CSIC and STA join forces to boost timber sector innovation

Stephen Good and Calum Murray at the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC)
CSIC chief executive Stephen Good with CCG MD Calum Murray, who is also a member of the STA board

CONSTRUCTION Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) and the Structural Timber Association (STA) have announced they are teaming up to help structural timber firms ‘innovate and grow’.

The partnership will build on the existing relationship between the two organisations, formed through several collaborative projects CSIC has already supported, with both the STA and its member companies CCG, Stewart Milne Group and Scotframe.

This formal partnership will create a ‘strategic relationship’ between CSIC and the STA and deliver a supporting programme of activities including a series of innovation events for the timber sector at CSIC’s Innovation Factory.

Benefits for STA members will include a discount on use of CSIC’s Innovation Factory, which provides access to the latest equipment including an offsite cell and CLT/glulam vacuum press; support to help understand the benefits working with Building Information Management (BIM) can bring; and events and communications support.

Stephen Good, chief executive at CSIC said, “CSIC is keen to develop partnerships with organisations like the STA whose objectives align with our own, because we know that by collaborating, we can deliver greater support to groups of construction businesses to help them innovate and grow.

“CSIC already undertakes a range of activity relevant to the structural timber sector, such as being an associate partner in Offsite Solutions Scotland and funding numerous collaborative projects with STA member companies. Formalising our existing relationship with the STA will offer greater opportunities for structural timber companies to participate in innovation activity and collaborate with client bodies, supply chain partners, public sector and academia.”

Alex Goodfellow, vice chair of the Structural Timber Association added, “Innovation has always been at the heart of the structural timber sector and our alliance with the CSIC is testament to the very progressive and forward-thinking approach of our industry. Along with championing and supporting innovation, our partnership will also ensure that products, practices and new buildings are robustly tested, and performance is well understood and evidenced to maximise the benefits of technically advanced timber systems and offer assurances to clients and end-users.”