• UIC runs internal research and innovation projects and studies at the initiative of its members. Proposals for these projects are initiated by the expert working bodies and co-funded by its members.
• UIC has been involved for many years in EC-funded projects ever since FP4 on behalf of our members either in a role providing technical expertise to the project, providing feedback input to the project – user requirements etc, disseminating the project results as well as in the role of project coordinator. Recently it is involved in the preparation of 6 Shift2Rail Operating Companies proposals.
• UIC is one of the founding members of ERRAC since 2001 and with UNIFE is one of the main contributors to ERRAC also in terms of funding the secretariat.
• Besides the main working bodies (Platforms and Forums) and a number of technical expert groups covering very specific topics, there are two main working bodies dealing with Research & Innovation: The Research & Innovation Coordination Group – RICG (European focus) and the International Rail Research Board – IRRB (global level). The work of the group is based upon the main strategy documents of the UIC such as “Challenge 2050” and the “Rail Technical Strategy Europe – RTSE - with a European focus and the Global Vision for Railway Development – GVRD.

The Research and Innovation Coordination Group (RICG) – main tasks:

• Identifying and coordinating R&I needs and interests of the members
• Supporting ERRAC activities and developing a Rail Operating Community - ROC - vision
• Monitoring Shift2Rail (incl. The MAAP, Open Calls, preparing input for the future Shift2Rail, defining user requirements etc)
• Acting as platform for the exchange of information on research and innovation activities and monitor developments (programmes, strategies, etc.) at European level

The RICG meets four times a year linked to around important UIC meetings (European Management Committee Assistants EMCA, European Management Committee EMC, Regional Assembly for Europe RAE, etc.) and consists of a Steering Committee and three Working Groups (WG):

• Working Group 1 Vision & Strategy (core activity)
• Working Group 2 Common Collaboration (internal)
• Working Group 3 Liaison (external)

When necessary it creates ad-hoc working groups (for e.g. RTSE, Shift2Rail OCs, Shift2Rail Members, etc.)

The International Railway Research Board (IRRB) – main tasks:

• Promote more effectively and efficiently Research and Development activities that are conducted by each of the UIC members around the world, so that they will be able to learn from each other and contribute to the global development of the railways.
• Inform each research institution in a timely and appropriate way, of the content of the research needs and activities of each of the UIC Working Bodies (such as those of the Rail System Forum, Passengers Forum, and Freight Forum and the Platforms).
• Discuss common regional research needs and priorities. If the R&D in these areas is not being conducted at UIC, then the IRRB will be able to make suggestions to start up the R&D concerned to the relevant UIC activity organisations or to engage in common benchmark and research studies in case of common priorities whenever members would regard this as beneficial.

TRA – Transport Research Arena

• Since 2010, railway research has been included in the content of conferences. UIC participates actively through ERRAC where it is represented at the ORG Committee. This year TRA 2016 was held in Warsaw (18 – 21 April) with an exhibition stand. The UIC Director General participated in the strategic session dedicated to Energy and Transport. UIC had the opportunity to showcase the achievements obtained from participating in EU funded projects at the TRA2016 exhibition, on the European Commission’s stand and during the poster sessions.

WCRR – World Conference on Railway Research

• As a founding member, UIC contributes actively to the organisation of the WCRR as member of the Executive and organisational Committees. (UIC is also a member of the TRA Management Committee on behalf of ERRAC).

SEESARI – South East Europe Alliance for Rail Innovation

• The purpose and aim of the SEESARI is to develop, update, link and to innovate the transportation network in South Eastern Europe (SEE) with a specific focus on rail in close cooperation and collaboration, involving all stakeholders.

• UIC supports this initiative and acts as secretariat to SEESARI which is made up of rail operators, infrastructure managers, research institutes and stakeholders from other modes of transport, construction companies etc. willing to invest in the development and innovation of the transport infrastructure of South East Europe including the Balkan area. The first project proposals based upon a SEE transport strategy and action plan are expected to be finalised soon.

Cooperation with the European Commission

• Besides frequent informal as well as formal contacts between the UIC and the European Commission (DG Research, DG MOVE, DG Environment, DG Human Resources and Security etc) UIC defines the needs, requirements and priorities for innovation to be put forward to the European Commission through ERRAC.

Future fields of cooperation between the UIC and the European Commission – especially DG MOVE - could be:

A more structured bilateral communication about the ROC’s needs and research, innovation and standardisation related priorities in support of the mid-term review of H2020, S2R as well as the White Paper on Transport

Advising DG Move on priority topics and content for future Call for Tenders in the area of Rail transport as well as on a technical expert level supporting the implementation of some of these projects and studies

In cooperation with DG MOVE and INEA advising and supporting our members in the preparation of TEN-T/CEF project proposals as well as other rail related projects supported by other European Commission financial instruments.

In cooperation with DG MOVE and ERA supporting ERA in the implementation of strategic objectives from their multi-annual perspective and especially in issues where research & innovation related issues are concerned, such as:

• Europe becoming the world leader in railway safety (UIC core-concern in RTSE and input to the FOSTER-RAIL Research & Innovation Roadmap)
• Promoting rail transport to enhance its market share as well as Improve economic efficiency and societal benefits in railways (UIC core concerns in Challenge 2050 and RTSE and basis for input in ERRAC SRIA and FOSTER-RAIL Roadmaps – customer focused)
• Possibly also supporting ERA in monitoring and evaluation
• Possibly also in fostering ERA reputation in the world (as the UIC is a global organisation)
• As we have understood from ERA project officer Mr Kyriakos Doulis, one of the challenges on which we could cooperate would be the issue of the European challenges regarding interoperability in the Balkan states. This would fit perfectly with our above mentioned involvement in the SEESARI project, which is chaired by Dr. Peter Verlic of the Slovenian Railway’s Intermodal Transport Research Institute and strongly supported by the CEO of the Serbian Railways