Links to other related initiatives can be found below
The aim of the European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP) is to raise the sector to a higher level of performance and competitiveness. This will be achieved by analysing the major challenges that the sector faces in terms of society, sustainability and technological development, and developing research and innovation strategies to meet these challenges.
Through discussion and debate the 'Modern Built Environment Knowledge Transfer Network' strives to understand industry needs, share knowledge of new technologies, and encourage technology providers and technology seekers to collaborate in order to innovate. Working within three core industry sectors; offices, healthcare and infrastructure - together we will contribute to sustained improvements in the productivity, performance and profitability of the modern built environment.
The Strategic Forum for Construction (SFfC) is a cross industry/government body. Its vision is for the UK Construction industry is to realise maximum value for all clients, end users and stakeholders and exceed their expectations through the consistent delivery of world class products. The principal role of the SFfC is to coordinate, monitor, measure and report on progress under six headline targets.
The Construction Sector Unit (CSU) takes the lead in central government in relations with the Construction Sector. CSU's aim is to continue to work with our industry, and other stakeholders to deliver a marked improvement in business performance in construction, in terms of productivity, profitability and competitiveness, in line with the construction business improvement agenda.
The Technology Strategy Board is an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB), established by the Government through the DTI. Its task, operating across all important sectors of the UK economy, is to stimulate innovation in those areas which offer the greatest scope for boosting UK growth and productivity. Its vision is for the UK to be seen as a global leader in innovation and a magnet for technology-intensive companies, where new technology is applied rapidly and effectively to create wealth.
The Construction Industry Council (CIC) is the representative forum for the professional bodies, research organisations and specialist business associations in the construction industry. It provides a single voice for professionals in all sectors of the built environment through its collective membership of 350,000 individual professionals and 25,000 firms of construction consultants.
The East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development. Its primary goal is to increase the economic growth of the region while reducing disparities between the East Midlands and other English regions.
EurekaBuild was created to improve the communication and cooperation between European researchers and industrialists due to facilitate and stimulate the generation of innovative R&D projects, focusing on the development of products, services and applied technology that will improve the international competitiveness of the construction sector. Its main goal is the promotion and facilitation of the development of multinational industrial projects aiming at contributing to the vision of the construction sector and dedicated towards competitive innovation.
The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) bundles all research-related EU initiatives together under a common roof playing a crucial role in reaching the goals of growth, competitiveness and employment. The broad objectives of FP7 have been grouped into four categories: Cooperation, Ideas, People and Capacities. For each type of objective, there is a specific programme corresponding to the main areas of EU research policy. All specific programmes work together to promote and encourage the creation of European poles of (scientific) excellence.