DRIVING TRANSFORMATION IN THE GLOBAL CONSTRUCTION MARKET Together with industry and wider partners across the region, Northumbria has played a key role in a consortium of organisations driving forward transformation in the global construction market. As part of this work, the University has led the development of a project bid to secure up to £50m to create an International Centre for Connected Construction, known as IC3. The IC3 consortium brings together industry, academia and the public sector across the North East’s globally renowned cluster of experts in digital construction. Involving both Northumbria and Newcastle Universities, the consortium comprises industry representatives including NBS, Ryder Architecture, Arup, Cundall, and Space Group, as well as Dynamo North East, the region’s digital network. It has also received significant support from public sector organisations, including the North East Local Enterprise Partnership. The tripartite nature of the consortium - bringing together higher education, public sector and industry - differentiates it from other initiatives. IC3 will enable the construction sector to ‘build better and build smarter’ by championing the use of digital technologies to drive productivity, improve safety and provide value over the longer term. This collaboration will
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co-create, test, demonstrate and bring to market innovative digital solutions for the construction sector, further boosting the region’s expertise, talent and reputation and unlocking new global markets for the region and wider UK. Rob Charlton, CEO of Space Group and co-founder of BIM Show Live, the original show dedicated to Building Information Modelling launched in Newcastle, said: “The North East has, for a long time, punched way above its weight when it comes to the impact on the global construction market. “The close proximity of key industry players has driven a unique ecosystem here where even the biggest competitors come together to make positive changes. But we’re at a critical stage where other destinations are catching up, and we need a mechanism to support and boost what we have already created. “IC3 is the perfect vehicle for that, and now, as the industry looks to build back better post-Covid-19, is the perfect time.” Professor Andrew Wathey CBE, ViceChancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University said: “The scale of activity planned by IC3 will place the region at the forefront of excellence for
digital construction with global impact. “We are delighted to play a leading role in this consortium, which brings together some of the region’s foremost organisations. IC3 will use innovation, research and development to open up global market opportunities and ultimately bring jobs and investment to the North East. “This is particularly important as we move into regeneration following the Covid-19 pandemic, and IC3’s success here demonstrates the important role our region has to play in the national and global recovery.” The full IC3 bid was submitted to the Strength in Places Fund (SIPF) in November. The Fund invests in research and innovation projects that aim to drive economic growth in specific areas of the UK. SIPF projects build on existing research excellence and supply chains and must demonstrate that they will drive significant economic impact. IC3 was one of just 17 projects awarded seed corn funding by SIPF, enabling the project team to develop the bid to secure a full award of up to £50 million in the second wave of funding, the results of which are due to be announced later this year. For more information about IC3, visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/ic3
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