage event, RSSB would like to encourage and facilitate close collaboration between industry and potential bidders in order to ensure that the innovative solutions put forward have strong industry backing, which will enable their implementation.
Please visit the competition hub for updates and additional information about the funding opportunities that RSSB will be launching on 30th October. The deadline for applications is 9th January 2019.
To register for a place at the event, click here.  There are also a limited number of exhibition spaces and elevator pitch slots.
For any queries, please contact RSSB here.
Find out more about how a Knowledge Transfer Partnership could unlock innovation in your company by contacting one of our expert Knowledge Transfer Advisers.  Please click here to view the KTP competition application dates.
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