i-Con COVID Challenge Fund

Construction Scotland Innovation Centre and its partners are offering grants of up to £25,000 for businesses to work with academic research partners to develop solutions to challenges faced by the construction and built environment sector resulting from the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Public and private sector organisations, trade associations and other businesses within the wider construction sector can present challenges on the i-Con Innovation Challenge platform. Experts can then step forward with potential solutions, and collaborations can be arranged.

The solutions should address well-defined challenges faced by construction companies, asset managers, the supply chain or workforce. These could provide short-term relief during the current crisis, or contribute to improved resilience and recovery in the long term.

Six projects have been funded in Phase 1 of the i-Con Challenge Fund. Details of Phase 2 will be released in due course - check the iCon Innovation Challenge webpage for updates.

The platform is still live, and can be used to register challenges or solutions and plan collaborations for future rounds of funding.

Yes, if you are a public or private organisation working in or supporting the wider construction industry in Scotland. 

This is a free service.

Public and private sector organisations, trade associations, academia and the wider construction sector.

The i-Con Challenge is a two-stage application process.

Stage 1 proposals should come from a Solution Provider. Solution Providers should feature a lead Scottish academic or industry partner, but can include contributions from partners from outside Scotland.

Stage 2 proposals must come from a Solution Provider in partnership with a Challenge Holder. Challenge Holders can be public or private organisations in the construction sector based in Scotland. They should contribute knowledge, feedback, demonstration and potentially some project funding.

Stage 2 proposals will be by invitation only.

Evaluation criteria will include:

• time to market
• potential benefits of the project
• ability to execute/resource effectively
• opportunity to further develop, scale and replicate the solution
• fit with CSIC’s aims, objectives and key themes
• overall value for public money

Visit the i-Con Challenge Fund page for further information and to apply.