By joining RRUK-A, you will be joining an already thriving community of academics who undertake research addressing issues of importance to the railways today and into the future. In fostering relationships with others, who may have specialisms in complementary areas, you will be able to develop cross-disciplinary research projects, enhancing the value of your research and its attractiveness to potential funders.
The rail industry is committed to further developing relationships with the academic community for mutual benefit. Through RRUK-A, you will be able to learn firsthand about the problems and opportunities that are of interest to the rail industry and be able to share your ideas with industry experts.
Being an active member of RRUK-A:
- Will enable you to make or update contacts with industrial experts in your field
- Will enable you to develop or extend contacts with other researchers in your field or complementary fields and learn how they are applying their research to the railway
- Will help you to focus your research ideas through a better understanding of the industry’s issues, eg through participating in RRUK-A events targeting industry priorities
- Will give you the opportunity to let industry know how they can use your research
- Will put you ‘on the rail research map’ so that industry and other academics know who to contact if they need expertise in your area
- Will give you the opportunity to gain industry support for grant applications
- Will give you access to a new rail research knowledge web tool being developed by RSSB (to be launched in 2011)
- Could lead to research projects or studentships being funded by industry
- Could lead to invitations to participate in EC Framework Programme projects, where academic involvement in your area is needed
- Could lead to consultancy opportunities with industry
- Could lead to invitations to tender for research in areas of your expertise through the rail industry R&D programme managed by RSSB