Research and development portfolio
How we collaborate to innovate
The most pressing outcome from our RD&I activity is to make the cost of running the railway more affordable. Enabling us to deliver the scale of renewals and maintenance required to support safe and reliable train services without the need to increase spending.
We are investing £146m of Network Rail funding, together with third-party funding, to de-risk technologies, explore new ideas, products and services to benefit passengers and freight users. Our projects and programmes are delivered through collaboration and partnerships. We succeed through others.
Delivering through partnerships
We have delivery partnerships with leading rail research universities, including those part of the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN), a partnership between suppliers and universities. By accessing shared opportunities, we are able to drive high value manufacturing capability through the manufacturing technology centre. Managing our challenge-led competitions in partnership with Innovate UK. We also have many other partnerships with transport bodies, train operator companies and wider industry that support our projects and programmes.
Collaborating internationally
We collaborate internationally on delivery under membership groups including the International Union of Railways. We also have a number of Memorandums of Understanding with domestic and rail partners, sharing our knowledge and expertise and joining forces to solve common problems. Read more about it here.