The Government’s Business and Industry Minister Richard Harrington has announced a new £72 million Core Innovation Hub to invest into the latest construction techniques
The new Core Innovation Hub will transform the UK’s construction industry by supporting the development and use of technologies such as digital design, advanced manufacturing, robotics, drones and augmented and virtual reality.
Business and Industry Minister Richard Harrington said: “From the introduction of virtual reality to off-site manufacturing, our modern Industrial Strategy, is helping the UK construction sector to develop new techniques and skills – modernising the sector and delivering the homes and buildings our nation needs.”
Smart sensors and digital systems will be incorporated into buildings and infrastructure, so they can manage and maintain themselves.
The data they gather will enable the government and industry to make our towns and cities better places to live, work and travel in.
Following a nationwide competition as part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, the government, through UK Research and Innovation, awarded the £72 million to the Transforming Construction Alliance (TCA) to deliver the national hub. It is partnership between 3 centres of established excellence:
- Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC)
- BRE
- Cambridge University’s Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB)
Keith Waller, Programme Director for the Transforming Construction Alliance said:
“I am delighted to be leading the Transforming Construction Alliance in its mission to deliver the Core Innovation Hub project, and boost productivity and performance in the construction sector.
“I look forward to working alongside government, industry and the talented teams at MTC, BRE and CDBB to realise the vision of a transformed sector.”
