The future of national construction research organizations--scenarios for the changing roles, functions, research agendas and funding
Seaden, G.
1997 Building Research and Information, ?
R&D, trends, research organization, public policy, construction industry, globalization
Seaden, G., (1997), The future of national construction research organizations--scenarios for the changing roles, functions, research agendas and funding, Building Research and Information, ?.
Abstract:
The pressures for change on National Construction Research Organizations (NCROS) are identified and linked to changes occurring in the construction sector and the role of government support for construction. Reduced government funding for research has meant NCROs are now dependent on both public and private sector funding. The implications are research priorities are shifting, to the shorter- term problems confronting industry, NCROs are under pressure to collaborate internationally and to develop narrower expertise to survive. The dangers of globalized research contracts and short-term contracting with an emphasis on price competition would be to add to uncertainty with each NCRO, undermine long-term benefits, reduce the number of NCROs and their overall research quality.
The future of NCROs is discussed as being best situated at a national level with a core funding by government. The requirement of stability for a long-term relation- ship between governments and NCROs is necessary to maintain and develop knowledge, expertise and excellence as well as capabilities for policy related and emerging issues. Far from being a 'mature' industry, -construction has a positive and active role to play in presenting the case for-significant -government support of R&D for improved living standards, economic growth, user needs and responding to a changing agenda.
Introduction
These are turbulent times for national construction research organizations (NCROs). The transformation of the Building Research Establishment into a not-for- profit organization, ending the organization's 75-year history as an agency of the United Kingdom Govern-ment, has received particular attention, but it is not an isolated phenomenon. The Norwegian Building Re-search Institute became an independent foundation in 1985. The national building research organizations in Ireland and Sweden were merged into universities and/or economic development organizations. hi Aus-tralia and Canada, direct state funding for construction research has been cut by around 50% over the last 10 years.