A key part of the Sector Deal is an investment by the Government of £170m in the Transforming Construction Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF). Delivered by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the fund aims to transform the efficiency of construction techniques through digital technologies like Business Information Modelling; reduce running costs through energy generation and storage technologies; and conduct research and development and demonstration programmes supporting innovations.
The Construction Innovation Hub
Among the recipients of funds so far is the Construction Innovation Hub, which was created in November last year after being awarded £72 million from the ISCF following a nationwide competition by Innovate UK.
Bringing together world-class expertise from the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Building Research Establishment (BRE) and the Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB), the Construction Innovation Hub aims to change the way buildings and infrastructure are designed, manufactured, integrated and connected within our built environment.
Digital Construction Week 2019 will feature a brand new and exclusive theatre delivered in partnership with the Construction Innovation Hub. Offering two days of free seminars and workshops, the programme is designed to help visitors explore how we can transform construction through digital and advanced manufacturing technologies, and build smarter, greener and more efficient buildings.
To find out more about the Construction Innovation Hub at Digital Construction Week 2019, please visit www.digitalconstructionweek.com/thehub.
The next round of ISCF funding opens next month
The ISCF has further research and development funding on offer, the next and final round of which opens next month on 28 August. This round includes two funding programmes, the Collaborative R&D programme and the Demonstrator programme.
As part of the Collaborative R&D Programme, UK businesses can apply for a share of up to £10m for collaborative projects that go beyond the state-of-the-art in improving productivity, quality and performance of the UK construction sector.
An investment of up to £26m is available as part of the Demonstrator programme for projects that demonstrate improvements in productivity, quality and performance of the UK construction sector. These include new validations of business models, digital approaches to design, construction and management, advancements in modern methods of construction and approaches to whole-life performance of a building or assets.
Project applications must demonstrate how the outputs will assist delivery of the sector commitments detailed in the Sector Deal and the objectives of the TIES and TIP Strategy. The competition brief will go live on 5 August and details can be accessed via the Innovation Funding Service at //apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk.
Find out more in the Overview Webinar
The Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) will be hosting a webinar with Simon Hart, Head of Construction at Innovate UK, on the 6th August 2019, where delegates will be presented with an overview of the competition and have the opportunity to pose questions. Project teams who are planning to make a submission to this call are highly recommended to join the webinar session or watch the recording before attending a briefing event or starting a proposal.
To find out more or to register for the Overview Webinar, please visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/overview-webinar-iscf-transforming-construction-crd-demonstrators-round-2-registration-65027270316.
Competition briefing events for the call will be held during September in London (4th), Cardiff (5th), Birmingham (6th), Belfast (11th), and Glasgow (12th). The briefing events will present the funding opportunity, provide the chance to hear from the Innovate UK team, pose questions and network. Registration for these events will open after the Overview Webinar.
You can find out more about the ISCF at www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-strategy-challenge-fund-joint-research-and-innovation.