Research

Discover more about research and development projects in the world of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) led by Irish higher education institutions and other research-performing organisations, alongside a showcase of research activity across the country, highlighting what is being done to drive new innovation and workforce development in Irish construction.

04.08.26

Translating R&D on Innovative Building Materials from the Lab to Real Application in Construction

Concrete production is one of the more carbon-intensive construction activities. But researchers from Trinity College Dublin are working to showcase that a lower-carbon concrete, produced with biomass ash, offers building companies a commercially viable and equally appliable alternative. How can research and development lead theory to practice and contribute to a more sustainable construction sector?

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15.05.26

How Can Standardising MMC Product Designs Drive New Efficiencies in Construction Developments?

Despite the expanded use of offsite construction, Ireland still lacks publicly available, non-proprietary detail libraries for manufacturers, designers, certifiers, and regulators. The STANDARDIZE project in University College Dublin is addressing this, aiming to standardise MMC technologies for greater sector efficiency and mobility.

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Researching and Developing the Right Concrete Products and Application Systems for 3D Construction Printing

3D construction printing is still in its earliest phase in Irish building, but research into the best-practice materials and applications of this type of Modern Method of Construction (MMC) can help increase the rate of uptake. Two researchers from the Construct Innovate unit of the University of Galway are making this happen.

Industrial blue mechanical clamp or gripper tool shown in multiple close-up views on a workbench.

Platform4MMC: Supporting Decision-Making to Drive the Adoption of Modern Methods of Construction in Ireland

Ireland’s housing targets need to be met rapidly while achieving high sustainability standards. Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) offer the opportunity to digitise the construction sector, improving project delivery speed, efficiency, and quality.

Taking MMC Research to the Construction Site and Beyond

The MMC Research Group at University College Dublin (UCD), spearheaded by Dr Daniel McCrum, is leading the innovations behind Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).

Research showcase

Feb 2026

Home Performance Pathway Technical Manual

Brian Crowley, Johanna Varghese, Pat Barry, John Fingleton (Irish Green Building Council) & Construct Innovate

This is the technical manual for the Home Performance Pathway certification process, designed to provide a progressive pathway towards building skills for Home Performance Index certification. The purpose of this manual is to support the assessment of new homes in line with the certification processes and procedures as set out by the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC); and in doing so allow the IGBC to make informed and measured certification decisions and approvals.

View Report on sites-eu1.com

Cover image for a report titled “Construction Industry in Ireland"

Feb 2026

Construction Industry in Ireland – The Skills and Capacity Required to Build Ireland’s Future

Property Industry Ireland – Ibec

This report outlines the current skills landscape, identifies the key challenges hindering the sector’s capacity, and provides a series of tangible recommendations for government and industry. By working collaboratively, the industry can build not only the physical infrastructure Ireland needs but also a sustainable, skilled, and dynamic workforce for the future.

View Report on ibec.ie

Jan 2026

Updated Careers in Construction Action Plan

Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

In light of the experience over the two years since the publication of the original Careers in Construction Action Plan, the Careers in Construction Working Group have now reviewed and updated the plan to reflect progress made and the evolving context.

View Report on gov.ie

Dec 2025

AQUA3D – Automated Quality Control for 3D Concrete Printing

Dr Pouyan Ghabezi, Dr Alireza Rahimi (University of Galway)

The AQUA3D project is structured around four core objectives that address the limitations of manual data collection in 3D concrete printing and establish a foundation for automated, real-time quality control.

View Report on constructinnovate.ie

Government of Ireland cover page for "Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2022-2030" housing action plan

Nov 2025

Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

This strategic plan takes a whole-of-Government view to unlocking the current barriers affecting the provision of essential housing across the country. It adopts a targeted, joined up, cross-departmental approach aimed at activating supply by providing the infrastructure required to create sustainable housing of the right type for the people of Ireland, when and where it is needed.

View Report on gov.ie

Oct 2025

Towards Greener 3D Printing: A Performance Evaluation of Silica Fume-Modified Low-Carbon Concrete

James Bradshaw, Swathi Balasubramanian, Wen Si, Mehran Khan, Ciaran McNally (University College Dublin)

This study investigates the durability challenges of 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) and examines the effect of silica fume (SF) on its performance, focusing on mechanical properties and selected durability tests as key indicators of mix suitability for 3D printing applications.

View Report on mdpi.com