Rail Funding and Engagement Opportunities – March 2023

Back by popular demand, here is my latest list of funding and engagement opportunities within rail;

Innovate UK Smart Grants -?UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to ￡25 million for game-changing and commercially viable R&D innovation that can significantly impact the UK economy. This funding is from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation. Closes 14 June - Competition overview - Innovate UK Smart grants: January 2023 - Innovation Funding Service (apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk)

Centre in sustainable and equitable low-carbon living?-?Apply for funding to establish a centre in sustainable and equitable low-carbon living. Our centres are world-leading centres of excellence that carry out interdisciplinary, cutting-edge and impactful research. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding. The full economic cost of your project can be between. ￡5 million and ￡9.7 million for up to 5 years. ESRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost. Closes 17 May -?https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/centre-in-sustainable-and-equitable-low-carbon-living/

Feasibility studies for Artificial Intelligence solutions - UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to ￡5 million in grant funding to deliver feasibility studies. These studies will be to develop innovative solutions using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address business challenges and opportunities. Closes 24 May - Competition overview - Feasibility studies for Artificial Intelligence solutions - Innovation Funding Service (apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk)

Future Economy Investor Partnerships SME round 1 - Innovate UK has selected a pool of investor partners. These investor partners have demonstrated that they have the credibility, capability, capacity and appetite to invest in innovative, technology-led businesses that align with our programmes. These programmes will focus on the future economy as described in the?plan for action. The Future Economy investor partnership programme brings together:

• Innovate UK’s expertise in identifying innovation and using grant funding to change the risk profile of businesses
• investor partners’ aligned funding and expertise in identifying opportunities and teams that can best use extra investment finance

This approach aims to provide you with support for research and development and access to the capital investment you need to develop and commercialise your innovations. Closes 10 May - Competition overview - Future Economy Investor Partnerships SME round 1 - Innovation Funding Service (apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk)

UK-South Korea Collaborative R&D Round 2 - Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will work with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) and Korean Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) to invest up to ￡2 million in innovation projects. The aim of this competition is to fund business led, collaborative research and development (CR&D) projects focused on industrial research. This is for innovative proposals developed between the UK and South Korea. Closes 7 June - Competition overview - UK-South Korea Collaborative R&D Round 2 - Innovation Funding Service (apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk)

Hydrogen storage and distribution supply chain Collaborative R&D - UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to ￡4.35 million for CR&D projects related to hydrogen storage and distribution supply chain. This funding is from Innovate UK. Closes 26 April - Competition overview - Hydrogen storage and distribution supply chain Collaborative R&D - Innovation Funding Service (apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk)

UK – Germany Bilateral: Collaborative R&D - UK registered organisations, collaborating with at least one German SME applying under the equivalent German ZIM programme, can apply for a share of up to ￡4 million for collaborative research projects resulting in innovative solutions. Closes 7 June 2023 - Competition overview - UK – Germany Bilateral: Collaborative R&D - Innovation Funding Service (apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk)

UK - Singapore Collaborative R&D Round 2 - UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to ￡5 million for the purpose of developing innovative proposals with Singapore. Mobility and transport applications are particularly welcome. Closes 3 May - ?Competition overview - UK - Singapore Collaborative R&D Round 2 - Innovation Funding Service (apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk)

UK-Swiss Collaborative R&D - UK registered organisations, in collaboration with at least one Swiss registered business can apply for a share of up to ￡2 million for research projects resulting in innovative solutions. Swiss partners must apply for equivalent funding from Innosuisse. Closes 26 July - Competition overview - UK – Switzerland Bilateral: Collaborative R&D - Innovation Funding Service (apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk)

?Various Department for Business and Trade engagement events:?https://eu.eventscloud.com/ehome/trade-events-calendar/all-events

Motability Active Travel Grant?-?Motability’s new Active Travel Grant Programme will help charities and organisations to improve and expand access to quality and affordable active travel equipment and journeys, to ensure disabled people have the same opportunities to make decisions?about how they travel, their impact on the environment and to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits that active travel can provide. Charities and organisations can apply for grants from ￡100,000 to ￡4 million at any point over the next three years. -?https://www.motability.org.uk/charitable-grants/grants-to-charities-and-organisations/active-travel-grant-programme/

Made Smarter Innovation: Industry ready Robotics and Automation??-?Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to ￡6 million in innovation projects. These will be for innovation in late-stage robotics and automation to increase productivity, sustainability and resilience within manufacturing processes.

