Towards greater excellence and competitiveness in the real estate and construction sector
8 June 2009
“The creation of a Strategic Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation in the real estate and construction sector (RYM-SHOK) is a unique undertaking. This used to be a rather disjointed industry, but we’re now pooling our resources to see what we can achieve by means of active research and development,” says Jukka Pekkanen from the Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries. Pekkanen is in charge of practical preparations for the new SHOK. Launched in January 2009, the vision of the new strategic centre is to “create world class competence and competitiveness covering the entire lifespan of the built environment.”
Climate change, internationalisation, population ageing, the changing family structure, the ageing building stock – these are just some of the aspects that call for new perspectives, new competencies and an injection of fresh research resources.
The SHOK in the real estate and construction industry is set to become the biggest strategic centre of its kind: the number of partners already stands at around 50. The company will start up in autumn 2009.
Focus on man and climate change
The SHOK’s research strategy identifies four areas of thematic focus that will dominate the research agenda at least initially: these are energy efficiency, processes and frameworks of practice, competitive social infrastructure and user-oriented spaces.
A common denominator for all these thematic focuses is their interest in man and climate change.
“The built environment has a decisive role to play in containing climate change, and man in turn plays a key part in the creation and use of the built environment. Sustainable development succeeds or fails depending on the built environment,” Pekkanen explains.
The operational heart of the RYM-SHOK is formed by research programmes, which are expected to integrate different thematic focuses. Areas that have attracted early interest include energy efficient communities, business processes in construction and IT applications in those processes. A third programme will probably focus on new and changing needs for space.
The aim is to raise the volume of research funding to around 40–50 million euros a year.
Researchers should come forward
“The real estate and construction industry is not known for its research strength and endeavour, but we’re now turning a new leaf,” Jukka Pekkanen says. “It’s true that most work in these fields is of an applied nature, but basic research lies at the heart of it all: this provides the necessary platform for applied research, product development and ultimately for practical projects.”
Basic research, Pekkanen says, can consist of work in the field of material science or business studies, or research in the humanities or social sciences on such questions as what people expect of their living environment, how older people’s housing and everyday living can be facilitated, or how older people’s independent living in the community can be supported by means of construction solutions.
Research under the Academy of Finland’s Information Technology in Mechanical and Automatic Engineering Research Programme has touched upon various themes that continue to generate much interest in the real estate and construction industry. From an energy efficiency point of view, for instance, it would be interesting to explore the possibility of developing thinner thermal insulation materials.
The RYM-SHOK is also shares many interests in common with the Future of Living Research Programme, which is currently under preparation at the Academy and which is expected to focus on such themes as urbanisation, development, land use and changes in housing. Another new Academy research programme (Climate Change: Governance, Mitigation and Adaptation) may also offer potential for cooperation.
Jukka Pekkanen urges researchers to come forward with their ideas and to contact the businesses, local authorities, research institutes, universities and polytechnics involved in the RYM-SHOK or its staff directly.
“The industry is in greater financial turmoil than perhaps ever before, but the businesses that have joined the RYM-SHOK seem to believe that by joining forces we can achieve significant results. I hope that researchers share this conviction!”
Text: Paula Böhling
Photos: Janne Lehtinen
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