Why the built environment needs innovative thinking and how academia can help

By Dr Melanie Robinson, Associate, Okana

The challenges facing the built environment are well documented, from its significant contribution to global energy-related carbon emissions to the stagnating productivity to the regulatory changes being introduced through the Building Safety Act to the acute skills shortages.

Doing more of the same with the same people is no longer an option.

We need fresh perspectives, new tools, and different business models. Basically, we need innovative thinking. And yet, industry’s relationship with the places where innovative thinking is not only encouraged but built (i.e., universities and colleges) has always been under-utilised.

That disconnect has never sat comfortably with me. From engaging with industry forums during my PhD to now co-supervising PhD students in my current capacity as a digital strategy consultant with Okana, I have seen first-hand how ideas can spark, grow and gain momentum when the two worlds work together.

In fact, in reaching out to industry peers in the process of writing this piece, I found something Lewis Sutherland, BIM Technician at RSE, said really resonated with me. Lewis, who is halfway through his MSc in BIM & Digital Built Environments at the University of Salford, explained:

“Studying BIM at Salford while working full-time in industry has been like standing on a digital bridge between two worlds—one side is full of clean models and theory, the other is muddy boots, legacy systems, and stubborn mindsets. Academia gives us the tools to imagine differently, but it’s the friction between the two which provides the opportunity for innovation. While there are obvious shortcomings in the material provided by [Higher Education Institutes], the industry can’t afford to wait for this generation to graduate before tuning in to what is being said. The platform for fresh thinking already exists in classrooms, workshops, and online forums. Industry just needs to find the right station.”

So, in March, I was pleased to be invited to attend BIM4Water’s Talent on Tap: Filling Roles for a Sustainable Future event in Milton Keynes.

I got to don not one but two of my extracurricular hats for this, acting both in my capacity as a steering group member and task group sponsor for BIM4Water as well as a regional lead for Women in BIM.

The event did an amazing job of celebrating the crossover between industry and academia, but what really stood out to me was the fantastic engagement and

enthusiasm of the students, demonstrating not only a breath of fresh air in our industry but also what I can easily call truly innovative thinking.

A special shoutout here goes to the demonstration of the Birmingham City University’s Dragons’ Den event, facilitated by Mersha Aftab. Working with BIM4Water, students proposed user-centric solutions focused on sustainability and digitalisation, such as optimising water distribution networks with digital tools and promoting sustainable materials for infrastructure projects. Their presentations showcased real-world applications through modelling and 3D simulations, ensuring their ideas aligned with industry needs.

Sam Lissaman, Chair of the BIM4Water Skills & Culture Group and Senior Key Account Manager for Majenta, said of the event:

“Promoting meaningful relationships between industry and academia is a key objective of the BIM4Water Skills and Culture Group, and the strong representation from both at the event in March created an atmosphere full of passion and energy. As well as the innovative solutions that were presented fantastically well by the students, we also heard Armna Iqbal’s first-hand account of how the relationship between Birmingham City University and Thames Water accelerated her career. Why would we not want to establish more of these connections that drives value on both sides!”

Okay, but what’s in it for us?

The industry challenges mean day jobs are busy, but there is a risk that we continue doing what we need to be doing without injecting some much-needed new ways of thinking into practice. However, it’s not just a one-sided relationship; there are benefits to be had by both businesses and academic institutions.

For industry-based businesses, partnering with higher education can help:

• Access to frontier research
• Support the talent pipeline through initiatives such as degree apprenticeships
• Leverage research and development (R&D) funding through joint bids with entities such as Innovate UK, de-risking high impact innovations
• Increase reputation as a forward-thinking business, strengthening elements such as ESG credentials with clients and investors

For universities, getting involved in practice can help:

• Demonstrate real-world impact, particularly through Research Excellence Framework (REF) submissions
• Ensure curricular is relevant and aligned with live industry pain-points, keeping students going through programmes employable
• Support in the diversification of income streams

What can we do?

Okay, so we know the benefits, now what? How can my organisation get more involved?

Depending on how much resource you are willing to invest, there are multiple access points to building a relationship with higher education:

• Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTPs) are three-way collaboration projects, supporting the placement of a graduate in-house within your organisation on a short-term basis, which is part-funded by Innovate UK. As this route is partly funded by Innovate UK, this can be a more accessible route for businesses and has the advantage of targeting specific challenges, making it one of the most accessible R&D mechanisms for SMEs.
• Doctoral sponsorships are a mechanism in which businesses co-fund a PhD project with a university partner. Having a sponsor-based relationship means businesses can gain research capacity and a channel to prototype ideas with academic rigour over a longer period than with a KTP.
• Open innovation challenges and hackathons allow businesses to pose a real business problem to teams of students and academics, usually over a 24- or 48-hour sprint. This format is low-commitment, but can inspire high-creativity, and allows businesses to identify potential candidates for future recruitment.
• Data-for-insights exchanges allow for a more informal relationship with students. Oftentimes, students struggle to access real-world data, thereby limiting the impact and reach of their work. By selectively sharing (appropriately anonymised) datasets, you can unlock deeper analysis and academic insights that you can apply back into your business and your projects.

So, my challenge to industry is to get involved with academia in this financial year.

Universities are no longer inaccessible ivory towers full of blue-sky theories. They are an untapped R&D potential for your business.

So, whether it’s hosting a hackathon, scoping a KTP, getting involved on an industry advisory board, or just turning up at the next campus careers fair, you will be amazed at how much opportunity there is to integrate fresh thinking into your business and how that makes you look at your challenges with new perspective.