North East consortium could secure up to £50m to transform global construction

A consortium of organisations based in the North East has been shortlisted for the opportunity to secure up to £50m funding.

Led by universities Northumbria and Newcastle, the International Centre for Connected Construction - known as IC3 - is one of 17 projects from around the country that will receive £50k in seed corn funding.

IC3 will aim to be a global hub for the creation and dissemination of knowledge and understanding about connected construction, curating a selection of key building projects regionally, nationally, and internationally.

With industry representatives including NBS, Ryder Architecture, Arup, Cundall and Dynamo North East, IC3 will work as an accelerator to catalyse new commercial businesses and ideas that solve challenges in the industry, as well as leading an industrial research programme.

Professor Andrew Wathey CBE, vice-chancellor and chief executive of Northumbria University, commented: “Today’s government announcement highlights the critical role the North East region will play in leading a digital revolution in the construction industry.

“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.”

Pat Ritchie, chief executive of Newcastle City Council, added: “The North East is renowned as a world-leading centre of innovation and we are proud to be part of the IC3 bid which will place our region at the cutting edge of global construction.

“The city is poised to get started on a number of construction projects and this project will provide a welcome boost to business and job creation in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic; laying the foundations for us to develop and retain local skills and attract further investment to the region.”