The aim of this competition is to develop and demonstrate industrially ready robotics and automation solutions deployable within a factory production area. Your proposal must: deliver an innovative digital development or significantly novel application of robotics and automation - overcome a technical barrier within manufacturing processes in a factory production area. In applying to this competition, you are entering into a competitive process. This competition closes at 11am UK time on the deadline stated. Closes 5 April -?https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/1437/overview/26e0e1ee-77e7-483c-bdb7-2e4ad79965a5

Innovate 4 Rail project?-?created to stimulate innovation and drive productivity in the rail sector offering support to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire rail sector supply chains. To find out more about contact the project team at?[email protected].?https://www.derby.ac.uk/business-services/funding/innovate-for-rail/

Horizon Europe Guarantee?-?This funding is to deliver the UK government’s Horizon Europe guarantee. There is no submission deadline. This?guarantees funding for successful applicants to the first and second wave of Horizon Europe grant awards regardless of the outcome of the UK’s efforts to associate to Horizon Europe. This funding falls under the areas determined by Horizon Europe, which include Pillar 2, Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility - This cluster will focus specifically on fostering climate action, while at the same time improving the sustainability, security and competitiveness of the energy and transport industry. Actions funded under this cluster will provide the basis for systemic change as well as shaping the necessary technological, industrial economic and societal transformations to achieve climate neutrality in an inclusive and socially fair way. The specific areas of intervention in Cluster 5 include:

• Cross-sectoral solutions for decarbonisation;
• Develop low-carbon and competitive transport solutions across all modes;
• Develop seamless, smart, safe, accessible and inclusive mobility systems. -?https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/apply-for-horizon-europe-guarantee-funding/??

Derbyshire Accelerator?-?Businesses based in the Derbyshire Dales or High Peak area can access funded support for pandemic recovery, growth, or innovation in business -?https://www.derby.ac.uk/business-services/funding/derbyshire-accelerator/

TfL future contract opportunities?-?TfL publishes details of future contract opportunities for all areas of TfL, the GLA and Old Oak Park Development Corporation (OPDC) (over ￡500k) on a periodic basis. -?https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/contract-opportunities

TFL is also committed to open innovation -?https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/business-and-advertisers/open-innovation?intcmp=55927

Portugal: Expressions of Interest?-?Portugal’s National Investment Plan 2021-2030 includes an investment of €10 billion in rail (new lines, modernisation and electrification - with 100% of the network electrified by 2030 - and rolling stock), and €5 billion in mobility and public transportation - where main projects will focus on decarbonisation of public transportation and promotion of electric mobility. The public rail passenger operator is also looking to upgrade their equipment and services. CP – Comboios de Portugal has recently acquired 51 trains to be refurbished and the National Investment Plan foresees the acquisition of 129 new trains. DIT Portugal is looking to hear from UK companies offering innovative solutions in the following areas:?Customer focus -Decarbonisation - Digitalisation - Refurbishment & maintenance of rolling stock. Email?[email protected]?for further details and expressions of interest.?

