Research: the hidden power of UK construction

Between 2001 and 2005, around £250 million was spent on construction research in UK universities. The funds were either directly allocated to projects or indirectly as core funds to support research infrastructure. The latter were allocated according to the standing and vitality or ‘power’ of the research groups, the average of which in 2001 showed a dramatic but little publicised improvement over 1996. This paper describes the process used to assess that research power and then analyses the data for the last assessment in 2001. It concludes that the UK has around 700 or so civil engineering research academics who are recognised as international in their outlook and whose performance is well above average, despite below-average support. It urges the UK construction professionals to take more advantage of this hidden resource on their doorstep.