Developed by London Underground's Capital Programmes and Asset Performance directorates, TfL hopes suggestions from the Innovation Portal might lead to the development of new technologies to solve some of its greatest challenges.

The portal, which went live on February 11, is part of a wider drive to create a climate for innovation in TfL, and focuses on the challenges faced in six primary areas. These include:

· customers, specifically ways in which faster and more frequent and reliable services can be offered while information from frontline staff is improved

· offering greater value and sustainability of operations by applying technology that improves efficiency while reducing noise and impact on the environment

· new ways to achieve reliable and first-class delivery that minimises line closures and costs

· using smart data and technology to achieve a 30% reliability improvement target over the next three years

· improving customer safety and security, and

· developing the tools and processes required to improve staff performance

Ideas submitted via the TfL Innovation Portal are reviewed by technical experts and are assessed based on criteria including business impact, innovation focus, TfL brand and ease of implementation.

"We saw last year during TfL's massive staff engagement programme, Fit for London, that staff want to be engaged across the business to identify common needs and opportunities and collaboratively develop solutions for the whole business," says Mr David Waboso, LU capital programmes director. "We'll find those pioneering solutions by getting everyone involved and refusing to accept that anyone has a monopoly on good ideas."

Ideas may be submitted at www.tfl.gov.uk/innovation