North and north-east universities have joined forces with industry in a £7.5million project aimed at boosting innovation in Scotland’s construction sector.
Aberdeen University, Robert Gordon University and the University of the Highlands and Islands are among 11 academic institutions taking part in the Scottish Funding Council (SFC)-backed Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC).
It is hoped CSIC will add many millions of pounds to an industry contribution already worth £8.7blllion a year to Scotland’s economy.
The full 10-strong board steering it has just been unveiled, with Bill McBride – managing director of Glasgow firm Westcrowns Contracting Services having previously been named interim chairman.
Among those joining him on the board are John McGurk, who heads up the Scottish arm of the Chartered Institute of Personnnel and Development, and SFC senior policy officer Keith McDonald.
The north and north-east are represented by John Forster, chairman of Brechin company Forster Group, which is active throughout the region.
Rod Jones – director of Dundee University’s concrete technology unit – and Napier University consultant Andrew Jefferson, who has worked for firms including Morrison Construction, Morrison Developments and May Gurney, are also on the board.
So too are Scottish Enterprise sustainable construction and location senior director Alistair McKinnon and Paul McAloon, commercial director for the Scottish operations of Balfour Beatty.
The final two board members are Peter Haggarty, a strategic facilities director with NHS National Services Scotland, and Stephen Good of Glasgow-based architecture firm Anderson Bell and Christie.
A permanent chief executive is currently being sought for CSIC, which is managed by Edinburgh’s Napier University.
Mr Forster told the Press and Journal Scotland’s construction industry was “extremely innovative” but sometimes new ideas were not developed further, because companies were unaware of the breadth of expertise available in the country’s universities to take them forward.
It is hoped CSIC will change that by creating a close working relationship between industry and academia.
Mr McGurk said: When we officially launch in the autumn, our aim is that some supported projects will already be underway.
“Our focus is very much on helping to create a step change in the innovation landscape in Scottish construction.
“We will achieve this culture change by bringing people together – business leaders, academic experts, professionals and trade bodies.”