The construction industry continues to be a hotbed of innovation, with activity driven by an increased focus on environmental sustainability and workplace safety, and the growing importance of technologies such as the Internet-of-Things (IoT) and robotics. In the last three years alone, there have been over 248,000 patents filed and granted in the construction industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in Construction: Building repair techniques.
However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilising and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
80+ innovations will shape the construction industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the construction industry using innovation intensity models built on over 179,000 patents, there are 80+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, mullion-transom curtain walls is a disruptive technology that is in the early stage of application and should be tracked closely. Heat insulated glazing panels, drainage gully grating, and acoustic ceiling panels are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are abrasion-resistant decorative flooring, and road construction milling tool, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the construction industry
Building repair techniques is a key innovation area in construction
Building repair techniques relate to repairs that restore a building’s strength, ensuring the effectiveness of load bearing structures and maintaining structure integrity. Common techniques include injection of cement and chemical grouts, as well as caulking and shotcreting.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 10+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established construction companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of building repair techniques.
Key players in building repair techniques – a disruptive innovation in the construction industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of different applications identified for each relevant patent and broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of different countries each relevant patent is registered in and reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to building repair techniques
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2021) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Shanghai Construction Group | 19 | Unlock company profile |
| Cfs Concrete Forming Systems | 15 | Unlock company profile |
| Electricite de France | 14 | Unlock company profile |
| Kingspan Group | 12 | Unlock company profile |
| SLEEPZ | 11 | Unlock company profile |
| Dai Nippon Printing | 9 | Unlock company profile |
| China State Construction Engineering | 8 | Unlock company profile |
| Vinci | 7 | Unlock company profile |
| Firstpoint | 6 | Unlock company profile |
| State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council | 5 | Unlock company profile |
| Q-Bot | 5 | Unlock company profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Shanghai Construction Group, via various subsidiaries including Shanghai Building Decoration Engineering Group, is among the leading filers with regards to building repair techniques. Others include Cfs Concrete Forming Systems and Kingspan Group, the latter being a major international producer of advanced materials and methods of construction.
Kingspan Group is among the leaders in the pack when considering filings by geographic reach, while Cfs Concrete Forming Systems is among the leaders by means of application diversity.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the construction industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research reports on Construction.
Subscribe to our Newsletters
Get industry leading news, data and analysis delivered to your inbox
