Judy A. Kraatz

R&D investment and impact in the global construction industry

Innovation is generally considered to contribute to the competitive success of fi rms in many different ways (Tidd & Bessant, 2009). Due to the increasingly shorter lifecycle of products and services, fi rms are urged to innovate at a faster pace. Additionally, construction fi rms are faced with the need to innovate in order to succeed in a more competitive market and to respond to the increased societal pressure to meet the demand for sustainable and cleaner industrial production, higher quality output, lower costs and higher added value. Despite its many cross-industry relations, the construction industry is a tradition-based sector and lags behind in innovativeness when compared to, for example, the manufacturing industries. Interactions throughout the construction supply chain are ad hoc, project based, and knowledge is protected due to perceived uncertainties and vulnerability to risks (Egmond & Mohammadi, 2011). This forms a barrier to learning and knowledge exchange of R&D fi ndings and project experiences that is detrimental to innovation (Franco, et al., 2004).R&D Investment and Impact in the Global Construction Industry brings together contributions from leading industry researchers in a diverse group of countries to investigate the role of research and development (R&D) in the construction industry. Investment in R&D is a proven factor in economic growth, and helps develop a more productive and innovative industry. This book explores how policy makers and industry leaders can better target future investment; and how industry practitioners and researchers can manage their efforts to improve productivity while addressing environmental and social needs of their communities. Case studies present projects where R&D ideas funded by both the private and public sectors have been translated from research into practice or policy, and examine drivers, successes and barriers to the delivery of R&D in industry. Based on research from members of the CIB Task Group 85 (R&D Investment and Impact) and concluding with key insights for maximising the impact of R&D in the future, the book holds valuable lessons for practitioners, policy makers and researchers across the international construction industry. The book will be officially launched at the World Sustainable Building 2014 Conference in Barcelona, Spain on 30 October 2014. Investing for Impact: Constructing a Better Built Environment, an industry-focussed prelude to the book, launched by the Australian Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb at the CIB World Building Congress 2013 in Brisbane, Australia, is also available free of charge.

Australia - R&D investments in the construction Industry

Innovation is generally considered to contribute to the competitive success of fi rms in many different ways (Tidd & Bessant, 2009). Due to the increasingly shorter lifecycle of products and services, fi rms are urged to innovate at a faster pace. Additionally, construction fi rms are faced with the need to innovate in order to succeed in a more competitive market and to respond to the increased societal pressure to meet the demand for sustainable and cleaner industrial production, higher quality output, lower costs and higher added value. Despite its many cross-industry relations, the construction industry is a tradition-based sector and lags behind in innovativeness when compared to, for example, the manufacturing industries. Interactions throughout the construction supply chain are ad hoc, project based, and knowledge is protected due to perceived uncertainties and vulnerability to risks (Egmond & Mohammadi, 2011). This forms a barrier to learning and knowledge exchange of R&D fi ndings and project experiences that is detrimental to innovation (Franco, et al., 2004).R&D Investment and Impact in the Global Construction Industry brings together contributions from leading industry researchers in a diverse group of countries to investigate the role of research and development (R&D) in the construction industry. Investment in R&D is a proven factor in economic growth, and helps develop a more productive and innovative industry. This book explores how policy makers and industry leaders can better target future investment; and how industry practitioners and researchers can manage their efforts to improve productivity while addressing environmental and social needs of their communities. Case studies present projects where R&D ideas funded by both the private and public sectors have been translated from research into practice or policy, and examine drivers, successes and barriers to the delivery of R&D in industry. Based on research from members of the CIB Task Group 85 (R&D Investment and Impact) and concluding with key insights for maximising the impact of R&D in the future, the book holds valuable lessons for practitioners, policy makers and researchers across the international construction industry. The book will be officially launched at the World Sustainable Building 2014 Conference in Barcelona, Spain on 30 October 2014. Investing for Impact: Constructing a Better Built Environment, an industry-focussed prelude to the book, launched by the Australian Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb at the CIB World Building Congress 2013 in Brisbane, Australia, is also available free of charge.