Research funds needed for timber

Timber Frame 2000 (TF2000) was one of the most significant timber research projects undertaken in recent years. A collaborative project between the UK government, TRADA Technology, TRADA, the BRE and the timber industry, it involved the construction of a six-storey, timber frame building - the tallest of its type in the world at the time. TF2000 was promoted to the UK medium-rise market (4-8 storeys) to reduce the dominance of steel and reinforced concrete construction. The result of the research was a new sector of business, in hotels and offices, for the UK timber frame industry.

But where is current investment in research in timber, to encourage a vibrant community in academic circles?

Without a research community, timber suffers alongside its competitors. The basis of an academic career is success in winning research grants. Without this commercial success, academics must move into areas of work where research funds are available. If timber is to exist and be taught in UK universities, research funds must be found. Without a research basis, timber will not be taught on an equal footing with steel and concrete and the opportunity to develop into new markets will not be realised.

The investment that might be needed to seed and support a timber research community is less than might be expected. Industry money invested in basic and applied research can lever funds from research councils. Consider that 10 universities in the UK, providing around 700 graduates a year between them, provide the core input to the UK civil and structural design industry. For a significant proportion of these students to graduate with a basic understanding and a working knowledge of timber, such that they do not feel uncomfortable in developing expertise in its design and use, two academics working in research in timber, in six of these universities, might be considered the minimum requirement.

To maintain an academic career in the timber engineering sector, it is typical that each academic would be expected to raise around £150k annually in research funds. For 12 academics around the UK, this amounts to £1.8m per year.

Experience shows that industry seed funding to raise this sum of money from research councils and other sources can amount to as little as 10% - in other words, leverage on industry investment is around 10. BRE investment in its University Research Centres has achieved remarkable success since their foundation less than 10 years ago, raising research funds of more than 10 times BRE's grants. Thus industry investment of £200k per year could return £2m of research funds, supporting a viable timber engineering research community. This is affordable in an industry said to turn over £3bn per year in construction and more if all wood industries are considered.

Timber is ahead of its rivals in recognising the need to support an academic community and establish timber and wood products in the mainstream of research. Timber can deliver in renewables, sustainability, the green agenda, modern methods of construction, off-site and the low carbon economy. Now is the time for our forestry and timber sector to take up the research initiative. Grown in Britain has stimulated government awareness of the potential for the UK timber industry. The focus now is on matching industry's priorities for research needs with the government's Strategy for Construction in low-carbon, healthy and competitive buildings.

Industry leaders from trade bodies, universities and industry have formed a Research Focus Group to address the urgent need for action in maintaining a viable research presence in timber. This group is considering how funds might be raised from the UK timber industry to support grant applications to research councils. The Research Focus Group needs the help of the whole forest and timber industry in recognising, initiating and then supporting the demand for research funds.