Formas - BIC 11. Sustainable development of the built environment - Planning, production, operation and management of buildings

Last day of application: 2009-12-01
Day of decision: 2010-06-08

The task of Research Council  Formas is to promote and support basic research and applied research of the highest scientific quality in the areas environment, agricultural sciences and spatial planning. Research must contribute to sustainable development  of society. This presupposes that the health and welfare of humans and animals,  biodiversity, the environment and the viability of nature, economics, ethics, and social and cultural values are taken into consideration.

Formas and BIC (Construction Sector Innovation Centre) cooperate to support innovation processes in the construction sector. The objective is that the research community and the sector should, in joint projects, create new innovative products, systems, processes and services which satisfy the demands of users and customers, support sustainable development and create incentives for fresh ideas. Apart from research, these innovation projects must also comprise implementation, i.e. technology transfer, pilot experiments, demonstration projects, etc. The strategy, policy objectives and the text of calls for applications are drawn up jointly by Formas and BIC, and the process of appraisal, decision, project support, monitoring and reporting are performed collaboratively.

Projects are headed by a project leader for the research element – who is the same as the main applicant – and a separate project leader for the implementation element. The projects are financed equally by Formas and participating players in the sector. It is the responsibility of the main applicant to set out the details of funding for the overall project.

In this call for applications, Formas is granting MSEK 15 for research projects of maximum three years' duration, starting in 2010.
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Objective and aims
The call refers to projects with the focus on sustainable development of the built environment. The call comprises the entire construction and management process – planning, design, construction, management, operation, maintenance, renovation and decommissioning. The call does not refer to transport infrastructure, municipal infrastructure or urban planning.

New important knowledge shall be developed through research, and the projects shall provide the basis for implementation in product and process development, application in pilot and demonstration projects, upgrading of building regulations and standardisation, training, etc.

The call comprises the following areas:

Users' and customers' demands for buildings
Health and wellbeing, security, reliability, access, quality of life, economy, environment, serviceability and flexibility, as well as stimulating indoor environments.

Example of important questions and problem areas are:

• Definition and verification of essential performance requirements for buildings and their spaces, expressed in quantifiable terms
• Systems for monitoring, control and checking, by users and customers, of essential comfort properties, processes that have an impact on the environment, and economy
• Organisation and integration of various actors in the early stages of the construction process

Sustainable development
Economy in the use of natural resources (land, water, energy and materials).
Alleviation of the negative impacts caused by the construction and use of buildings.
Improved reliability to cope with new needs caused by climate changes (robustness of buildings and services, risk assessment, etc).

Example of important questions and problem areas are:

• Technology and methods for environmental adaptation, including performance requirements and associated evaluation methods
• Effective use and sustainable management of resources (energy, water, materials, waste)
• Life cycle assessment of buildings and building components
• Incentives and control instruments for sustainable development of the built environment

Renewal of the construction sector
Creation of a customer interactive, competing and innovative sector. An integrated value chain including management of user and customer demands, effective and industrialised production, specially designed business models, and management of information through ICT tools which cover the entire process from concept to use.

Example of important questions and problem areas are:

• Holistic solutions for an effective, customer and knowledge oriented construction process (quality, costs, productivity, resource effectiveness, increased competitiveness, economic growth)
• Business models, procurement, management systems (environment, quality, organisation, knowledge management), as well as liability issues and provisions for enforcement action
• Industrialised construction processes.
• Use of ICT to achieve sustainable development, effective and interacting processes and innovation processes
• Construction sector infrastructure – support for the development of the role of small and medium companies in the construction sector of the future

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Special instructions
Earliest starting date of projects is June 2009. Applications for funds can be made for a maximum of three years.

50% co-funding from the private sector is a requirement. Co-funding may consist of contributions in kind (input materials and contributor's own labour), but at least 20% shall be in cash.

The normal size of a project is ca MSEK 2 annually inclusive of co-funding. The total costs for the project should be presented as direct and indirect costs, separately. If the amount applied for significantly exceed or goes below the normal size, a motivation is needed.

Gender aspects should be given consideration in projects where this is relevant. Grants from Formas may be used as Swedish co-funding for EU projects.

The implementation element shall have a separate project leader who is to be appointed by the co-funders in consultation with the main applicant, no later than the time the contract with Formas is signed. The leader of the implementation element shall be a person who is thoroughly conversant with the work of the sector. The volume and focus of the implementation element are to be suited to the character of the project.

The application procedure takes place in two stages. In stage 1 which closes on 1 December 2009, an outline of not more than three pages (A4, font 12 pct,) of the following content, shall be submitted:

• Summary
• Project concept – background, aims, plan for performance and reporting – for both the research and implementation elements
• Presentation of the consortium
• Budget and time schedule

A brief CV for, and a list of publications by, the project leader shall also be submitted.

The application is to be made in FormasDirect and is to be formulated as appropriate in accordance with the instructions in the Formas' Handbook 2009 for applications for project funds. The outline shall be written in English.

The outlines will be appraised with reference to the following criteria:

• Subject matter
• Method and performance
• Competence
• Significance for sustainable development
• Cooperation with the users of the research results
• Societal value

The proposals that are considered to have the highest priority in Stage 1, which will be decided no later than 31 January 2010, will receive support of TSEK 25 and will be invited to produce a comprehensive final application no later than 31 March 2010. In this Stage 2, the application is to be formulated in accordance with the previous application procedure in the Formas-BIC programme, i.e.

• The research element of the project is to be set out on the Formas application form and in appendices in FormasDirect.
• Co-funding, and the total finance for the project, are to be set out on the
  co-funding form.  Research finance based on tax-financed foundations or various forms of support for research and innovation made available by state authorities cannot be counted as co-funding. A 4% administrative on-cost to BIC will be charged for those who are not members of BIC, and this shall also be shown on the form.
• The implementation element of the project is to be described in the implementation plan.

The application in Stage 2 must therefore comprise the Formas application form, other documents in accordance with Formas' Handbook 2009 and routines, co-funding form and implementation plan.
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Appraisal of applications
Applications will be appraised by a separate appraisal group consisting of experts from both research units and from the construction sector. For information concerning the application process, reference should be made to the Formas' Handbook 2009.

 

Information can be obtained from:
Jacob Silva Paulsen, Formas

Tel: +46 8-775 40 31

Åke Skarendahl, BIC

Tel: +46 8-411 16 40

Last date for submission of applications in Stage 1 is 1 december 2009 (31 March 2010 for Stage 2). Applications to Formas are to be made via an online form.

The Formas Scientific Council will make its decision in June 2010.

Decisions will be promulgated on the Formas website after the meeting of the Council. A comprehensive description of the policy,  rules and application procedure of Formas is given in the Formas' Handbook 2009. Information on how the applications will be appraised is also given there.

Applications are to be made via an online form. When the application has been completed and has been registered, the applicant is to print out a separate form for signature. This form shall be at Formas not later than 5 days after the last date for submission of applications.

Additions after this date will not be accepted, apart from information on co-funding arrangements.

Apply here