IRRB

The International Railway Research Board (IRRB) is the UIC’s global platform connecting railway operators, infrastructure managers, research centres, and universities around a single purpose: advancing rail innovation worldwide. By structuring research priorities at both regional and global levels and facilitating strategic dialogue between leading industry and academic players, the IRRB ensures strategic consistency among its members and promotes best practices in R&D+I activities across the railway sector.

International Railway Research Board (IRRB)

Role: The global engine avoiding duplicated efforts, filling knowledge gaps, and disseminating critical research globally.

Structure of International Railway Research Board (IRRB)

Find a link to the

View irrb_tor_web.pdf

irrb_tor_web.pdf

PDF · 669 KB

View irrb_tor_web.pdfDownload irrb_tor_web.pdf (669 KB)

below.

Administration Part:

• IRRB General Assembly (see IRRB Terms of Reference)
• IRRB Steering Committee (see IRRB Terms of Reference)

Operational Part:

• 6 Regional Competence Hubs (RCHs)
  • Role: Decentralised incubators driving continuous, locally relevant R&D with regional autonomy across Europe (RCH Europe), Asia-Pacific (RCH Asia & Pacific), North America (RCH North America), Latin America (RCH Latin America), the Middle East (RCH Middle East), and Africa (RCH Africa).
• Academic Board for Innovation (ABI)
  • Role: The UIC Research and Innovation "Railway Think-Thank" focuses on research and innovation in the railway sector, as well as the development of talent and specialised expertise. It acts as the Central Point for Coordination and cooperation between Universities and Railway Operators Communities (UIC members) within the UIC.
  • Highlights of the ABI’s Work Programme for 2026-2028: Translating ideas into impact - How the UIC Academic Board for Innovation is driving global rail collaboration. Read more.

Benefits of participating in the Regional Competence Hub & Academic Board for Innovation

1. Knowledge exchange and expert networking
2. Collaboration: projects, seminars, webinars, study visits, and workshops
3. A Community of Practitioners and Researchers
4. Support for leadership and career development (Railway Career Matrix)
5. Global context, benchmarking, and advocacy

Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation Action:

• IRRB Global Innovation Summit (see IRRB Terms of References)
• IRRB eNEWS (Subscription will be offered soon)
• IRRB Observatory (will be lunched soon)

Interested in joining an IRRB group? Please contact us by completing the form below.

IRRB Terms of Reference

International Railway Research Board (IRRB) Terms of Reference (ToR)

View irrb_tor_web.pdf

irrb_tor_web.pdf

PDF · 669 KB

View irrb_tor_web.pdfDownload irrb_tor_web.pdf (669 KB)