THE leaders of Ireland's most successful construction industry
businesses will come together in UCC today (15 November 2006) to set
the agenda for future growth in the sector and to discuss how
Ireland-based companies can use their expertise and experience to
become world industry leaders.
The one-day meeting has been called as part of a joint initiative
between UCC's Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and the
EU-led Build Nova programme whose aim is to promote industry-led
innovation in the construction sector throughout Europe. The European
programme has identified innovation in construction as the 21st century
challenge for the whole sector on which the industry's future growth,
competitiveness and sustainability all depend.
John Bowen, chairman of The Bowen Group, said: "I'm delighted to be
involved in this network that is providing us all with a much-needed
opportunity to exchange information and good practice. People too often
think of construction as being a low-tech industry but that is simply
no longer the case and this initiative recognises that we all need to
keep up with all sorts of different innovations - in materials, in
processes, and in financing research and development through joint
public-private funding."
Business leaders attending the meeting are expected to determine three
initial research priorities as a way to affirm their commitment to the
efficient and effective dissemination of innovation and to show the way
forward by connecting universities with industry and with finance to
commercialise research.
Mr Bowen added: "In Ireland north and south the construction sector has
amassed a huge amount of specialist knowledge based on innovations in
building processes and materials, not least those driven by
pharmaceuticals and information technology businesses. We all believe
the potential now exists to use that specialist knowledge and
experience to grow leading, global niche players from the Irish
construction sector."
The joint initiative to forge this industry-led network will also
provide businesses large and small with an on-line forum, with access
to the best technical research and practice, and with links to existing
and emerging financial support strategies as well as other European
networks focused on the built environment.
The UCC/Build Nova initiative provides an opportunity for all its
members - whether consultants or concrete manufacturers, architects or
property developers, venture capitalists or building contractors - to
make contacts and to keep themselves and their staff informed about the
latest technologies, their applications and sources of research and
development funding.
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