The government has approved €5m in funding over five years for the establishment of a construction technology centre at NUI Galway to progress innovation research in the construction sector.
Enterprise Ireland has worked with EY to develop the specifications for the centre by identifying the construction industry's innovation and technology needs through engagement with firms, stakeholders, and experts.
The centre will also have a focus on advancing innovation and productivity in residential construction as part of the Housing for All plan.
In addition to NUI Galway, the centre group also includes TCD, UCD, UCC, and the Irish Green Building Council.
The consortium will provide expertise in the areas of digital adoption, modern methods of construction and sustainability.
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"The government is investing billions – substantially above the EU average - in the future, building new homes, roads, public transport, schools, hospitals and other vital infrastructure," said enterprise minister Leo Varadkar.
"This new construction technology centre will make sure we are at the cutting edge of new developments in the sector, making sure Irish companies and the taxpayer are getting the best value for money, while building this important infrastructure in the most modern and efficient way possible.
“We’re making sure that a diverse range of academics, skilled craft workers, industry experts and thought leaders feed into the work of the centre, so that when businesses come for advice, they get accurate, up-to-date information that is informed by a broad range of expertise across the sector.”
NUI Galway president Prof Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said the location of the centre at the university was "testament to [its] dedication" to sustainability, while Prof Jamie Goggins and Dr Magdalena Hajdukiewicz said it would "make Ireland a global research and innovation leader for sustainable construction and built environment technology."
Tom Parlon, director general CIF, welcomed the announcement, saying it "heralds the beginning of a new collaborative relationship between the industry, the innovation agency of Enterprise Ireland and advanced research capabilities in the third level sector".
"We look forward to working with the CTC in identifying solutions to address the key productivity challenges the sector has been facing,” Parlon added.
Research from Autodesk, published on Wednesday, shows that construction firms are largely focused on short-term issues such as recruitment and upskilling, rather than sustainability and new methods of building.
(Pic: Getty Images)
