Research and development in the construction industry - Revision history

Editor at 07:01, 24 March 2026

2026-03-24T07:01:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:01, 24 March 2026
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	The construction industry is frequently criticised for spending less on research than other comparable industries. For more information see: Research.		The construction industry is frequently criticised for spending less on research than other comparable industries. For more information see: Research.

−	= Related articles on Designing Buildings ~~Wiki~~ =	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

	* Advanced construction technology.		* Advanced construction technology.

Editor at 15:28, 31 August 2021

2021-08-31T15:28:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:28, 31 August 2021
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	* Development appraisal.		* Development appraisal.
	* Innovation in construction projects.		* Innovation in construction projects.
		+	* Innovative partnership procedure.
	* Modern methods of construction.		* Modern methods of construction.
	* Qualitative research and the built environment.		* Qualitative research and the built environment.

Designing Buildings: moved Research and development to Research and development in the construction industry

2021-02-12T07:53:23Z

moved Research and development to Research and development in the construction industry

← Older revision

Revision as of 07:53, 12 February 2021

Designing Buildings at 07:52, 12 February 2021

2021-02-12T07:52:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:52, 12 February 2021
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	* [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/71260/bis-10-1393-rd-tax-purposes.pdf Guidelines on R&D meaning for tax purposes.]		* [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/71260/bis-10-1393-rd-tax-purposes.pdf Guidelines on R&D meaning for tax purposes.]

−	[[Category:~~Organisations~~]] [[Category:~~DCN_Organisation~~]] [[Category:~~Research_/_Innovation~~]] [[Category:~~DCN_Research,_Development_and_Innovation~~]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Research,_Development_and_Innovation]] [[Category:Organisations]] [[Category:Research_/_Innovation]]

Designing Buildings at 08:01, 31 December 2019

2019-12-31T08:01:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:01, 31 December 2019
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	= Introduction =		= Introduction =

−	Research and development (frequently identified by the letters R&D) is a term which covers all activities ~~by governments and companies~~ that aim to create innovative new products and processes with the aim of bringing them to market. R&D can also be used to improve existing products and services.	+	Research and development (frequently identified by the letters R&D) is a term which covers all activities that aim to create innovative new products and processes with the aim of bringing them to market. R&D can also be used to improve existing products and services.

−	Large companies and corporations ~~tend to~~ invest ~~huge~~ amounts in R&D~~. This is because~~ the creation of new, innovative products could give them ~~a significant~~ advantage in the market place, both in terms of generating profits from sales and enhancing their prestige. R&D may also mean the difference between survival and dissolution. Many large and medium-sized corporations have departments which focus solely on R&D and are staffed by engineers, research scientists and designers.	+	Large companies and corporations may invest significant amounts in R&D as the creation of new, innovative products could give them an advantage in the market place, both in terms of generating profits from sales and enhancing their prestige.

−	~~Some companies~~, ~~irrespective of size~~, may outsource their R&D to specialist research organisations, either because they do not have the in-house experts and/or equipment to undertake the research or because it is cheaper to do so~~. In that case, they may turn to research organisations and universities~~.	+	Many large and medium-sized corporations have departments which focus solely on R&D and are staffed by engineers, research scientists, designers and so on. Other companies may outsource their R&D to specialist research organisations, either because they do not have the in-house experts and/or equipment to undertake the research or because it is cheaper to do so.

	= Government assistance =		= Government assistance =

−	Governments may commission research organisations to undertake R&D in specific fields, e.g researching on water distribution efficiency. In many cases, R&D results in innovations that benefit society. ~~For this reason~~, the UK government gives tax relief on research and development ~~to provide~~ incentives to businesses to help bring new products to market, to develop new processes, or to improve existing products or processes.	+	Governments may commission research organisations to undertake R&D in specific fields, e.g researching water distribution efficiency. In many cases, R&D results in innovations that benefit society. In addition, the UK government gives tax relief on research and development and provides other incentives and grants to businesses to help bring new products to market, to develop new processes, or to improve existing products or processes.

−	~~Tax relief involves providing incentives to private organisations so they can offset their R&D costs against their tax liabilities.~~ The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills defines R&D as ~~that which takes place when the~~ activities ~~of a project~~ ‘directly contribute to achieving an advance in science or technology through the resolution of scientific or technological uncertainty’.	+	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills defines R&D as activities that ‘directly contribute to achieving an advance in science or technology through the resolution of scientific or technological uncertainty’.

−	R&D tax relief should be considered at the start of a project as it can have a significant impact on costs and may even determine whether a project is feasible or not.	+	R&D tax relief should be considered at the start of a project as it can have a significant impact on costs and may even determine whether a project is feasible or not. For further information see research and development tax relief.

−	~~For further information see research and development tax relief.~~	+	In the UK construction industry, numerous organisations exist to carry out R&D, either generally or in a specific area, for example:
−		+
−	In the UK construction industry, numerous organisations exist to carry out R&D, either generally or in a specific area to promote the products of trade association members. In the former category are organisations such as the Building Research Establishment (BRE). Originally a government-funded organisation carrying out research in all sectors of construction products and processes, ~~BRE is today a private firm which continues to serve the construction industry.~~	+
−		+
−	~~R&D in more specific areas tends to be conducted by privatised companies and their associated members. There are a large number of these and include~~:	+

	* Building Research Establishment (BRE)		* Building Research Establishment (BRE)
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	Some of these organisations open up their facilities for the benefit of both government and commercial organisations.		Some of these organisations open up their facilities for the benefit of both government and commercial organisations.

