Briefing and consortium building event

£170m has been allocated by the UK Government for innovation to transform productivity in the construction sector. Around £60m of this will be allocated under the Transforming Construction Challenge Fund through a competitive process.

Bids for the first round are due in summer 2018 and Scottish businesses, universities and stakeholders need to be ready.

The goal of the fund is to build on the UK’s world-class research base and deliver the innovation that business needs to transform existing industries and create new ones. Programmes will be industry-led and powered by multi-disciplinary research and business-academic collaboration.

The Transforming Construction Challenge Fund will focus on:

• How we manufacture buildings

• How we design & manage buildings

• How we power buildings.

At this event you will find out about the challenge fund, what types of projects it can support and how the application process works. The formal call will be launched in July 2018 and as such, this is a pre-call briefing and consortium building event to raise awareness and identify partners keen to participate. You will hear from the key organisations involved and find out what support is available from CSIC and others to develop a bid. There will also be the opportunity to initiate discussions with potential bid partners.

This is a must attend event for innovative businesses, universities and stakeholders wanting to innovate and be part of the transformation of the Scottish construction sector. The Sector Deal for construction and the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund mean that there’s never been a better time to invest in innovation.

We’re delighted to confirm keynote speaker Mark Farmer - industry leader and author of Modernise or Die : The Farmer Review of the UK Labour Construction Model.

For more information check out:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-and-industry-cement-deal-to-give-uk-construction-the-edge

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-strategy-challenge-fund-joint-research-and-innovation

This event is supported by Construction Scotland Industry Leadership Group Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Universities Scotland and Innovate UK.

Agenda:

9.00 - 10.00: Registration

10 -10.10am: Opening welcome – John Forster, Chairman, Forster Group & Interim Chair, Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) Governance Board

10.10 - 10.30: Scottish Government address - Richard Rollison

10.30 - 11.00: Keynote address - Mark Farmer, Founding Director & CEO, Cast Real Estate & Construction Consultancy

11.00 - 11.30: What is the opportunity – Stephen Good, CEO, CSIC

11.30 - 11.40: Construction Scotland – Ron Fraser, Executive Director, Construction Scotland

11.40 - 12.00: MTC - Trudi Sully, Associate Director

12.00 - 12.30: Briefing on Industrial Strategy & Transforming Construction - Mike Pitts, Interim Challenge Director, Innovate UK

12.30 - 13.30: Factory Demonstrations

13.30 - 14.15: Lunch

14.15 - 15.30: Vision for collaboration & successful bid-building:

Facilitated breakout/networking sessions

15.30 - 16.00: Pathway to bid-building – Rohan Bush, Business Relationship Manager, CSIC

16.00 - 16.15: Close of day - Stephen Good, CEO, CSIC