CONSTRUCTION Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) has announced it is supporting six new projects through its i-Con Innovation Challenge Fund.
The initiative forms part of CSIC’s support programme set up earlier in the year in response to Covid-19, with the initiative looking to respond to the challenges facing the built environment as a result of the pandemic.
Almost £125,000 has already been awarded by CSIC to successful applicants who have designed projects covering a wide spectrum of areas including economic recovery, technology, skills and new processes.
23 funding proposals were submitted during the first round of funding, with the following six successful project applications being granted funding or support with trials:
The 3E’s project – CICV Forum Toolkit: will develop a set of digital learning scenarios to create a COVID-19 toolkit to support Scottish construction, including apprentices, to return to work safely.
Remote Building Inspection Framework – Sublime, Scottish Government Building Standards Division, Balfour Beatty, University of Strathclyde and Robert Gordon University: will use image processing and virtual reality interfaces to enable building professionals and consultants to manage and monitor the construction phase of buildings and improve productivity and quality, with fewer defects in the long term, via an online platform.
The economic, social and environmental benefits of stimulating repairs and improvements to the Scottish built environment to aid a green recovery from COVID-19 – CICV Forum: will engage the Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde, to model economic scenarios across differing area of construction work to help ascertain where the UK and Scottish Governments should target public funds to stimulate a post-Covid recovery in the sector.
A COVID-19 response for the light-gauge steel framing industry (CovSteel) – Newton Steel Frame and the University of Edinburgh: will quantify the beneficial effects of composite action between light-gauge steel framed walls and calcium silicate sheathing, with the aim of improving efficiency of the fabrication process and material use. This will in turn support the competitiveness of the light-gauge steel framing industry and help it remain financially buoyant and so help reduce the current backlog in construction projects.
Trial of Smart Site Management Proximity Sensing Solution – SiteCircle and CSIC: trial of Bluetooth technology to create ‘Smart Site’ workplace where social distancing and contact tracing will be monitored. Social distancing and health status will provide real-time data via a WorkSafe dashboard.
Trial of Digital Pass Solution – eCom Scotland Ltd and CSIC: trial of C19 pass and digital app that aims to facilitate a safe return to work, enhance safe working environments, build employee confidence in returning and optimise efficiencies and outputs.
Lucy Black, director of innovation and engagement at CSIC, said: “The response to i-Con has been overwhelming and from the levels of engagement, from those either faced with challenges or those offering knowledge and expertise, it clearly demonstrates the progressive approach the industry is taking and the appetite to recover through innovation. We look forward to seeing the progress made by the six selected projects in this first phase, and of course the matchmaking portal will remain open to help build more collaboration through teams who can access support and expertise to help co-create rapid, impact-focused solutions.”
CICV forum chair and SELECT managing director, Alan Wilson, said,“Since the formation of the CICV Forum, we have witnessed an incredible level of co-operation and collaboration across the industry. It is great to see so many varied and innovative projects coming out of the i-Con initiative that will help to drive recovery in the sector and potentially transform ways of working.”
A total of 242 matchmaking profiles have also been made on the i-Con collaboration portal since its launch in May, allowing public and private sector organisations, academia, trade associations and the wider construction sector to collaborate.
The i-Con hub can be accessed by clicking here.