Sell 2 Wales?-?The Sell2Wales website is an information source and procurement portal set up by the Welsh Government. They aim to help;

• businesses win contracts with the public sector across Wales
• public sector buyers to advertise and manage tender opportunities
• businesses promote their services
• businesses find contract opportunities

-?https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/search_mainpage.aspx

Stockholm Metro?–?Do you want to become a supplier to the?Administration for?Extended Metro? Our assignment is to extend the Metro to shorten the distances as Stockholm grows. We plan to begin construction soon?and it will take 6 to 8 years to complete. Now we are looking for contractors who want to join us in building the Metro of the future. Procurement of the works has begun and the first contracts have been awarded. But over the next few years we will be procuring some 30 more major construction contracts. -?https://nyatunnelbanan.se/en/procurement?or contact?Pia Lindberg-Nedby -?Head of Procurement,?Administration for?Extended Metro?[email protected]

Manufacturing Growth Programme?–?grant funding and support for SME manufacturers by identifying and removing barriers to growth. If you’re a manufacturing SME interested in growing and meet the eligibility and suitability criteria, get in contact with your local Manufacturing Growth Manager for support towards your growth ambitions at?https://www.manufacturinggrowthprogramme.co.uk/contact/?

Space4Rail?–?Rail travel has all of the characteristics and potential to become Europe’s most sustainable, cost-efficient, high-performing and customer-centric form of transport. Digitalisation in railways is instrumental in achieving this. The use of space assets can support innovation in rail, introducing the adoption of new technologies that embed interoperability and continuity of service by default. ESA Business Applications Space4Rail Open Call aims to support the exploitation of space-based assets (satellite navigation, satellite communications and/or Earth observation) in innovative and sustainable applications/services:

1. Related to future control, command and signalling applications of the European Rail system;

2. Improving the performance and attractiveness of the railway, both for railway undertakings and end users. – Closes 31st?December 2024 -?https://business.esa.int/funding/invitation-to-tender/space4rail?utm_source=ESA+Space+Solutions&utm_campaign=c20afe48b0-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_10_30_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_74004d26f4-c20afe48b0-215507709

A range of transport (and other) funding opportunities?-?filter by interest/sector on the left hand side -?https://ktn-uk.org/opportunities/

Open and Upcoming HS2 opportunities?–?including?Asset Management,?Health and Safety, Built Environment Support Services and more - https://www.hs2.org.uk/contract-opportunities/

Network Rail Challenge Statements?-?Each challenge statement details a specific business obstacle and provides detail on definition, root cause analysis, priority areas of focus and a section outlining guidance for?research and development. Network Rail invites solutions to these challenges;?https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industry-and-commercial/research-development-and-technology/research-and-development-programme/challenge-statements/

KTN’s Innovation Exchange?-?KTN-iX??provides you with the opportunity to become directly linked to, or collaborate with, key industry stakeholders who are actively seeking the most innovative solutions to help them achieve their full potential. A range of currently open opportunities can be explored at -?https://www.ktninnovationexchange.co.uk

KEEP+?-?provides businesses with flexible opportunities for innovation?- With a focus on the development of new products and services. Get up to ￡12,499 in grant funding for support from consultants and researchers or capital costs, all to assist the development of your innovative new product or service.?Already into their fourth year, the programme will run until 31 December 2022 - https://keepplus.co.uk/?utm_campaign=1872375_Women%20in%20Innovation%20Newsletter%20January%202021&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dotdigital&dm_i=2VFU,144QF,7IO8X5,4AMME,1?

A range of international opportunities?–?at https://ted.europa.eu/TED/browse/browseByBO.do?

A range of innovation funding opportunities?–?at https://www.gov.uk/apply-funding-innovation

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships?-?The?KTP scheme helps businesses in the UK to innovate and grow. It does this by linking them with an academic or research organisation and a graduate. A KTP enables a business to bring in new skills and the latest academic thinking to deliver a specific, strategic innovation project through a knowledge-based partnership.?The academic or research organisation partner will help to recruit a suitable graduate, known as an Associate. They will act as the employer of the graduate, who then works at the company for the duration. The scheme can last between 12 and 36 months, depending on what the project is and the needs of the business -?https://ktp.innovateuk.org