The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) announced the results of the first competition held under Sub-Measure 1.1.2 of the Operational Programme Smart Growth: “R&D related to the production of a pilot/demonstration installation”, the so-called “Demonstrator”. Funding will be provided to 20 out of the 122 projects submitted under the competition.
NEWAG’s project ”The first European 6-axis multi-system electric locomotive for heavy freight trains compliant with TSI manufactured in Poland,” was among the top 20 winning projects, receiving the maximum number of points.
According to Dawid Szkucik, the project’s author, ”in three years’ s time, we will have the first in Europe, 6-axle, multi-system electric locomotive for pulling heavy freight trains which will be compliant with the TSI.”
Thanks to the NCBR-provided funding amounting to approx. PLN 10 million, NEWAG S.A., the company which emphasizes innovation, will be able to test cutting-edge solutions whose aim is to transfer results of R&D projects to the economy and consequently, to introduce modern and innovative technologies, products and processes to the market.
“Presently, NEWAG offers DRAGON locomotives whose average reliability ratio is 99.6% today. The locomotive’s excellent performance led to our decision to develop this product further,” said Bartosz Krzemiński, Deputy President of the Board of NEWAG S.A.
The “Demonstrator” competition was one of the first competitions organized in the new EU financial perspective under the Operational Programme Smart Growth. The NCBR allocated PLN 500 million to support companies’ R&D research activities related to the construction of pilot and demonstration facilities. Based on the experts’ evaluation, only the best projects were selected that are characterized by the greatest implementation potential which enables to introduce product and process innovations into portfolios of Polish companies.