| 1. |
- Nord, Tomas, 1966-, et al.
(författare)
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Role of Policies and National Programmes on Innovations in Timber-frame Construction
- 2011
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Ingår i: Innovation in Forestry. - Wallingford, UK : CAB International. - 9781845936891 ; , s. 204-232
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The market share of timber frame construction has increased in many European countries after the revision of national building regulations, implementation of national development programs as well as marketing efforts of the forest industry. Our research within COST E51 has looked at the timber construction industry and assessed the innovation process in eight European countries,the role and position of this industry in the construction process, and the influence of policies as drivers of knowledge creation.Results indicate that innovative timber construction firms have acted on the changed regulations overcoming the lock-in effects of construction industry standards and culture and have in some countries been in the forefront to adjust the traditional construction process. These firms have in most cases come from the forest industry sector as they have had the most to gain. The innovation type and progress differ indicating that construction is a local activity influenced by national traditions,both in industry behaviour and policy aim. It is recommended that policy makers support the establishment of local and regional timber based competence centres. Also,public construction clients ought to have bigger leeway to support innovative construction products and processes, as a mean to generating new innovations, knowledge creation and transfer necessary to create a sustainable future society.
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| 2. |
- Ollonqvist, Pekka, et al.
(författare)
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Networks and Local Mileus as a Furniture Industry Innovation Platform
- 2011
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Ingår i: Innovation in Forestry. - Wallingford, UK : CAB International. - 9781845936891 ; , s. 233-253
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Innovation is increasingly recognised as a key factor in environmental protection and sustainable development in forestry and forest-based industries. This volume provides a comprehensive theoretical foundation for the analysis of innovation processes and policies in a traditional, rural sector as well as presenting empirical analyses of innovation processes from major innovation areas. This book is essential reading for researchers and policy makers in forestry and environmental sciences
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| 3. |
- Tykkae, Saana, et al.
(författare)
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Development of timber framed firms in the construction sector - Is EU policy one source of their innovation?
- 2010
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Ingår i: Forest Policy and Economics. - : Elsevier. - 1389-9341 .- 1872-7050. ; 12:3, s. 199-206
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To enhance competition in the construction industry, EU policies have created and harmonised functional building codes. Moreover, many actors advocate the construction industry moves towards a lean production, process-based way of working for quality and cost reasons. Here, Timber Framed Engineering approaches are considered to have a competitive and environmental advantage. There is however underlying concerns that conservatism in the construction industry, and lack of timber engineering skills, may be obstacles to change. This paper therefore assesses whether EU construction policy innovation contributed to innovation at the firm level. Timber framed innovators in six European countries were identified, and their sources of innovation assessed. The results indicate that timber framed firms have become actors in the construction industry. Firms have made product, process and organisation innovations. All case firms have similar sources for innovation. The common factor that triggers the firms to innovate is business opportunities that arise from demographic changes in the environment outside the firm, such as environmental sustainability and affordable housing for lower income groups. To address these opportunities, the case firms implicitly recognised that traditional project and site-based construction approaches are an incongruity. The firms have consequently established in-house prefabrication, including developed of lean production processes to ensure quality as well as effectiveness. The firms have all recognised that a fundamental barrier to their business was the lack of timber framed engineering competencies in their customers organisations. Accordingly, a business necessity for the case firms was developing construction design competencies. Firms benefited from governmental policy instruments that support timber framed Randamp;D and knowledge transfer. However, firms also gained new knowledge from their own experiences, which they also use in their operations. Accordingly, policy instruments are not a sole or dominant source for innovation in the case firms. Nonetheless, the change in building codes has been a pre-requisite the firms commercial developments.
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