Leading construction firms from across the UK assembled at Coventry University’s Simulation Centre for the launch of a major new fund.
The UK’s innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board, has launched a £6 million competition for collaborative Research and Development (R&D) funding to support the digitising of the construction sector.
Organisations operating across the construction sector supply chain were in Coventry to find out full details about the project at the Simulation Centre, which is operated by leadership development specialists Acua Solutions, a group company of Coventry University.
The launch event featured brokering sessions and workshops, including demonstrations at the Simulation Centre on how Acua Solutions supports construction organisations to deliver integrated collaborative technology through the development of leadership skills.
The fund will see government-backed Technology Strategy Board bring together the construction, digital and ICT communities to develop innovative new products, processes or services that could revolutionise collaborations between supply chain partners and unlock new business models.
Organisations will be able to register and submit applications for the competition from March 17, with collaborative proposals expected to range in size up to £2 million.
The competition has been developed in response to the Government’s Building Information Modelling Strategy and the Construction Industrial Strategy which encourages the take-up of Building Information Modelling (BIM) within the supply chain. BIM is an intelligent model-based process that provides insight for creating and managing building and infrastructure projects faster.
Mark Wray, lead technologist from Technology Strategy Board, said
“We’re really excited to have launched this competition which encourages the take-up of digitally enabled processes within the construction supply chain,” he said.
“Adopting digital solutions will not only improve quality, timing and performance, but cut costs by reducing waste and errors, and will introduce a way of working in which data is stored and shared between parties throughout the design, construction and operation of buildings and infrastructure.
“It will encourage greater collaboration, transparency and trust within the sector and promote innovation in delivery. We encourage organisations to apply to take advantage of being early adopters and exploiting this rapidly expanding market opportunity.”
Jeannine Mortlock, managing director of Acua Solutions, added: “The Simulation Centre is a world class facility which allows us to develop real-time scenarios, using actors and virtual on-site locations to provide an immersive learning environment for the construction industry.
“The facility is the only one of its type in the UK and we were delighted to support the launch of the Technology Strategy Board’s digitising construction fund by hosting the event here in partnership with Coventry University.”
Sir John Egan, Chancellor of Coventry University and chair of the committee behind the Rethinking Construction report in 1998, was keynote speaker at the event.
He added: “Building Information Modelling just might be the catalyst to at last drive that much needed culture change in the sector.
“The challenge is for organisations across the construction supply chain to use this opportunity of applied research funding to deliver a world leading integrated collaborative technology.”