YoRIC networking event June

York Rail Innovation Community (YoRIC) Meet-Up - Connect, Collaborate and Innovate

Wednesday 10 June 2026 | 5.30pm–7.45pm
West Offices, York
Followed by informal networking at York Tap

Innovation rarely happens in isolation. It happens when industries, technologies and people collide in the right environment.

Whether you work in rail, technology, digital, AI, cyber, data, software, immersive technologies, creative industries, engineering, or academia, this YoRIC event is an opportunity to connect with organisations actively looking for new ideas, new partners and new solutions.

This session will focus on innovation opportunities, funding calls, industry challenges and the emerging York Rail Innovation Cluster Strategy. You'll hear directly from organisations shaping the future of rail innovation and discover where there may be opportunities for collaboration, testing, commercialisation and growth. 

Agenda

5.30pm – 6.00pm - Arrival, refreshments and informal networking

6.00pm – 6.05pm - Welcome and introductions

6.05pm – 6.30pm - Kevin Blacktop, Innovate UK
First of a Kind (FOAK): Accelerating Innovation and Overcoming Barriers to Adoption

6.30pm – 6.55pm - Emma Lindsell
York Central Rail Innovation Cluster Strategy – Building a National Centre for Operational Rail Innovation

6.55pm – 7.20pm - Toufic Wazzaz, DfT Future Labs- Innovation Challenges, Collaboration Opportunities and the look ahead - Q&A

7.20pm – 7.40pm - Open networking and discussion

7.45pm onwards - Informal networking at York Tap

Who Should Attend?

• Rail organisations and supply chain companies
• Technology and software businesses
• AI, data and cyber security specialists
• Digital and creative agencies
• Universities, researchers and innovators
• Start-ups and scale-ups

Why Attend?

• Learn about upcoming innovation opportunities and funding programmes.
• Understand the challenges that major rail organisations are actively looking to solve.
• Discover how digital, creative and technology businesses can access the rail market.
• Meet potential collaborators from across industry, academia and government.
• Gain insight into the emerging York Rail Innovation Cluster
• Connect with innovators, entrepreneurs, SMEs in an informal setting.
• Explore opportunities in AI, data, cyber security, simulation, immersive technologies, digital twins, automation, sensing, predictive maintenance and operational innovation.

About YoRIC

The York Rail Innovation Community (YoRIC) is a growing network connecting industry, academia and government to accelerate innovation in rail and transport. Our events are informal, collaborative and focused on creating meaningful connections, sharing knowledge and turning ideas into action.

No sales pitches. Just great conversations, valuable connections and opportunities to innovate together.