ENBRI’s vision for the construction sector is to contribute to the development of “A sustainable and knowledge-based European construction sector, which is competitive, innovative, market driven and meets user and societal needs by providing the best living and working conditions for all people.”
The main action lines identified to reach this vision are respectively concerned with (Extract from position paper “Future Needs for European Construction RTD”):
Fulfilling user and stakeholder requirements and aspirations
“…Enhanced global competitiveness will need to be based on better understanding of user, client and societal stakeholder requirements and more effective means of interpreting and fulfilling these, resulting in higher levels of customer satisfaction…”
Updating and improving the built environment
“…Changing age distributions and lifestyles, greater disposable income, changing family and social structures, new technologies and greater awareness of health and safety issues all result in the need to modify and refurbish existing buildings and structures, …”
Exploiting new materials and technologies
“…The need for more durable, higher performing and sustainable forms of construction will drive innovations in materials and technologies. Traditional materials will be used, in new forms and in combination with other materials that will enhance their performance…”
Changing construction processes and relationships
“…Rationalisation of construction processes, with off-site assembly of large, fully-fitted components and mechanisation of site activities aided by new automation and guidance technologies will be a route to more efficient construction process…”
Raising environmental standards
….Perhaps the most important challenge is to reduce Europe’s contribution to climate change, and at the same time its dependence on imported energy, whilst continuing to improve the quality of life of all European citizens….”
Promoting education and training, knowledge transfer quality employment and innovation
“… The development of a knowledge-based industry requires new developments to be communicated to a multitude of firms and individuals, but also requires those firms to have the ability to assimilate and apply the knowledge that they receive…”