Applications are now open to submit ideas to be funded by the Chartered Institute of Building Bowen Jenkins Legacy Research Fund.
The fund, which is in its second year, aims to support and inspire new ideas in construction and is open to CIOB members and non-members internationally. Funding is accessible for individuals, companies or in support of larger research projects within other organisations. The CIOB is offering between £2,000 and £10,000 for each research project and over a duration of one to two years.
According to the CIOB, the fund has £50,000 worth of grants to confer this year and will be targeting five main areas of research: sustainability in the built environment; corporate social responsibility; building performance improvement; application of digital technologies; and employment practices in construction.
The fund is one of the CIOB’s largest donated financial legacies, and was set up as a bequest from Bowen Jenkins FCIOB, who was a Fellow and an active supporter of the CIOB.
In the 1950s he took over his father’s construction business in Hampshire, and later became governor at Southampton Technical College, now known as Southampton Solent University.
Saleem Akram, director at CIOB, said: “There were more than 50 applications last year from 12 countries and we are convinced that many more untapped ideas exist out there in the industry. All they need is help getting off the ground and that is where we can offer support. The challenges facing construction are many and while the future may seem uncertain what we know is the industry is packed with innovative techniques, technology and people.”
The fund is open for entry until 15 July 2016. Details about how to enter and further information is available at
http://www.ciob.org/scholarships/bowen-jenkins-legacy-research-fund