Research Excellence Clusters are interdisciplinary networks of researchers addressing societal and cultural problems, and working together to solve challenges that transcend traditional boundaries associated with departments, institutions, and funding agencies.
Funding is awarded through Grants for Catalyzing Research Clusters (GCRC) competitions.
With the support of UBC’s Vice President of Research and Innovation (VPRI) office and the Faculty of Applied Science, SICRC has secure $150,000 for one year to establish the formal research cluster. The Smart Infrastructure and Construction Research Cluster (SICRC) is dedicated to developing cutting-edge structural and construction technologies, and creating efficient and cost-effective solutions for civil infrastructure. This multidisciplinary research cluster consists of expertise from material and structural engineering, robotics, computer science, construction management and infrastructure planning from both UBCV and UBCO campuses, in collaboration with leading industry partners and international experts, to address multiple challenging issues including the significant housing crisis, labor shortage, and global warming effects in North America and worldwide.