We are immensely proud to announce that our collaborative AI initiative with TrainFX Ltd has been honored as the AI Tech Innovation of the Year at the Made In the UK, Midlands Awards 2026. This prestigious recognition underscores the transformative power of academic-industry partnerships in the UK’s manufacturing and technology sectors.
“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” - Steve Jobs
Bridging Research and Reality
The core of this award-winning project involves embedding cutting-edge AI research from Loughborough University directly into the UK’s rail infrastructure. We have developed a sophisticated, real-time system that provides rail operators and passengers with an unprecedented view of carriage occupancy.
Key Impacts:
- Operational Excellence: Empowering rail operators with data-driven planning tools.
- Passenger Experience: Reducing platform congestion and ensuring a more comfortable journey.
- Sustainable Infrastructure: Optimizing resource allocation across the rail network.
The Power of Collaboration
This achievement is a direct result of our postdoctoral research work within the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) framework, supported by Innovate UK. By bridging the gap between theoretical research and industrial application, we have turned complex AI models into a robust, deployable solution.
The TrainFX AI Passenger Counting System featured among the finalists in the AI Tech Innovation of the Year category.
A Celebration of Excellence
The awards ceremony was a vibrant celebration of the Midlands’ technological prowess. Accepting this award on stage was a definitive milestone for our team, representing years of dedication to the field of Applied AI.
Acknowledgments
This success belongs to the entire cross-functional team:
- Loughborough University Research Team: Qingsong Han, Baihua Li, Qinggang Meng, Mohamad Saada, Haibin Cai, Muneeb Ahamed, Qun Zhu, and Yixiao.
- TrainFX Ltd: For their vision and operational support.
- Innovate UK: For providing the framework to make this innovation possible.
The full team on stage - celebrating the AI Tech Innovation of the Year.
