SBRI: Digital transformation of Hanoi Metro Line 5, Vietnam

This is a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition funded by Innovate UK and jointly delivered by Innovate UK and Crossrail International with support from the Department of International Trade in Vietnam.

The aim of the competition is to support organisations to undertake feasibility studies, that demonstrate how innovation can support Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) with their digital transformation.

This is a single phase competition. Successful delivery of a project is intended to demonstrate innovation for the digital management of Line 5 for Hanoi Metro. It may provide opportunities for further support to establish the innovation into the client’s business.

Any adoption and implementation of a solution from this competition would be the subject of a separate, procurement exercise with MRB and does not guarantee future work.

Projects are expected to start on 1 January 2022, end by 31 March 2022 and can last up to 3 months. Projects must have maximum total eligible costs of £75,000, inclusive of VAT.

To lead a project, you can be an organisation of any size. Contracts will be awarded only to a single legal entity. However, if you can justify subcontracting components of the work, you can employ specialist consultants or advisers.

Contracts will be up to £75,000, inclusive of VAT, for each project for up to 3months. We expect to fund up to 4 projects. Your application must have at least 50% of the contract value attributed directly and exclusively to R&D services, including solution exploration and design.

You must undertake a feasibility study, that demonstrates how your innovation can support Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) with their digital transformation of Line 5 of the Hanoi Metro System.

MRB may consider this approach on further metro lines being planned. All future contracts will be subject to a separate commercial procurement process.

A digital strategy for MRB is being developed by Crossrail International (CI), a specialist advisory practice, wholly owned by the UK government’s Department for Transport (DfT). CI will be working with MRB to develop the digital strategy and is positioned to assist successful applicants to develop their innovative proposals in association with MRB. You must be able to work with MRB directly in order to develop the innovations in your chosen project theme.

You must be able to demonstrate a deep knowledge and understanding of the theme you have chosen and ideally show application experience in the UK market.

Due to the current challenges for international travel, it is not anticipated that significant travel to Vietnam will be required for your project. Travel and material costs are expected to be a small proportion of your total R&D services cost. You should plan to deliver your project remotely as far as practical, with provision for no more than 2 trips to Vietnam.

Applicants must read the technical annex to this competition before submitting their proposal.

This competition focuses on delivering feasibility studies targeting the digital innovation challenges of the Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) in Vietnam.

Your project must focus on one of the following themes for this programme, identified by Crossrail International in association with MRB:

1. Digital Project Management Office (PMO)
2. Efficient data management (Common Data Environment)
3. Digital environmental acceptance
4. Digital asset information management

You can find further detail on the themes and background of the challenge in the technical annex and the competition briefing event.

Crossrail International will be able to support successful applicants to understand the needs and context of the individual themes and assist with introductions with MRB.

You can apply for multiple themes, but you must submit a separate application for each theme.

A briefing event will be held on Monday 13th September at 10am: click here to book a place.

If you want help to find a project partner, contact KTN’s Transport team.