Malaga hosts Rail Live 2022. For three days, the main players of the sector – from more than 25 countries – will analyse the present and future of the mode that is called to be the backbone of intermodality, thanks to its numerous environmental, safety, and reliability advantages. Everything is ready for the event and, from Mafex, as co-organisers, we want to welcome the more than 2,000 expected attendees, sponsors and collaborating entities, participating companies and speakers who travel to Spain to share a joint vision on the challenges of the coming years and the great opportunities that rise before the decisive boost that wants to be given to railway infrastructures, of both passengers and goods.
Prior to this important event, we had a successful Spanish participation in InnoTrans last September. Our collective attendance among more than 60 companies to the largest world exhibition in the sector was coordinated by the Association with the support of ICEX Spain Trade and Investment and which has also included the participation of Adif and Renfe.
Numerous solutions which contribute to the present and future of the railway were shared, as well as their advances in terms of innovation and R+D.
In addition to this, at Mafex we continue working to achieve a more solid, competitive industry at the forefront of technological and digital developments. In this line of action, we have just completed the technological agenda of the Association. The Technological agenda developed identifies, sustainability, efficiency, user experience, goods, and employment and talent, as some of the key elements that will guide the future competitiviness in the railway sector. The industry is already working on the development and improvement of advanced technological solutions associated with these areas.
In addition, we participate in new initiatives such as the “STARS” project. Launched one year ago, the project aims to support SMEs in the sector with the implementation of Advanced Technologies, boosting productive per-formance and increasing their ability to innovate.
Likewise, being aware that industry and knowledge must go together as an engine of innovation and competitiveness, we have launched the III edition of the Master in Railway Engineering that we organise together with the University of Cantabria and that has the support for its development of SUM + LAB – Sustainable Mobility and Railway Engineering and the Laboratory of the Division of Science and Engineering of Materials (Ladicim). The edition is completed with an important cast of 28 companies and collaborating entities, both from a logistic and teaching standpoint, which provide added value to the programme and contents of the training offered.
On the other hand, and as on previous occasions, this edition also includes updated news of 28 members, as well as the innovation projects of 13 companies.
We will therefore continue our path in 2023 defending an industry that is a world reference. It has a high international presence in more than 95 countries and in Spain it generates 30,000 direct jobs with a turnover of more than 15 billion euros (more than 8% of industrial GDP). Without a doubt is a key and driving sector, both for our economy and for our country image. For this reason, it is essential that public administrations place this mode of transport as the axis of their sustainable transport policies and strategies in the medium and long term, and that they acquire a firm commitment to R + D + i programmes, with financing plans to promote their development and competitiveness throughout the value chain and support it in reaching the foreign market.
See you at Rail Live! 2022