Full steam ahead

The future challenges and strategic opportunities for the rail supply industry are explored in a new report by ANU Enterprise, the commercial arm of The Australian National University. The report, On Track to 2040, was carried out by ANU Edge, part of ANU Enterprise Consulting, and released by the Minister for Industry and Innovation Greg Combet. The report identifies 18 priority opportunities for technology development in three main areas - materials and manufacturing, monitoring and management, and power and propulsion. The report also makes strategic recommendations in six areas: governance, standardisation and regulation, funding, collaboration, research and policy. "These recommendations represent the most important actions to be taken by the industry in achieving the industry's vision of collaboration, innovation and growth," Director of Industry and Government at ANU Enterprise Tom Wood said. "We've been working with industry, government and research teams to develop a strategic plan for the rail supply industry to gauge how it can position itself and build on its competitive advantages to meet the challenges and the opportunities over the next 30 years. "The rail industry stretches back more than 100 years.