UIC Research & Innovation Awards

UIC Research & Innovation Awards

Research is a core value of the International Union of Railways (UIC) and is at the heart of the entire railway sector as a way of offering responses and solutions to the challenges facing the sector. Through research and innovation, the train has the potential to become the backbone of future transport as a safe, sustainable, energy-efficient and user-friendly transport mode.

The UIC Innovation Awards were born from research and innovation efforts, especially among students and young engineers, as well as activities to promote the railways as a safe, sustainable and dynamic mode of transport.

The UIC International Railway Research Board (IRRB) took the initiative to create the UIC Innovation Awards in accordance with the objectives set out in its ambitious work programme adopted on 9 December 2011.

UIC holds these awards every two years to support and promote:

• the development of theoretical, experimental and applied research in the railway sector,
• the development of international cooperation in the field of railway research and innovation,
• the promotion and attraction of leading experts from different countries, research institutes, universities, railway operators, infrastructure managers, railway suppliers, passenger transport agencies, government bodies in charge of transport and individual researchers to address the most important problems and challenges of modern railways.

The first UIC Research & Innovation Awards were held in Paris in December 2012 on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the founding of UIC, the second in December 2014 and the 3rd in St-Petersburg, Russia in December 2016.

On the occasion of the UIC World Congress on High-Speed Rail, which took place from 8 to 11 May 2018 in Ankara, UIC launched the fourth edition of the awards. The awards ceremony took place on 6 December 2018 in Paris during the UIC statutory meetings: a number of researchers from across the world were awarded for their contributions to the continuous development and innovation of the railways.

UIC Research & Innovation Awards website: http://uic-innovation-awards.org

There are six main categories of award relating to the main areas of the railway system. In addition, there are two honorary awards, the UIC Lifetime Achievement Award and the Young Researcher Award.

Young Researcher Award

A new generation of talented young researchers is vital for the sustainable development of railway transport in the future.

The aim of the Young Researcher Award is to support and encourage gifted young researchers, stimulate research work in railway transport, lay the foundations for future innovative development of railway transport and attract young researchers to the domain of railway transport, as well as to support the creation of favourable conditions for scientific discoveries and innovative achievements involving young researchers.