Presentation given by Jim Lupton, Transport KTN, to assist applicants of the £5million Digital Railways competition. Useful hints and tips from the horse's mouth on what to do and what not to do in your application form.

1. KTN Guide to Applicants
Jim Lupton
Rail Specialist
Transport Knowledge Transfer Network ( KTN )
enquires@transportktn.org www.transportktn.org

2. Accelerating Innovation in Rail (AIR) Competition
• The Technology Strategy Board and the rail industry (RSSB),
planned to invest £4m to accelerate business innovation in the UK
rail industry.
• Two-stage competition (EOI and ‘Full Stage’).
• Ran from November 2011 to March 2012.
• 18 consortia won funding – led
by a diverse range of businesses:
large and small, household
names to lesser known.
• In the end TSB and RSSB
invested £5m,
with matching taking it to £10m
in total competition value.
• Some very exciting projects.
enquires@transportktn.org www.transportktn.org

3. Context
• The following stems from various discussions with people
involved in the AIR process.
• Experience from a previous competition – not this one!
• So, in the event of a conflict, what others say today about the
Digital Railway competition takes precedence!
• It’s not rocket science!
enquires@transportktn.org www.transportktn.org

4. Fundamentals
• Read the ‘Competition scope’.
• Read the ‘Guidance for applicants’.
• Read the questions and understand them!
• Answer the question! Each question has a purpose – providing
the same information in response to several questions does not
help the assessor assess your proposal!
• Put yourself in the assessor’s position.
enquires@transportktn.org www.transportktn.org

5. The business proposition
• Clearly state from the outset "WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO
DO!" Don't think the idea is so commercially confidential that the
idea can't be discussed in detail.
• Market is clearly understood and the ROI is clearly stated,
quantified and realistic.
• Evidence and quantification – solid data sources.
• Sufficient resolution to be relevant to the project.
• Route to market & the funding gap to commercialisation
explained.
• Be clear on what is being delivered.
• Arguably ‘route to market’ is the most important aspect of all the
questions – without one how will the innovation bear fruit.
enquires@transportktn.org www.transportktn.org

6. Important questions - Risk
• All questions are important because they all present an
opportunity for you to distinguish your proposals from the rest.
• However, thinking of the risk question:
• Innovation is about risk – not the avoidance of risk.
• Projects need to understand the risks and how they will be
mitigated. Strong risk management strategies need to be
shown.
• This understanding of risk needs to be conveyed to the
assessor through your proposal.
• Technical, Commercial, Environmental, Managerial – make
sure all are addressed.
enquires@transportktn.org www.transportktn.org

7. Important questions - Impact
• All questions are important because they all present an
opportunity for you to distinguish your proposals from the rest.
• However, thinking of the impact question (environmental, social
and economic):
• Usually the worst answered.
• Possibly why some borderline projects missed funding – a
more detailed response would have lifted them into the
funding zone.
• Simple things like cradle to grave impacts, end of life/reuse,
direct and indirect job creation, security of supply, social
impact on third world economies.
• In other words – show that at least some time has been spent
thinking about the wider, longer term consequences of the
project.
enquires@transportktn.org www.transportktn.org

8. Important questions - Funding
• All questions are important because they all present an
opportunity for you to distinguish your proposals from the rest.
• However, on the subject of funding and added value:
• Demonstrate that the project costs are entirely appropriate.
• Demonstrate that the project will significantly increase the
industrial partners’ R&D spend during the project and
afterwards.
• Accuracy is important.
enquires@transportktn.org www.transportktn.org

9. Language
• Most industries use their own jargon which is impenetrable to
those from outside it.
• In AIR there were multiple assessors for each proposal – mainly
from within the sector but also from outside it.
• Don’t assume prior detailed knowledge for the assessor and avoid
industry specific ACRONYMS, especially where there is significant
innovation.
• If you must use them, define ACRONYMS – it’s very difficult to
read and understand sentences where the majority of the words
are not words!
enquires@transportktn.org www.transportktn.org

10. Attention to Detail
• The assessors need to understand what the consortium is doing.
• The only way they can do that is through the answers you give to
the questions.
• Be clear in your answers.
• Bad grammar and spelling does not present a professional image
and diverts the assessor’s attention away from your key
messages.
• Check your submission thoroughly. Once complete – get
somebody else to read it...preferably somebody outside the
business and listen to their comments.
• Make sure the correct document is uploaded...someone
submitted a mother’s letter to the school excusing her daughter’s
absence (not AIR).
enquires@transportktn.org www.transportktn.org

11. Other pointers on content
• Number your answers so the assessors can see where one
questions ends and the next begins.
• Use all of the main sheet, don’t leave big blank spaces – the
impression is that you don’t know too much about the subject.
• Use diagrams, pictures and charts in the annexes – lots of plain
text is depressing; make it clear, easy to read and interesting.
• Reference the annexes at the appropriate point in the main
application document – don’t leave the assessor to search for info
in the annexes.
• Reference sources including the publishing date.
enquires@transportktn.org www.transportktn.org

12. Finally
• Attending events like these will help.
• Check out the official group on _Connect.
• Even if consortia didn’t get funding though AIR, it got their
innovation on the radar and, in some cases, doors were opened.
enquires@transportktn.org www.transportktn.org

13. enquires@transportktn.org www.transportktn.org

14. In conclusion...
• Read the question & the supporting information available.
• Your answers to the questions are the only way of distinguishing
your proposal from the rest of the field.
• Attention to detail.
• Participate – it’s get your innovation on the radar.
• See the guide on _Connect.
• Get involved in the Unlocking Innovation Scheme.
enquires@transportktn.org www.transportktn.org

15. Thank you
Jim Lupton
jim.lupton@transportktn.org
Transport Knowledge Transfer Network ( KTN )
enquires@transportktn.org www.transportktn.org