Innovate 4 Rail

The Innovate 4 Rail project was created to stimulate and support innovation and drive productivity among small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire (D2N2) Rail Sector Supply Chains.

A blue and black logo

Collaborative expertise

The project was a three year collaboration between the University of Derby, University of Birmingham and the Rail Forum that started in July 2020 and came to an end in June 2023. The project was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Innovate 4 Rail provided practical support across a range of technologies to develop new products and solutions for the rail industry through supported access to facilities at the Universities of Derby and Birmingham and facilitated themed events / workshops.

Innovate for Rail Statistics

39Local SMEs supported with individual interventions
19R&D and Innovation projects were completed
5New product developments with SMEs

Advanced Composites Research Centre

A man in a white coat wearing a black plastic glove reaching.

Case studies

Find out about some of the rail innovations we supported through the Innovate 4 Rail programme.

Train speeds through station and under bridge
Supporting innovation in rail infrastructure

Rail engineering and infrastructure consultancy ECSL Ltd, has secured funded technical support and expertise from our Innovate 4 Rail programme for their research project into Fibre Reinforced Po...

Solar panels close up
Improving fault-finding in solar PV systems

We're supporting an electrical design consultancy's research into faults in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, so that it can develop solutions to protect against these.

The front a train with a red face
Supporting Derby’s rail sector

The University of Derby has been playing its part in supporting a dynamic rail cluster in the city, through R&D collaborations with rail companies, a new research centre specialising in rail, know...

Railway track

Sustainable fuels for rail freight

The ground-breaking HyDEX project is responding to calls from the rail freight industry to accelerate the transition to net zero.

Find out more about the collaboration with the University of NottinghamFind out more about the collaboration with the University of Nottingham
Woman standing at podium talking to event audience

Business events

Advance your knowledge and grow your network: these are our upcoming events for business people, most of which are free to attend. They include conferences and networking events, business advice workshops, and public lectures.

Find out more Find out more
A modern train travelling at speed

Supporting Derby's Rail Sector

The University of Derby has been playing its part in supporting a dynamic rail cluster in the city, through R&D collaborations with rail companies, a new research centre specialising in rail, knowledge exchange collaborations with other universities and our engagement with members of the Rail Forum.

Find out moreFind out more

For more information

For further information on other support programmes at the University of Derby please contact our Business Gateway.

E: businessgateway@derby.ac.uk

T: 0800 001 5500