The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) is delighted to announce a new category, the Innovation Research Paper Award, for the launch of the 2008/09 International Innovation and Research Awards.

The awards play an important role in bringing together practitioners with education and training providers as well as policy makers. This interaction helps to develop, promote and implement new ideas and methods across the industry.

Sarah Peace the CIOB’s research manager commented: “The quality of entries for our International Innovation and Research Awards improves every year and we receive submissions from across the globe.

“Construction is an industry that often innovates in practice with many projects using innovative problem solving techniques and employing leading edge solutions. In the current economic climate we know that the industry is seeking new ways of working and so innovation and research will become even more important for the future.

“The topics cover pressing issues that face our industry today and the CIOB seeks to provide recognition to all those involved. This year opening up our awards to non-CIOB members and non-CIOB accredited centres will help to expand and further our knowledge of all the important research that is being carried out worldwide. This presents a great opportunity for us to celebrate and promote the success of the winners."

The categories are:

Undergraduate Dissertation Award

The Undergraduate Dissertation Award is for outstanding dissertation research from students.

Masters Dissertation Award

The Masters Dissertation Award is in recognition of the importance of research undertaken at master's degree level.

Innovation Research Paper Award (New Category)

This Award is in recognition of the importance of research undertaken at any stage throughout higher education either within industry or in academia.

Innovation Achievers Award

The Innovation Achievers Award is open to any organisation or project team that can demonstrate the sharing of innovative ideas and practices that can provide benefits to practitioners operating within the construction industry. This includes innovative process solutions to problems within a project or process.

Architecture and Surveying Innovation Award

Open Award - Sponsored by the CIOB’s Faculty of Architecture and Surveying (FAS)

This Award is relevant to any organisation or project team that demonstrates how innovative design and/or surveying practice are integrated in their strategy, management and processes.

International Construction Project Management Award

Open Award - Sponsored by the International Construction Project Management Association (ICPMA).

The ICPMA is an international umbrella association founded in June 2003 by representatives of International Construction Project Management Institutes. ICPMA focuses on international knowledge management.

The ICPMA Award will be awarded to the most effective demonstration of construction project management competence by an individual or project team.

Innovation and Technology Development Prize

Open Award - Sponsored by PERA - The Innovation Network.

The winner of the Innovation and Technology Development Prize will see their new concept proceed through the stages of commercialisation. The idea must drive an innovative development in technology, such as new advanced materials or process related concepts. Entrants must demonstrate in a short report that their innovation is able to create intellectual property rights and be capable of being patented locally or worldwide.

All winners will be invited to attend an awards ceremony on Thursday 14th May 2009 at CIOB Headquarters in Ascot, Berkshire with an invited audience of top industry figures and leading experts in innovation and research. Sir Frank Lampl, Honorary Life President of Bovis Lend Lease, will appear as guest speaker at the event.

Email: researchadmin@ciob.org.uk