Construction Industry Council - Annual Report 2024

ANNUAL REPORT 2024 137 OPERATIONAL REVIEW The Construction Innovation and Technology Fund (CITF) The Construction Innovation and Technology Fund (CITF) continues to play a pivotal role in transforming Hong Kong’s construction industry by enhancing productivity, quality, safety, and environmental performance through automation, digitalisation, and industrialisation. Since its inception in October 2018, CITF has been a catalyst for technological advancement within the industry. Key Achievements of 2024 In 2024, CITF maintained its momentum in supporting the local construction industry. The annual amount of approved fund grant and disbursements for 2024 was HK$377M and HK$187M respectively, setting a record that was 20% higher than in 2023. Compared to 2023, the total cumulative fund grant increased by 35%, reaching HK$1,496M. Additionally, there was a 24% increase in the number of approved applications, with 4,450 out of 6,600 received being approved. The six categories of funding support – Building Information Modelling (BIM), Advanced Construction Technologies (ACT), Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), Prefabricated Steel Rebar, Industrialised Process – Robotic Welding, and Manpower Development continued to see significant uptake. The total number of beneficiaries increased to 1,297 in 2024, with significant contributions from 786 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), reflecting broader adoption of new technologies. Additionally, 18,078 cumulative training places were approved, benefiting construction personnel at various levels including professionals, technicians, and students, and fostering a culture of innovation. CITF conducted the comprehensive review of Pre- approved Lists in 2024 with inappropriate items delisted to ensure the suitability of the pre-approved items. There were 139 new admissions to the Pre- approved Lists in 2024, which was 74% higher than in 2023, marking the highest number in four years. Enhancement Measures Implemented in 2024 In May 2024, CITF expanded funding support for the industry to implement Smart Site Safety System (4S) in private work sites, including additional network fees, additional manpower costs, maintenance, and technical support required for 4S implementation. To facilitate industry’s selection of suitable 4S products, CITF published a 4S packages and 85 4S products in the CITF Pre-approved Technologies List, representing a 41% increase compared to 2023. In response to pressing concern on incidents related to mobile plant, CITF’s support on 4S was extended to construction plant rental companies to expedite the procurement and installation of detection and alert systems for mobile plant operation danger zone and tower crane lifting from September to October 2024. These extended enhancements contributed to 52% of a total of 447 4S applications since the expanded funding supporting for 4S began in April 2023. Furthermore, “Good Practice for Installation of Smart Site Safety System (4S) on Tower Cranes and Mobile Plants” was published on the CITF website in Q4 2024 to further facilitate the adoption of 4S and enhance construction safety in relation to mobile plants and tower cranes. To further expedite the approval process of CITF fund application, additional authority was granted to the CITF Secretariat in October 2024 to approve BIM and ACT funding applications for pre-approved items or associated BIM hardware.