National Platform for the Built Environment
The National Platform for the Built Environment (The National Platform) is a UK-based strategic body established to promote the built environment and define research priorities to UK and EU research funders. It developed from the Construction Research and Innovation Strategy Panel (CRISP) and the new Construction Research and Innovation Strategy Panel (nCRSIP). CRISP was established by industry and government in 1995 to help to set the agenda for construction research and innovation and became nCRISP in 2002. In 2005, they evolved into the National Platform.
The National Platform is an industry-owned organisation with members from business, research and academia. The members define, guide and review the National Platform activities and engage with other relevant organisations.
The National Platform:
- Provides a voice for UK built environment research.
- Evaluates stakeholder opinion.
- Identifies key research priorities with a 5-10 year horizon.
- Influences funding bodies such as; the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the European Construction Technology Programme.
- Encourages increased strategic, collaborative research.
- Considers the implications of societal and other challenges.
In July 2013, the Government published: 'Construction 2025, Industrial Strategy: government and industry in partnership', setting out its long-term vision for ‘…how industry and Government will work together to put Britain at the forefront of global construction…’. The report identified the removal of barriers to innovation as a key goal and stated, ‘We will work with the Modern Built environment KTN, the National Platform and the research community to make sure this happens.’
The National Platform is currently (2017) managed by Constructing Excellence, which is delivered by BRE (Building Research Establishment).
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