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Chapter One: Construction Research Programme Overview
2003-2004 was another year of great change for the Construction Research Programme. The two major construction research funding mechanisms feeding into the programme, Partners In innovation and the BRE Framework programme drew to a close and the Construction Research Team were actively involved in the development of the new DTI business support products for research arising from the DTI's Innovation Report and in the development of the Technology Strategy.
The Construction Research Team were involved in both the development of the new DTI support products for research arising from the DTI's Innovation Review and development of the generic Technology Strategy.
Since the Strategy was established we have worked to heighten the DTI Innovation Groups awareness of Constructions needs and how these may be recognized within the context of the strategy. We are also developing a Sector Technology Strategy, in liaison with the industry owned Construction Research and Innovation Strategy Panel (nCRISP) and the construction research base, which will help us, present a case for the importance of the built environment to the DTI Technology Strategy Board (TSB).
nCRISP are now recognized as a "Innovation and Growth Team" which allows their views and priorities to form part of the consultation group informing the TSB
The DTI’s Technology Strategy recognised that British industry, and especially the construction industry, must improve its ability to innovate.
Construction is not an R&D intensive industry but the importance of knowledge transfer and the exploitation of new ideas are key elements for improvements.
Construction spend on R&D as a proportion of output (0.1%) is comparable with France but lower than other competitors such as USA (0.2%), Japan (0.3%), Denmark (0.7%) and Finland (2.5%).
However when compared with other sectors the level of research intensity is low with significant scope for improvement.
R&D is a major input to the innovation process and contributes significantly to strengthening the knowledge base, developing skilled graduates, creating new products, materials, methods and processes.
R&D provides the essential underpinning for the Constructing Excellence Agenda for reform.
R&D plugs knowledge gap and produces tools, leading to new ideas and techniques.
The DTI Innovation Reviews Impact on Construction Research
Following the publication of the Innovation Report in December 2003, future construction research ideas will be supported through the new DTI Technology Programme which will focus on enabling technology areas that are critical to the growth of the UK economy as identified in the Technology Strategy. The Programme is underpinned by a long-term funding commitment and will be delivered through open, competitive calls for applications each Spring and autumn through the new DTI business support products:
· Collaborative Research and Development
Further information on DTI's Technology Programme can be found at www.dti.gov.uk/technologyprogramme . This website includes information on the 2 new business support products, details about open calls and news regarding the Technology Strategy & Programme.
Although the Partners in Innovation competition closed to new applications in September 2002, around 180 live projects remain in the portfolio, and we will continue to honour this financial commitment until the projects complete. This is around £10M of expenditure. DTI are committed to ensuring we achieve the best possible impact for this, not insubstantial, body of work and will continue to support individual projects dissemination plans through our on-going communications strategy.
Our cross cutting communications strategy for the programme helps us tap more fully into networks to reach target groups, often using intermediaries as delivery mechanisms. Our communications team present tailored research outputs and make presentations on work emerging from the programme regularly to key players and networks as well as producing reports for each of the Constructing Excellence Strands
Our current communication priorities are:
· A dissemination promotion push’ via existing construction networks;
· Developing an industry ‘pull’ for information through new non-construction networks
· Ministerial engagement
· Assisting in the development of Constructing Excellence
· Promotional themed seminars.
For further information contact Jason Bingham of Davis Langdon Consultancy at Jason.bingham@davislangdon-uk.com
The DTI also sponsors Innovation & Research Focus (a quarterly magazine, bringing the best research and innovation outputs to the construction community). To obtain further details go to www.innovationandresearchfocus.org.uk