Wanted: Innovative techniques that enhance construction efficiency

The opportunities in construction are multiplying, but so is the complexity of projects. For companies that already operate on too thin margins, a production surprise can wipe out an entire company's profits. The complexity of the designs compounded this problem. 

The lack of on-time and on-budget projects is striking. For example, KPMG's 2015 Global Construction Survey found that more than half of construction companies experienced one or more underperforming projects in the past year. 

Other reports - such as McKinsey - elaborate on lack of innovation investment, as only less than 1% of construction revenue goes back into R&D (compared to multiples in the aviation or automotive industry). First steps are being taken in the industry, but the real question is how can existing technologies be used in new approaches towards a data-driven building industry?  

This challenge is your chance to develop your ideas and have incredible exposure to Dubai's construction industry leaders!

What are we looking for?

• Efficiency during design construction and delivery of built property, from efficient design schemes to improved construction methods
• Project Controls and Risk management as a mitigation measure to improve efficiency
• Logistic optimization (within huge masterplans such as Dubai Downtown, or Dubai Creek Harbor)
• Construction technologies across the main trades (concrete, façade, MEP works) 
• Quality control and Quality assurance. Creative and efficient technologies
• End user focus: an improved customer experience. How can the end user follow up his property progress?
• The operators-Facility & Community Management needs: how their needs and requirements can be integrated at early design stage and during construction bearing in mind both CAPEX and OPEX
• Innovative solutions to improve HSE during construction and during building maintenance
• Progress monitoring technologies to achieve real time and in-depth data of the project
• 3D Concrete Printing is on our agenda as we have completed a pilot project villa to study the case, the main challenge now is using this technology at scale to fit our requirements while still being cost efficient. Modularization has been implemented partially in our high-rise towers for some elements, and we are also working closely with the industry and regulators to study the feasibility of including more modular construction into our products.

What are we not looking for?

• Solutions that are still in the idea phase
• Vendor lock-in solutions
• Solutions that are not cost effective
• Solutions that require a big capital investment from the client’s side for a Pilot Project
• Solutions that are difficult to implement logistically
• Solutions with no track record of success

What is there to win?

• Launching customer for your proposition with Emaar in Dubai 
• Network of other construction developers in Dubai (in cooperation with the Dubai Foundation Program)

Rules to participate

• Participant should be a registered company.
• Innovative solution should comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Participant should have the ability to demonstrate a working prototype/product/service.
• Solution must be scalable.
• Solution should be implementable within a maximum of a 6-month period.

The pitch (one pager with your pitch + 5 to 6 slides background pages or slides) This submission is for evaluation purposes. During pitch day, finalists will be able to use a more comprehensive pitch deck. 

You may submit a pitch for each challenge, but you will only pitch once in the finals!

A. One page with your elevator pitch

B. Give a clear description of your innovative solution/product (one or two pages)

• Which (social) problem do you solve?
• What is your target group?
• For which target group?
• On what technology is the solution based?
• Indication of costs
• Indication of timeline

C. Using a business case/ success case, describe the added value of your solution (1 page)

D. Provide a list of your key team members and short bio (1 page)

You may submit tthe pitch as a presentation deck or in a letter format in English. The file must be uploaded as a pdf file (landscape or portrait A4, maximum 30MB). Links to videos, example, websites, etc. may also be included.