Role of Policies and National Programmes on Innovations in Timber-frame Construction

• 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.

Nyckelord

Timber-frame construction

Innovation

Policies

TECHNOLOGY

TEKNIKVETENSKAP

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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