Dr Ian Heptinstall

Project title:

Embedding innovation into procurement and project management practices

Summary:

This project seeks to enhance how technical and process innovations are utilised in the UK rail industry. It will analyse how innovations move from conception to implementation, focusing on procurement and project management practices of rail operators. By investigating these processes, the project aims to identify barriers to innovation, understand their root causes, and provide evidence-based recommendations for improvement.

Hosted by the Connected Places Catapult, the project aligns with their theme of overcoming barriers to innovation-friendly procurement in the rail sector. Drawing on previous experience, it will examine case studies to inform its investigation and ultimately enhance the speed and quality of innovation in rail, benefiting safety, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and customer experience.