Winning ideas in global competition will improve construction efficiency.
Winners of the 2021 COINS Grand Challenge, a global competition organised by COINS to kickstart construction industry innovation, hail from all over the world.
To find out more and enter your idea into this annual competition visit https://www.coins-grandchallenge.com/
Judged by influential industry leaders the two winning ideas both aim to improve construction efficiency.
- A former architect based in Canada, Mario Selvaraj is the winner of the Open Competition with DAISY an innovative system that uses Artificial Intelligence to produce structural timber designs. DAISY uses genetic programming to find an optimal design.
- A chemical engineering student from India, Abhishek Kumar Patra is the winner of the Undergraduate Competition, promoting the idea of self-healing bacteria-based concrete utilising limestone-producing bacteria.
Judges include Mark Beard, Chairman and Chief Executive of UK construction company E W Beard (Holdings) Ltd.
We are often seen as a very traditional industry with minimal innovation. Very pleasingly, COINS Grand Challenge blows apart this misconception; drawing out individuals who are prepared to challenge the status quo in so many different ways. It has been a joy to be part of the COINS Grand Challenge judging panel for the last two years.
Mark Beard, E W Beard (Holdings) Ltd.
This year’s shortlist included entrants from Sri Lanka, India, Russia, United Kingdom, Canada, Indonesia and Zimbabwe with ideas ranging from insulation materials made from fungi to auto-inflatable safety jackets.
Runner up prizes are also awarded:
- Indian students Rohan Ghosalkar and Deepti Shetty are runners up in the Undergraduate Competition with Averto, a fast and quick emergency response to workplace accidents.
- The Open Competition runner up is entrepreneur Valentina Dipietro, founder of Mykor Ltd, with her idea for an insulation material grown from forest waste and fungi.
Judge Feedback
Thanks so much to all the 2021 judges for their expertise and time.
Susan Jackson / Joint Managing Director – Campion Homes Limited
Being part of the COINS Grand Challenge for a second year was an inspiring and uplifting experience. It was great to hear from so many innovators who demonstrated a real passion for improving the built environment, particularly in the critical areas of carbon reduction and safety. Well done to all the finalists, it wasn’t an easy decision to pick the winners!
Susan Jackson, Campion Homes Limited
Stuart Binstock / President and CEO – Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA)
Having been a judge now for a few years, this competition reinforces for me that the construction industry can be innovative and our future is in good hands with all of the talent looking for new solutions to age old construction industry problems.I salute COINS for its support of this important initiative.
Stuart Binstock, CFMA
Kevin Lasitz / Senior Partner Development Manager, Microsoft
Congratulations to the winners, runners up and all entrants in the COINS Grand Challenge! It was inspiring to see so many great ideas and passion for improving the construction industry in the important areas of sustainability and safety using innovative technology. Many thanks to COINS for your leadership and support of communities in need of communities around the world. Keep up the great work!
Kevin Lasitz, Microsoft
and Mark Beard / Chairman & Chief Executive – E W Beard (Holdings) Ltd
Could your idea improve construction?
The 2022 COINS Grand Challenge will open for entries from 1 Feb 2022 visit www.coins-grandchallenge.com
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