Open Call SBIR Platform Edge Protection
ProRail and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate challenge entrepreneurs to develop new products to prevent people from getting onto the track from the platform.
Reason and purpose of this SBIR competition
The amount of train passengers is growing, trains are going more frequently and trains are going faster. Prorail is developing stations that fit this modern time; sustainable, safe and comfortable, ready for the future. Despite the current corona measures, now is the time to think about the future, when public transport will function fully again as well.
Platforms will become busier and fuller in the future. This requires new creative ideas to use the available space efficiently and safely and which do not slow down the entry and exit process, but preferably accelerate it. The platform edge is the interface between platform and train in all these processes. In case of larger crowds, it can possibly be loaded more heavily.
The challenge of this SBIR
How might we keep this platform edge, this interface between platform and train, optimally safe in such a way that in spite of increasing crowds:
1 travellers keep this space free,
2 trains can leave on time and
3 safety is optimally guaranteed.
The innovation makes crowd control on platforms unnecessary and also contributes to suicide prevention by preventing people from getting on the track.
SBIR platform edge protection
The total budget for this SBIR is EUR 780,000 divided between EUR 240,000 for phase 1 and EUR 540,000 for phase 2.
Proposals can be submitted until 22 July 2020 at the latest. More information about this call is available on the RVO website.
SBIR
With the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programme, the government challenges entrepreneurs to solve social problems with innovative products and services. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) executes the SBIR calls.
SBIR is a competition. The best-rated proposals will be awarded a contract within the available resources as published in the call.
An SBIR consists of 2 phases. In phase 1, entrepreneurs are given an assignment to conduct a feasibility study. The best projects will be commissioned in phase 2 for further research and development into a working prototype.
An independent committee assesses the projects.