THE INNOVATIVE CAPACITY OF THE RAIL INDUSTRY: HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND AMBITIONS VERSUS LIMITED RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

抄録

The railway sector is in most countries in a period of transition. Governments hope, by simulating regulatory reforms of the sector, to revitalisation railway in order to go through this phase. This paper aims to analyse the innovative capacity of the railway industry, and give a special emphasis to the development of rolling stock. A carefully executed innovation management process needs to take place within a number of boundary conditions. These conditions form no ‘hard’ stipulations to be imposed on the specific factors or on the specific capabilities of an innovation, but they are directed at supplying as much clarity as possible during the execution of the complete managerial process. The conditions are derived from the various views that exist concerning the network approach in general, but are confined, given the demands of the technology area. The article concludes that the role of the Research and Technology Development (RTD) policy can contribute to the general objectives of the railway industry.