NCBR launches programme for rail industry worth PLN 196 mln

The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) has announced the launch of a new sectoral programme "Innotabor", which was created at the request of the largest Polish rail transport companies. In the first competition, the NCBR plans to allocate PLN 196 million for industrial research and experimental development related to all kinds of means of rail transport. Projects submitted for funding should be focused on the development of products using new materials and materials technologies to create machines with a high level of safety and reliability. The funding will cover locomotives, multiple units, trams, freight wagons for the transport of hazardous materials, special vehicles for the use of infrastructure, carriages for handling intermodal transport, as well as selected rail vehicle components. "Thanks to the co-operation between scientists and domestic entrepreneurs, we will put the Polish economy on the innovation track. Businesses or consortia made of companies can receive up to PLN 65 million for a single project," commented Minister of Science and Higher Education Jarosław Gowin. The call for proposals will last from August 16 till September 30, 2016.