Place Projects - 26 June 2019

University opens doors to its D2N2-backed Rail Research and Innovation Centre

A £1.4m innovation centre in Derby which could help transform rail travel in the UK has been unveiled to the industry. 

The University of Derby’s Rail Research and Innovation Centre (RRIC), at Lonsdale House, opened its doors to representatives of the UK’s rail supply chain industry at the showcase event on Tuesday (25 June). 

The centre was developed thanks to a £902,600 grant from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership’s Local Growth Fund

Rail Research & Innovation Centre

The funding has allowed for the purchase of three technology ‘demonstrators’ to help improve innovation and productivity within the rail industry: 

  • Advanced Rail Composite Design and Manufacture – Resin Transfer Moulding Machine, Hot Press, Impact Tester and associated CAE licences for developing ideas and prototypes for new components and structures.
  • Rail Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence – Data analytics laboratory and scalable cloud data warehouse to support building AI and data science enabled prototypes, and developing ideas for extracting and intelligently visualizing value from various data sources and Internet of Things (IoT) streams.
  • Future Rail Propulsion – Simulation, data acquisition and configurable hardware for laboratory-scale hardware in the loop for projects exploring traction control and energy recovery e.g. regenerative braking, energy sources, systems integration and performance.

It is hoped that the RRIC will upskill upwards of 80 rail sector employees, while also supporting around 80 supply chain businesses, 15 new collaborative research projects, and shepherding 20 companies through innovation funding applications by 2022. 

Professor Warren Manning (pictured), Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean of the University of Derby’s College of Engineering and Technology, said: “We are grateful to D2N2’s Local Growth Fund for the support it has given the University of Derby to develop this superb facility.”

“The Rail Research and Innovation Centre will provide expertise and technology with the capacity to transform the development of rail transport, allowing organisations to get the best value out of data and find better ways of decarbonising the railways.”

“Secondly, it will provide opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises in the rail supply chain and associated industries to collaborate with us in innovative and exciting ways. This will help to put them at the cutting edge of the industry, unlocking opportunities for them not just regionally and nationally, but potentially across the world too.” 

Tom Goshawk, D2N2 LEP Capital Projects Manager said of the opening: “The Rail Research and Innovation Centre project has provided an excellent opportunity for D2N2 LEP to invest in the important rail industry in Derby.”

“Transport Equipment Manufacturing is a sector of great importance to the D2N2 area and this investment enables greater efficiencies and enhances the inward investment offer to rail supply chain businesses in the region.”

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Local Enterprise Partnerships are playing a vital role in driving forward economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for everyone.

By 2021 Government will have invested over £12billion through the Local Growth Fund, allowing LEPs to use their local knowledge to get all areas of the country firing on all cylinders.

Government analysis has shown every £1 of the Local Growth Fund invested could generate £4.81 in benefits.

Latest News & Events

19 July 2024

Local business support boosted with launch of Early Stage Angel Investment Fund

Read Article

21 June 2024

Spotlight on our Board: Scott Knowles, Chief Executive, East Midlands Chamber, on the D2N2 LEP transition and East Midlands devolution

Read Article

11 June 2024

The D2N2 LEP staff team joins the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA)

Read Article

07 June 2024

Becky Rix, Marketing Director at Roadgas, explains why Roadgas is a proud member of the East Midlands Hydrogen Consortium

Read Article

05 June 2024

Spotlight on our Board: D2N2 LEP Board Member Natasha Johnson, Director of Partnerships at Global Entrepreneurs UK

Read Article

05 June 2024

Free Expert Business Advice and Support available through East Midlands Chamber’s Accelerator Programme

Read Article

03 June 2024

Spotlight on our Board: D2N2 LEP Board Member Professor Edward Peck CBE, Vice-Chancellor and President, Nottingham Trent University

Read Article

24 May 2024

Focus on the East Midlands: our time is NOW!

Read Article

24 May 2024

D2N2 LEP CEO, Will Morlidge, shares our East Midlands Hydrogen ambitions at UKREiiF

Read Article

24 May 2024

East Midlands Freeport and Freeport East Sign Green Freight Corridor Initiative at UKREiiF

Read Article

Get in touch.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up
Address

D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership
8 Experian Way
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG2 1EP

Social

Our Partners