−	= ~~Reaching~~ the ~~market~~ =	+	= Innovate UK =
		+
		+	Innovate UK is the UK’s innovation agency. It works with people, companies and partner organisations to find and drive the science and technology innovations that will grow the UK economy, delivering productivity, new jobs and exports. Its aim is to keep the UK globally competitive in the race for future prosperity.
		+
		+	For more information see: Innovate UK.
		+
		+	= Construction =

−	It is ~~often the case that a private firm must spend millions~~ on research ~~and development in order to innovate and differentiate itself from is competitors~~. It will typically try to recoup the costs and generate profits through the price at which it sells the final product to the market. This is very often the case with the pharmaceutical industry where the market price of a product can typically have a manufacturing cost-to-profit ratio as high as 10/90. This underlines the huge expenses associated with R&D in many sectors and is why consumers and consumer organisations may sometimes question the very high price of some products.	+	The construction industry is frequently criticised for spending less on research than other comparable industries. For more information see: Research.

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =
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	* [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/71260/bis-10-1393-rd-tax-purposes.pdf Guidelines on R&D meaning for tax purposes.]		* [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/71260/bis-10-1393-rd-tax-purposes.pdf Guidelines on R&D meaning for tax purposes.]

−	[[Category:Organisations]] [[Category:Research_/_Innovation]]	+	[[Category:Organisations]] [[Category:DCN_Organisation]] [[Category:Research_/_Innovation]] [[Category:DCN_Research,_Development_and_Innovation]]

Editor: Created page with "= Introduction = Research and development (frequently identified by the letters R&D) is a term which covers all activities by governments and companies that aim to create in..."

2019-12-16T19:00:35Z

Created page with "= Introduction = Research and development (frequently identified by the letters R&D) is a term which covers all activities by governments and companies that aim to create in..."

New page

= Introduction =

Research and development (frequently identified by the letters R&D) is a term which covers all activities by governments and companies that aim to create innovative new products and processes with the aim of bringing them to market. R&D can also be used to improve existing products and services.

Large companies and corporations tend to invest huge amounts in R&D. This is because the creation of new, innovative products could give them a significant advantage in the market place, both in terms of generating profits from sales and enhancing their prestige. R&D may also mean the difference between survival and dissolution. Many large and medium-sized corporations have departments which focus solely on R&D and are staffed by engineers, research scientists and designers.

Some companies, irrespective of size, may outsource their R&D to specialist research organisations, either because they do not have the in-house experts and/or equipment to undertake the research or because it is cheaper to do so. In that case, they may turn to research organisations and universities.

= Government assistance =

Governments may commission research organisations to undertake R&D in specific fields, e.g researching on water distribution efficiency. In many cases, R&D results in innovations that benefit society. For this reason, the UK government gives tax relief on research and development to provide incentives to businesses to help bring new products to market, to develop new processes, or to improve existing products or processes.

Tax relief involves providing incentives to private organisations so they can offset their R&D costs against their tax liabilities. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills defines R&D as that which takes place when the activities of a project ‘directly contribute to achieving an advance in science or technology through the resolution of scientific or technological uncertainty’.

R&D tax relief should be considered at the start of a project as it can have a significant impact on costs and may even determine whether a project is feasible or not.

For further information see research and development tax relief.

In the UK construction industry, numerous organisations exist to carry out R&D, either generally or in a specific area to promote the products of trade association members. In the former category are organisations such as the Building Research Establishment (BRE). Originally a government-funded organisation carrying out research in all sectors of construction products and processes, BRE is today a private firm which continues to serve the construction industry.

R&D in more specific areas tends to be conducted by privatised companies and their associated members. There are a large number of these and include:

* Building Research Establishment (BRE)
* Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA).
* Fire Protection Association (FPA)
* Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA)
* Water Research Centre (WRc)

Some of these organisations open up their facilities for the benefit of both government and commercial organisations.

= Reaching the market =

It is often the case that a private firm must spend millions on research and development in order to innovate and differentiate itself from is competitors. It will typically try to recoup the costs and generate profits through the price at which it sells the final product to the market. This is very often the case with the pharmaceutical industry where the market price of a product can typically have a manufacturing cost-to-profit ratio as high as 10/90. This underlines the huge expenses associated with R&D in many sectors and is why consumers and consumer organisations may sometimes question the very high price of some products.

= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

* Advanced construction technology.
* Case study.
* Construction innovation.
* Development appraisal.
* Innovation in construction projects.
* Modern methods of construction.
* Qualitative research and the built environment.
* Research and development in disaster response
* Research and development tax credits.
* Research and development tax relief.
* Research in the construction industry.

= External references =

* [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/71260/bis-10-1393-rd-tax-purposes.pdf Guidelines on R&D meaning for tax purposes.]

[[Category:Organisations]] [[Category:Research_/_Innovation]]