Making construction in Australia cheaper, without compromising safety or quality, will be the focus of two new industry led research centres being backed by the Morrison Government.

The Building 4.0 CRC will receive $28 million in government support, while the SmartCrete CRC will get $21 million to reduce the cost of concrete and improve productivity.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the work of the Building 4.0 CRC would provide Australians with lower cost, smart housing solutions and put Australia among the world leaders in the advanced manufacture of buildings.

“Affordable, sustainable and safe housing is something that concerns all Australians. It’s vital we do what we can to make construction more efficient and cost-effective, without reducing quality,” Minister Andrews said.

“Making sure our homes and apartments are built to the highest standards is particularly important given recent issues which have disrupted the lives of Aussie families and impacted confidence in the sector.”

The Building 4.0 CRC has set ambitious targets for its work, including cutting project costs by 30 per cent, an up to 50 per cent reduction in carbon emissions and 80 percent reduction in construction waste.

Minister Andrews said the SmartCrete CRC also had the potential to drive down costs significantly without compromising safety or quality.

“Concrete is so essential to our building industry and public infrastructure projects that even small savings and increases in productivity can make a massive difference,” Minister Andrews said.

“It will allow us to get more bang for our buck, which is so important for the productivity and sustainability of Australian industries.”

The industry-led SmartCrete CRC has generated a further $69 million in cash and in-kind contributions from industry and researchers.

The Building 4.0 CRC has also generated a further $102.9 million in cash and in-kind contributions from industry and researchers, with major partners including Lendlease, Bluescope and Master Builders.

Since 2013, the Government has committed $1.1 billion to support the establishment of 30 CRCs, with industry and research partners contributing $3.4 billion in cash and in-kind contributions.

Media contact: Minister Andrews' office 02 6277 7070