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COINS offers £100k investment for construction innovators

Innovators in construction have until 28 June to enter the COINS Grand Challenge 2021 with a top prize of up to £100,000 investment.

The challenge is open to anyone whose idea could improve construction for the better, from increasing efficiency, to improving sustainability and safety, with a focus on new or emerging technology. 

The global competition has two entry categories, an open competition and an undergraduate competition. Last year, University of Sheffield electronics engineering student Krithiga Ravichandran won the student section of the competition with her 3D-printing ‘ant-bots’. The open competition was won by US-based Aren with its AI-powered infrastructure management platform that minimises the risk of infrastructure failure and optimises infrastructure spending.

The first judges announced for the competition are: Mark Beard, chairman and chief executive of Beard Group and president of the Chartered Institute of Building; Susan Jackson, joint MD of Campion Homes; Aleksandra (Sasha) Njagulj, global head of ESG at CBRE Global Investors​; and Stuart Binstock, president and CEO of the Construction Financial Management Association.

Beard said: “The construction industry has traditionally been slow to update, modernise and improve its productivity so this is a step in the right direction. It’s important that there is a link between the ideas and how they could be introduced into the construction industry on a day-today basis.  

“The COINS Grand Challenge is a chance for people to turn their initial idea into something that is significant, something that could change the way the construction industry works in the future.”

The finalists will be announced on 11 August, and the winners revealed in October.

To enter, visit: coins-grandchallenge.com

Image: 138534565 © Pop Nukoonrat | Dreamstime.com

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