Formed last year, the TIRFG is led by Richard Harris, professor of timber engineering at Bath University, with supporters including TRADA, the Structural Timber Association, Edinburgh Napier University and Bangor University, engineers Arup and architect and Wood for Good chairman Craig White of White Design.
Its view is that research into timber at UK university engineering departments lags behind that into other materials. This in turn impacts on timber engineering training and ultimately the number of engineers comfortable with using and designing in wood.
"This is a strategic threat to timber in construction, putting us at competitive disadvantage in the sector compared to other materials, and is something we feel the industry as whole should seriously address," said TTF chief executive John White. "The TIFRG has the potential to significantly strengthen the country’s timber engineering resource base long term through supporting transformational research projects."
The TTF’s funding is the first money put behind the group, but should leverage more.
Writing about the aims and potential of the TIFRG in TTJ, Professor Harris said the "multiplier effect" could be considerable.
"Experience shows that industry seed funding can leverage around 10 times as much from research councils and other sources," he said. "So industry investment of £200,000 could return £2m. This is affordable in a sector -taking into account all wood industries – said to turn over £3bn a year in construction."
He said the aim of the programme should be to ensure there were a minimum of two academics undertaking timber research in six of the UK’s 10 main engineering-focused universities. Each of these, in turn, could be expected to raise £150,000 in research funds a year.
The meeting last week where TTF announced its funding award was held at Arup’s London offices. Mr White said the response from the construction professionals present to the TIFRG initiative was "very positive and enthusiastic".
