The ASPECT2025 organisers are finalising the programme for the three day conference and one day of technical visits. This is the current outline programme to assist your planning (please note that sessions may be subject to change):

Technical visits on Friday 5 December are currently planned for ATACS and Training Centre, Railway Museum with presentation by JR East's research centre, Shin-shirakawa by Shinkansen and Railway Technical Research Institute

The 2025 ASPECT IRSE Innovators session comprises of a panel of judges, composed of experienced professionals, and the young members presenters, who will represent the entrepreneurs. The presenters will then “pitch” their railway-related innovation idea to the judges, who will ask questions, challenge the idea, and ultimately pass judgement. Finally, the judges will decide which idea is the best. Whilst there will be no ‘investment’, the best idea will receive a small prize.

You must be a Younger Member of the IRSE aged below 35 years of age on the 31 May 2025 and be intending to register for the ASPECT conference.

The innovator submission guidance is here and your submission form is here - both in the document library below.

Thank you to everyone who submitted abstracts to the ASPECT 2025 committee.

The successful authors are being contacted. The following documents will help you (links below and in document library below)

Guidance for authors

Paper template

Main author bio and photograph

Licence to distribute

Aspect 2025 will be held in Yokohama, Japan in December 2025 and we are offering funding of up to £1,500 (GBP) per person to help cover travel and hotel costs. In addition, we will also pay for the Aspect 2025, three-day conference fee.

Applications for funding are welcomed from members of the IRSE who will be under 35 years of age on 15 February 2025. Preference will be given to those who have not previously received an award.

A selection committee will review all the applications and decide who will receive funding. Applicants will be advised by 31 May 2025 whether they have been successful in obtaining funding or not.

Funding is through re-imbursement of up to GBP £1,500 per person, contributing to travel and hotel costs.

ASPECT events have consistently attracted a wide of range of people in the industry with over 400 delegates from across the globe attending the most recent conference in 2023.

The event is open to both IRSE members and non-members and will bring together, the world’s best signalling, control, systems, and communications engineers along with leading signalling and communications technology companies.

Our sponsorship brochure is available here, and in the document library below.