Can the UK lead the way in construction innovation in the transport sector?
On 6th February 2014 the MBE KTN held a webinar with presentations from Ben Kidd, CIRIA, and Terry Hill, Arup, to showcase construction research and innovation opportunities in the transport sector via existing and forthcoming Horizon 2020 funding calls.
Ben Kidd, Network Manager at CIRIA and Innovation Champion for the MBE KTN, provides an introduction and overview of the challenges and opportunities faced within the transport sector, and specifically related to construction and civil engineering.
The Construction 2025 document published in Summer 2013, is highlighted as a joint industry and government strategy with the overall ‘vision’ of transforming the industry to become world leaders by 2025. This gives weight to the argument for increased efforts to leverage existing Technology Strategy Board and EPSRC-funded research and innovation, as well as industry-led initiatives, to collaborate with European partners and promote the UK’s capability in this field.
Terry Hill, Arup and Chair of the ECTP (European Construction Technology Platform) and reFINE (Research for Future Infrastructure Networks in Europe) then introduces Horizon 2020 and relevant opportunites via existing and forthcoming calls in transport. Key messages given are that:
- recognition of the importance of infrastructure and construction R&D has been raised through the ECTP reFINE initiative
- new calls are now available in this area including:
- significant opportunities exist to leverage existing UK research and innovation capability to share learning and collaborate with European partners via Horizon 2020.
- the Construction 2025 ‘vision’ provides an incentive for increased UK participation in EU-funded research and innovation.
The webinar recording, together with a copy of a presentation given by the European Commission that gives further information on how to apply for Horizon 2020 funding, is available in the MBE KTN Built environment infrastructure ‘Documents’ folder.
